A basketball innovator and one of the founding fathers of the National Basketball Association, Danny Biasone left an indelible mark on the game and the city of Syracuse.

Biasone founded the Syracuse Nationals in 1946 and served as the president and owner until 1963. During that time, the Nats posted winning records in 11 of 14 seasons, appeared in the NBA finals three times (1950, 1954, 1955) and won the NBA championship in 1955. Among the National Basketball Hall of Famers who played for the Nats were Al Cervi, Hal Greer, Alex Hannum, Dolph Schayes, Earl Lloyd and George Yardley.

But in 1954, Biasone changed the basketball world by introducing the 24-second shot clock. He conceived the 24-second clock as a way to speed up the game. The NBA instituted the 24-second clock for the 1954-55 season. Biasone’s shot clock concept was

later adopted by college (45 seconds) and international (30 seconds) competition. In addition to the 24-second clock, Biasone championed for a backcourt rule that awarded two foul shots for backcourt fouls (1953).

Biasone earned the National Basketball Hall of Fame's John Bunn Award in 1982 and was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. In addition to his contributions to basketball, Biasone was also a bowling proprietor as he owned the Syracuse Sports Center, an Eastwood bowling landmark.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1928: Played basketball and graduated Blodgett Vocational High School.

1946-1963: President and founder of the Syracuse Nationals.

1954: Conceived and introduced the 24-second shot clock to the National Basketball Association.

1955: Syracuse Nats win NBA Championship

1962: Named the Italian American Athletic Club's "Outstanding Senior Sports Citizen of Syracuse”.

1982: Recipient of John Bunn Award, Basketball Hall of Fame.

1983: Recipient of the Blind Men and Criers “Edward J Kearney Award” for service to the Syracuse community.

2000: Inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame.