THE Harlem Globetrotters are one of the most well-known basketball teams around the world due to their winning ways.

The Washington Generals, on the other hand, are popular for quite the opposite.

The Washington Generals have lost over 17,000 games
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The Washington Generals have lost over 17,000 gamesCredit: Getty

They haven't won a game since 1971
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They haven’t won a game since 1971Credit: Getty

The Generals tour with the Harlem Globetrotters
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The Generals tour with the Harlem GlobetrottersCredit: Getty
Former professional basketball player Red Klotz played and coached for the Philadelphia Sphas, which eventually relocated and renamed the Washington Generals.

The Generals have the most losses and the worst record of any professional basketball team.

All time, the team has over 17,000 combined losses.

In fact, they toured with the winningest basketball team of all time, the Globetrotters, for over 40 years.

The Generals even have a win over the team, although the Generals’ last win came in 1971.

Despite their losing nature, the Generals continued to draw reputable players, like Antoine Maddox, who watched the team when he was younger.

The shooting guard recalls having an amazing time with the team.

Maddox said to BBC: “I had the time of my life playing with this team. You’re traveling with one of the most famous teams in the world.

“That’s pretty awesome.”

Maddox played with the squad from 2007 to 2010.

With stops in Europe, South America, and Asia, Maddox particularly enjoyed the travel aspect.

He continued: “It was the best experience you can ever have coming right out of college.

“I ended up hitting 26 different countries in my three years.”

Today, the Generals still tour with the Globetrotters.

In 2017, Herschend Family Entertainment, the owners of the Globetrotters, bought the Generals from the Klotz family.

NBA legend and TNT analyst Kenny Smith is the general manager.

As it stands, the Generals will continue to travel with the Globetrotters in losing fashion.

Red Klotz coached and owned the team
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Red Klotz coached and owned the teamCredit: YouTube/@donvalleydon

The Generals were formerly the Philadelphia Sphas
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The Generals were formerly the Philadelphia SphasCredit: Getty