Basketball Legend and Globetrotter Rivers Passes Away at 73

Larry “Gator” Rivers, a former Harlem Globetrotter, county commissioner, and a pivotal figure in integrating high school basketball in Georgia, has passed away at the age of 73 due to cancer.

According to the Savannah Morning News, Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis confirmed Rivers’ passing. He was in the hospital in Savannah when he died, as reported by Campbell and Sons Funeral Home.

Rivers played for the all-Black Beach High School team during his sophomore year and helped them win the first Georgia High School Association basketball tournament that included both Black and white players in 1967. He went on to become an all-state player, graduating from the Savannah high school in 1969. He later became a small college All-American at Moberly Junior College in Missouri and an all-conference guard at what is now Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Rivers played and coached for 16 years with the Harlem Globetrotters, reuniting for a time with his high school coach, Russell Ellington. In an interview with WTOC-TV, Rivers revealed how he was tested during his tryout for the Globetrotters: “Let’s see you dribble around this,” team legend Marques Haynes said, leading Rivers into a closet storing tables and folding chairs. Rivers went on to perform impressive dribbling tricks, such as dribbling around chairs and under tables.

Rivers’ legacy in basketball and civil rights will always be remembered, and his contributions to the sport will continue to inspire generations of players to come.

After retiring from the Harlem Globetrotters, Rivers returned to his hometown of Savannah and dedicated his time to community service. He volunteered at local schools, advocated for the renovation of basketball courts in his neighborhood, and founded the non-profit Gatorball Academy to provide mentorship and basketball coaching for youth.

In 2020, Rivers ran for the county commission as a Republican and won the election uncontested after the Democratic nominee was disqualified due to a prior felony conviction. Rivers was highly regarded in his community, with Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis calling him “a legend” and praising his commitment to giving back to the children in his community.

Rivers’ death has been met with condolences from political figures and community members, including U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Johnson remarked that Rivers “never forgot Savannah or Beach High School and dedicated endless hours of mentoring and teaching the rules of basketball and life to scores of young people,” adding that he will always be remembered.

As of Sunday, funeral arrangements for Rivers had not been announced.