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William “Pop” Gates, one of the greatest players

William “Pop” Gates, one of the greatest players
Published: December 2, 1999 | Updated: October 17, 2025 1 min read
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William “Pop” Gates, one of the greatest players

On Dec. 2, 19991999  William “Pop” Gates, one of the greatest players of the 1930s and 1940s barnstorming era of basketball died of heart failure. Gates, who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989, earned acclaim as a player-coach of the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1950s. But those who played against him during the earlier era place him among the best of his time.

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Tags: 1999 Basketball Hall Dec. 2 Fame Gates Harlem Globetrotters Pop William

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