Preview: Harlem Globetrotters Come to the Prudential Center on Friday, February 17

NEWARK, NJ – For nearly a century, the Harlem Globetrotters have been delivering high-quality entertainment to fans throughout the world and have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in over 122 countries and territories.

The Globetrotters, which perform in hundreds of live events annually, will come to the Prudential Center at 7 p.m. as part of their 2017 World Tour as they take on the World All Stars.

“Whoever is in for some great basketball and entertainment, a Harlem Globetrotters game is definitely the place to be at,” said Firefly Fisher, an eight-year veteran on the Globetrotters, who grew up watching the New York Knicks. “We love coming to the New York/New Jersey area because we know that everyone loves the Globetrotters.”

Known for their basketball tricks and other crowd-pleasing antics, the Globetrotters create a personal interaction with the fans that is unique to professional basketball. In fact, the Globetrotters recently taught the NBA’s reigning most valuable player Stephen Curry how to spin a basketball after he nailed several trick shots of his own.

“Fans are going to see a little bit of everything – high-flying dunks, great dribbling, funny entertainment,” suggested Firefly, whose favorite part of touring is putting smiles on people’s faces. “One of the reasons I love the Globetrotters is that you don’t have to love basketball to enjoy what we do and there aren’t too many organizations that you can say that about.”

In his eight years, Firefly, a native of Kingston, NY has toured in 65 countries including the team’s first-ever performance in Afghanistan at the 2012 holiday military tour. Other famous sites the basketball veteran has seen include The Great Wall of China and the Great Sphinx of Gaza.

“Going to all these places is amazing,” added Firefly. “We’re always going to be the home team no matter where we go, people love us. We’re representing America with the red, white and blue and I love it.”

However, there’s always something special for him to return to the New York metro-area.

“There’s nothing like coming home and playing in front of everybody and see some familiar faces,” added Firefly.

This year, the Globetrotters have added an official 4-point line for extraordinarily long jump shots. The concept was adopted in 2010 and was developed to add another element of excitement to the game with the emergence of jump shooters such as Firefly.

“We’re known for revolutionizing the game of basketball,” explained Firefly. “Adding that four-point line when you have such amazing shooters in the NBA such as Stephen Curry, it adds another element of entertainment. We have Harlem Globetrotters that can light it up just as well, so it’s great for the fans to see the extended line and show them how talented we are.”

On Jan. 5, 2013, Firefly, who got his nickname for “lighting it up” every time he got on the court, made 10 consecutive 4-pointers, and 11 overall, in the first quarter of the Globetrotters’ 159-108 win over the Global Select at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. The streak set a new record for most consecutive 4-pointers made by a Globetrotter.

Following the game, there will be a 30-minute autograph session and meet-and-greet with the players. Tickets for the event at the Prudential Center can be purchased on Ticketmaster.

The Globetrotters will continue their tour in the tri-state area at Madison Square Garden with an evening game on February 19 and a doubleheader on February 20.