Globetrotters’ Marques Haynes, best dribbler ever, dead at 89

This undated photo provided by the Harlem Globetrotters shows former player Marques Haynes in action dribbling the ball against the Boston Celtics. Haynes was a member of the legendary Globetrotters basketball team that put their gags away and beat the Minneapolis Lakers and their big man, George Mikan, 61-59, in game played 60 years ago Feb. 19, 1948 at the Chicago Stadium. The game was the brainchild of Abe Saperstein, the Chicago entrepreneur who founded the Globetrotters a couple decades earlier, and Max Winter, an owner of the Lakers. (AP Photo/Harlem Globetrotters) ** NO SALES**

May 23, 2015

Marques Haynes, the legendary Harlem Globetrotters showman often called the greatest dribbler in basketball history, who played at Langston University has died. He was 89.

He died Friday in Plano, Texas, of natural causes, the Globetrotters said. CEO Kurt Schneider said “basketball has lost one of its most iconic figures.”

Haynes made the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, the first Globetrotter to be so honored. He had two stints with the touring team — from 1947-53 and 1972-79.