There was no one in basketball quite like him. And it was a testament to his immense popularity that although he never played in the NBA, the entire American basketball community collectively mourned the passing away of the fondly-named “Clown Prince” of American basketball, George Lemon III, better known as “Meadowlark” Lemon, at the age of 83.

Lemon was part of the Harlem Globetrotters team from 1954 to 1979, and became one of their most recognised names. In a career spanning over 16,000 games for the outfit that travelled the world to entertain, rather than compete, Lemon became a much-loved figure. Not just for his silky half-court hook shots and his look-from-behind passes, but also his gift for showmanship. The audience loved him for his antics such as tipping water buckets full of confetti over referees and audiences.

Lemon and his Globetrotters became world-famous, even playing in Moscow during the Cold War, and featuring in a Hanna-Barbara cartoon series in the 1970’s. Wilt Chamberlain, considered one of the NBA’s greatest players, probably delivered the best compliment to Lemon’s skills when he named Lemon the greatest basketball player of all times.