THE Philippine Basketball Association's decision to adopt a four-point shot in its coming Season 49 just got two thumbs-up.
The Harlem Globetrotters pair of Wham Middleton and Moose Weekes both supported the decision of Asia's oldest pro league to embrace the first ever four-point shot in a major tournament.
READ PBA officially adopts four-point shot
"All I can say is it's about time," said Weekes during Monday's presser for the coming 2024 Manila tour of the Globetrotters.
Weekes noted the 4-point shot has already been in effect in the Big League - the US 3x3 pro league - but disclosed it was the Globetrotters who first introduced it.
"The Harlem Globetrotters were the first one to bring up the 4-point circle for a 4-point shot," he said.
"Now we're playing with a 4-point line. And now I'm going to pass the microphone to a 4-point specialist," added Weekes, referring to his Globetrotter teammate Middleton.
Wham said he once led the team in 4-point field goal percentage, shooting a high of 56 percent from the area.
“That was pretty good. If you think of an NBA club, Steph Curry shoots the three-ball at about 36 percent. Just to give you… you know,” added Middleton in between laughs.
“But you know we introduced that (4-point line) in 2010…so we’ve been doing this for over a decade. So just to see a professional league to actually add it is amazing. Just shows how far we’ve come to.”
Of course, the Globetrotters have been known for their brand of basketball entertainment throughout the years, spanning more than a century of travelling around the world to showcase their skills, talent, and athleticism.
But most of them can play ball, too.
Some of the Globetrotters' famous alumni were NBA players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, Chuck Cooper, Nat Cliffton, among others.
Even former PBA no. 2 overall pick Maurice Shaw with Blackwater, began his pro career playing as part of the Globetrotters.
Middleton and Weekes blew to town to promote in advance the Globetrotters' Tour Asia that kicks off in Manila on November 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Then the team travels to Malaysia on Nov. 14, followed by Indonesia on Nov. 16-17 at the Britama Arena, Mahaka Square, and in Singapore on Nov. 23-24 at the Singapore EXPO Hall 5.
The Asia Tour is presented by LK Entertainment and global partners Spalding and IMG.
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