Legendary Harlem Globetrotter Marques Haynes dies at 89

Long before viral videos of Stephen Curry's incredible dribbling displays and Kyrie Irving's mesmerizing crossovers, Marques Hayes made the art of ball-handling a fancy form of entertainment.

A pioneer in more ways than one, Haynes began his career in basketball entertainment in the 1940s. As the story goes, a young Haynes - then a student-athlete at Langston University - led his team to a four-point victory over the Harlem Globetrotters in an exhibition game. After graduation, Globetrotters owner, Abe Saperstein, invited Haynes to join his traveling team of basketball tricksters.

The Haynes-led squad famously defeated the Minneapolis Lakers twice, which featured the NBA's first big man, George Mikan, in 1948 (61-59) and 1949 (49-45).

Haynes was known primarily for his astounding dribbling abilities. His former teammates, including NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain, credited him for originating the behind-the-back and between-the-legs maneuvers that are so prevalent in today's game.

Haynes died Friday, May 22 in Plano, Texas. He was 89 years old.