For one Globetrotter, the game is as much about connection as basketball
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Every night, before the lights come up, Fatima “TNT” Lister waits in the tunnel, knowing fans are in the stands ready to see magic on the basketball court. The Harlem Globetrotters have been doing this for a century, and for 15 of those years, Lister has been one of the people responsible for making these memories.
The best serotonin boost for Lister is running out of the tunnel to a sea of children with missing-teeth smiles and gleaming eyes.
After 15 years with the Globetrotters, it’s still her favorite part of the job, never quite the same twice.
“What keeps it fresh and exciting for me is every city is different. It has a different personality, and the kids have different personalities. You go out on that floor and it feels like just something new,” Lister said. “Kids bring an energy that is just irreplaceable.”
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They play a near-daily rotation of cities, rarely staying in one place for long.
Lister, who is originally from Colorado Springs, Col., and now lives in Charlotte, N.C., has been playing basketball since she was a quiet 12-year-old, which she admits is late for most kids considering going pro. Street ball encouraged her to embrace creative tricks that helped her join the ranks and get out of her shell.
She went pro and came to the Globetrotters in 2011 as a “dribbler.” She was inspired by Curly Neal, one of the most famous Globetrotters known for his elite dribbling. For Lister, she is famous for her iconic dribble and slide, something she recently set a record for, sliding 18 and a half feet.
Other players have special talents, such as “jumper” or “shooter.” There are ball handlers, and even miked teammates whose role is to be funny.
The Globetrotters’ blend of basketball and performance was an adjustment for Lister.
“I played overseas pro for a couple of years, and like, you don't smile out there. You're supposed to be ready to go and ready to win and ready by all means,” she said. “With the Globetrotters, you’re encouraged to smile.”
That commitment to audience connection is a legacy that’s been carried through a century, instilling the team’s core value of community. Lister said the Globetrotters pride themselves on being “ambassadors of goodwill.”
“We want to go out there and impact the community as much as we can. And I think that's why the Globetrotters have been beloved for 100 years,” she said. “For a team to be around for 100 years, I think you have to have something special.”
The team has a history of networking in the community, like visiting children’s hospitals, assemblies and schools.
“That's something that's near and dear to my heart, so the fact that that's a part of my job now, it's really been awesome,” Lister said.
Globetrotters history and what it means to Minnesota
Their legacy also includes two wins nearly 80 years ago that helped reshape the NBA. The wins also meant back-to-back defeats to the then-Minneapolis NBA team.
In 1948 and 1949, the Harlem Globetrotters defeated the Minneapolis Lakers, whose franchise later moved to Los Angeles. The Lakers were at that point World Champions. The wins solidified the Globetrotters’ reputation as skilled players.
Their victories over the Lakers also accelerated the integration of the NBA. Globetrotter Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract, joining the New York Knicks in 1950.
For Lister, she calls it a “full circle moment” to be playing in Minneapolis for a stop on the 100 year tour.
“We love this stop. This is one of our favorites, not because we beat them, sorry guys, but it's an awesome city,” she said. “This being February, I think it's fitting that this moment comes around.”
The Globetrotters were an all-male team until 1985, when Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard joined the roster. She became the first woman to play on a men’s professional basketball team, a moment often credited with helping ignite the WNBA.
Now, Lister carries the responsibility of being a woman in a space that is predominantly male, still today.
During games, she can be the only woman on the floor, or one of two.
“Those moments matter a lot because that spotlight is on you so bright, and you want to represent for the little girls there,” Lister said. “I know it's like a big responsibility, but it's a positive one, and I welcome it every single night.”
That’s why she makes it a tradition to bring a little girl on the court every game and give her the spotlight. She’ll spin a ball on her finger or hype her up, getting the audience to go wild.
"It's one thing to tell little girls something, but to show them, and I get to show them every night, that we can be in these spaces where we're not technically supposed to be and we can thrive,” Lister said
"Hopefully I'm inspiring them to chase their dreams with courage and bravery and know that they can do it.”
