In 1961, walking away from the National Basketball Association was considered unthinkable. One collegiate scoring sensation had contract offers on the table from the Los Angeles Lakers and Cincinnati Royals, but chose to walk a more unconventional path in pursuit…
Harlem Globetrotters legend Hubert "Geese" Ausbie passed away on November 8, 2026, at the age of 88. Ausbie rose to prominence as a college basketball star at Philander Smith University, where he averaged 30 points per game in his final season. In 1961, he turned down contract offers from NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Cincinnati Royals, to pursue a shared dream with his wife, Awilda, of joining the Globetrotters.
Ausbie played for the Globetrotters from 1961 until 1985, becoming renowned for his showmanship, community work, and hospital visits during the Civil Rights era. Following his retirement, he promoted drug-free youth initiatives, served as the Globetrotters' head coach in 1995, and had his No. 35 jersey retired by the team in 2017.
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