It all started in Chicago

Have you ever been playing basketball then tried shooting one of the best trick shots you can think of? I would be lying to you if I told you that I never tried doing that. This was probably the most enjoyable thing to do as a kid, especially when I actually made a shot that I thought would never happen in a million years.

These types of trick shots became popular because of The Harlem Globetrotters. In 1926, this group started in Chicago, not Harlem and, by 1940, they played over 2,000 games. They spent a year being the Chicago Globetrotters, and then became the New York Harlem Globetrotters before earning their current name in 1929.

The Harlem Globetrotters were popular for their great movement with the ball and their trick shots, but they actually played seriously in the early years. Players from this team, with their exceptional skill, were among the first African-Americans to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1950.

World Trick Shot Day was created to not only pay homage to the fun and entertaining aspect of the trick shots made popular by the Harlem Globetrotters, but also to invite and engage with fans from all over the world.

In November 2016, The National Day Calendar declared World Trick Shot Day as the first Tuesday in December.

Anyone can observe and participate in this day just by recording a video of his or her best trick shot, posting it on your social media, and using a hashtag to be able to show that amazing shot. It can be made with any equipment because there are no limitations on what can be done; this is about creativity (http://tiny.cc/Globetrotters).

Today, the Harlem Globetrotters hold numerous world records for their feats and continue to push the limits of the game, but they entertain their audience with more than just skill. They’ve got some awesome trick shots!