Harlem Globetrotters Legend Meadowlark Lemon Dies

Meadowlark Lemon, who dazzled crowds in more than 16,000 games for the Harlem Globetrotters, died Sunday in Scottsdale, Arizona, the New York Times reported. He was 83.

Lemon, known as the “Clown Prince,” spent 26 years with the famous exhibition, entertainment basketball team, traveling more than 5 million miles and visiting more than 100 different countries, according to his official bio.

He was inducted into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 and won the John Bunn Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000, considered the hall of fame’s highest honor before induction.

Lemon started with the Globetrotters in 1954, playing until 1979. He perfected the no-look, behind-the-back pass and the half-court hook shot, while bringing comedic stylings to the court.

In his signature trick, he would chase referees around the court with an apparent bucket of water that ended up being confetti when dumped on their head.

After leaving the Globetrotters, he joined a new imitation team, the Bucketeers and moved to the Shooting Stars three years later. In 1988, he started his own team, “Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Stars.”

In 1994, he played 50 more games with the Globetrotters.

Outside of basketball, Lemon was a regular guests on talk shows and news programs. He also became an ordained minister in 1998.