About the Model

From the Tatyana V. Popović Archives and Special Collections at LeMoyne College -- The 24-second shot clock, invented in Syracuse, saved the NBA. Before the clock was introduced in 1954, the game was stagnant and fans' enthusiasm was dwindling. Rules at the time allowed the team with possession of the ball to hold it indefinitely. This meant that as soon as a team had a slight lead, they would hold onto the ball and simply play keep-away until the game ended, preserving their lead. This was because if the team that was winning took a shot and scored, the ball would return to the opposing team, giving them a chance to catch up. The team in the lead wanted to offer no chance of a comeback, so they would just hold the ball. The shot clock changed the rules so that the team in possession of the ball had 24 seconds to attempt to shoot a basket. If the time ran out, the ball would be given over to the other team. This killed the stall tactics, sped up play, and helped rope fans back into the game.