What's tall, charismatic, and can levitate across a basketball court?
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A team of gravity-defying Harlem Globetrotters, of course, and they're slam-dunking all the way to Wollongong.
The Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their outrageous brand of basketball back to Wollongong this year as part of their new world tour.
Julian 'Zeus' McClurkin, who wears number 30 for the team, said they were thrilled to be back in Australia.
The 2022 tour commemorates legendary Globetrotter Curly Neal, who was the face of the exhibition team for nearly two decades.
"He passed away in the height of COVID, and played for them [the globetrotters] for 22 years, wearing number 22," McClurkin said.
"This year is 2022, and we're honouring him in every way we can," he said.
Curly Neal's legacy stretched far beyond the United States, McClurkin said.
"You can tell he had some real star power here [in Australia]."
Wollongong audiences are guaranteed a spectacle at the exhibition team's July performance after the players bagged several World Records last year.
The Globetrotters are known for their outrageous Guinness World Record attempts, from blindfolded slam-dunks to 30-metre bounce shots.
McClurkin holds several records, including the most slam dunks in one minute (16), while blindfolded (9) and behind-the-back three-pointers (4).
McClurkin and Shane 'Scooter' Christensen, another player, are in Australia ahead of the team's tour, which kicks off in July.
"All the guys are jealous of me because I got to come down ahead of time," he laughed.
Between cuddling up with kangaroos and koalas, the pair saw first-hand what Australia has to offer on the basketball court after watching the Sydney Kings play in the NBL.
"The atmosphere down here is electric and amazing," McClurkin said.
"We play all over the world, sometimes where people have never even seen a game.
"It's exciting to play basketball somewhere [it is] already so established."
The Harlem Globetrotters will play at WIN entertainment centre on July 4.
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