Former Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon has passed away at the age of 83. Lemon was talented enough to play professionally, but he chose to join the Globetrotters because he love to entertain and put smiles on the faces in the crowd. He joined the Globetrotters in 1954 at the age of 22 and played on the team until a contract dispute ended his run in 1978. Lemon appeared in more than 16,000 games in more than 100 countries.

At 11 years old, Lemon watched a newsreel of the all-black team at a cinema house, and instantly his dream of playing for the team was born.

He would grow to become one of the greatest Globetrotters to ever play and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 as a contributor to the game. Lemon is also one of only five players to have his jersey retired by the team

“For a generation of fans, the name Meadowlark Lemon was synonymous with the Harlem Globetrotters,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “He was an incredible entertainer and brought happiness and lifelong memories to millions around the world. We have lost a great ambassador of the game.”

One of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball said that Lemon is the greatest basketball player of all time:

“Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I’ve ever seen,” NBA great and former Globetrotter Wilt Chamberlain said shortly before his death in 1999. “People would say it would be Dr. J or even [Michael] Jordan. For me, it would be Meadowlark Lemon.”

RIP, Meadowlark Lemon.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.