Former Harlem Globetrotter LaMont “Showboat” Robinson is all about opportunity and recognizing the greats at their crafts — those at center stage and many more who work behind the scenes.
He is known for basketball, but Robinson founded the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
Now, he created a basketball hall of fame.
Robinson, who has roots in Jeannette, thought the game needed a secondary hall to recognize “those unknown names, playground legends, and those who didn’t make the NBA but still made an impact in the basketball world.”
Robinson played basketball for 28 years and made his mark on the comedy circuit with the Harlem Clowns.
“Not everyone is going to get into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, so we want to give them an opportunity to make it into ours,” he said.
Robinson was nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and ’19, an honor that brought tears to his eyes and attention to his hometown.
The 1980 Jeannette graduate will join the inaugural American Basketball Hall of Fame Class, which will be housed in Detroit. An induction ceremony will be Oct. 13 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Tickets are $25, followed by a free VIP after party at Bert’s Warehouse in Eastern Market.
There will be 18 inductees, many of whom played high school, college or pro basketball in Detroit. Among them are former NBA players Derrick Coleman, Spencer Haywood and Jalen Rose.
Other NBA greats include Sam Jones and Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson.
Haywood also will receive the Will Robinson Basketball Lifetime Achievement Award.
The inaugural class has a strong Detroit flavor, but Robinson said it will expand to include more global players and women next year.
Robinson said his newest venture also will work to develop community-service initiatives in Detroit, such as renovating Jameson Elementary School, and “using the game of basketball to address violence in the city.”
For more information, visit basketballhall.net.
