The Harlem Globetrotters will be whistling, smiling and spinning their way to Des Moines this Friday. The team, famous for its fun-loving antics and its philanthropic efforts, will perform at 7 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena.

More recognized than perhaps any other sports team in the world, the Globetrotters have won more than 22,000 games since its humble beginnings in 1926.

Past rosters have sported some of basketball’s greatest players, including Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain. Current Globetrotters’ power forward Otis Key has been on the road promoting upcoming Globetrotters games.

During a stop in Des Moines last weekend, Key took time to answer Pulse’s questions.

Dan McClanahan: You played professionally in Spain from 1996 to 1998. Did you ever get offered a shot in the NBA?

Otis Key: Yes. I turned it down; I actually was supposed to go to Phoenix’s training camp after Globetrotters training camp, but I liked the Globetrotters so much that I never made it there.

DM: What new skills did you have to learn in order to ‘fit in’ with the Globetrotters’ style?

OK: Probably the main one is just learning how to turn off my competitive side and just work on my charisma and being entertaining.

DM: How long can you spin a basketball on your finger?

OK: I think I’ve been timed for around a minute. It really depends on how good of a spin you get the ball going at. If it’s a good spin, the ball will go for a long time.

DM: Is the ability to do tricks a requirement for being a Globetrotter?

OK: Actually, they don’t really even care about that. They just care that you’re able to play at a high level each and every night and that you’re able to put the ball in the hole a little better than the next guy.

DM: A few years back you were in a Burger King commercial for their Bacon Hickory Cheddar Burger. What was that like?

OK: [laughs] Well, I understand now why actors and actresses make so much money. It was a lot of work for a 30-second commercial, but at the same time it was a lot of fun and something I really enjoyed. I would do it again, but I’ll tell you what: After taking a bite out of 200 hamburgers, I would leave that part out.

DM: Do you ever eat the Bacon Hickory Cheddar Burger now?

OK: No (laughs). Not at all. I very rarely will still eat at Burger King now.

DM: Do you ever get sick of the whistling Globetrotters theme song?

OK: Yeah, I hear that in my sleep! I’ll tell you, man, sometimes I wake up thinking I’m late to a game because of that song. It’s very catchy, so it’s very hard to get tired of that song because every time you hear it you get to moving your feet and feeling good. I love the way it sounds.

DM: What’s your most memorable game experience?

OK: My most memorable Globetrotter experience, I’d have to say, was probably in Australia.

We played the first game in the building where the Olympians were going to play in Sydney.

From there we played in front of a standing-room-only-packed-house-14,000-plus-people game in Budapest, Hungary. That was quite an experience also.

DM: How many games do you guys play in a typical year?

OK: A little over 200. We keep busy. We just surpassed our 22,000th win. We’re still putting them in the record books, still going strong and still winning ball games.

DM: Why are you nicknamed Mr. O.K.?

OK: Well I do everything all right, you know. I don’t do too much. I don’t try to do too much and everything just seems to work out smooth when I’m on the court.

DM: Have you ever been in a video game?

OK: I haven’t, but I’m looking forward to being in the Globetrotter video game. We’re working on getting that out right now – it should be out late this fall, right in time for the holidays. I’m looking forward to it; it should be hot.

DM: Are you going to get it and play as yourself? That’s what I’d do.

OK: (Laughs) Definitely. I plan on doing that.

DM: Does anybody on the team still have an afro?

OK: Eugene Edgerson. We call him old-school. That’s his thing. It looks good on him.

DM: When you were a young athlete, who were your inspirations who motivated you to succeed?

OK: Well, I’d definitely say probably family. Mom, you know, she’s always been pushing and pushing. My dad’s still mad at me because I’m playing basketball instead of baseball, so I’d say my mom motivated me the most.