The Washington Generals are an American basketball team who play exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Generals' games involve playing genuine basketball at times, but also not interfering in the Globetrotters' tricks.

[5] In 2017 they were purchased from the Klotz family by Globetrotters' owners Herschend Entertainment and officially revived from a two-year hiatus.

[6] The Generals were created in 1952 by Louis "Red" Klotz, a former player for the Philadelphia Sphas, a former ABL team that became one of the Globetrotters' exhibition rivals.

During the 1971–72 season, the Generals' name was alternated with the "Boston Shamrocks", "New Jersey Reds", "Baltimore Rockets", and "Atlantic City Seagulls".

[9] After a 12-year hiatus, the team returned to their Generals identity on October 9, 2007, playing against the Globetrotters at the 369th Harlem Armory.

[14][1] The Generals held a tongue-in-cheek "draft" where they selected various unavailable persons including LaVar Ball and Conor McGregor.

[17] Despite having a rare opportunity to play serious, competitive basketball, their long losing run continued with a first round loss.

[2] Playing as the New Jersey Reds, they won 100–99 on January 5, 1971, in Martin, Tennessee, ending their 2,495-game losing streak.

Lemon was furious, saying, "You lost, I didn't lose", but still visited the opposing team’s locker room to congratulate the Reds.

The former Globetrotter,[25] after a few seasons playing for other teams, transferred back into the setup as part of the arranged opposition.