FRISCO (AP)  Marques Haynes, the dribbling specialist who was the first Harlem Globetrotter to become a Hall of Famer, has been hired by the NBA D-League’s Texas Legends to help the front office.

The 85-year-old Haynes says basketball is constantly on his mind and that he can’t wait to assist in any way the Legends’ staff that already includes Spud Webb and Nancy Lieberman. Del Harris is the team’s coach.

The Legends, the affiliate of the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, announced Haynes’ addition Tuesday. The D-League team is owned by Donnie Nelson, the general manager of the Mavericks.

Haynes played at Langston University in Oklahoma from 1942-46, when the team was 112-3. Langston had an upset victory over the Globetrotters in 1946 in Oklahoma City.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)