Leo Ferris

Leo F. Ferris
Born	Template:Birth date Elmira, New York, U.S.
Died	June 1, 1993(1993-06-01) (aged 76)
Occupation(s)	Sports executive, entrepreneur
Known for	Co-founder of Buffalo Bisons; President of the National Basketball League; co-creator of the NBA 24-second shot clock

Leo F. Ferris (May 31, 1917 – June 1, 1993) was a prominent American sports executive and entrepreneur originating from Elmira, New York. He significantly contributed to the establishment of the National Basketball Association.

As a co-founder of the National Basketball League's Buffalo Bisons, Ferris helped lay the foundation for what is now known as the Atlanta Hawks. In 1946, serving as general manager of the Bisons, he made a groundbreaking move by signing Pop Gates, who became the first African American athlete in the NBL, preceding Jackie Robinson’s debut in Major League Baseball.

At just 31 years old in 1948, Ferris assumed the presidency of the NBL and played a crucial role in orchestrating its merger with the Basketball Association of America, which resulted in the formation of today’s NBA. He is also widely recognized as one of the main creators behind the NBA’s 24-second shot clock.

Managerial career in basketball

Together with Ben Kerner, Ferris established the Buffalo Bisons franchise in 1946. This team underwent several relocations and rebrandings—becoming the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, and St. Louis Hawks—before ultimately evolving into the Atlanta Hawks. On October 12, 1946, Ferris made history by signing Pop Gates, breaking racial barriers within professional basketball.

Advancing through leadership roles, Ferris served as vice president and then president of the NBL. He was instrumental in negotiating the league’s merger with the BAA to create the NBA. Indiana sports journalist John Whitaker regarded Ferris as a highly influential owner and a principal architect behind the NBA’s inception.

Ferris was later invited to restructure the Syracuse Nationals organization, where he held the position of general manager. During his tenure, he secured key players such as Dolph Schayes, Al Cervi, and Billy Gabor. This talented roster led Syracuse to three appearances in the NBA Finals and secured a championship title in 1955.

In response to concerns about slow gameplay and to enhance spectator interest, Ferris collaborated with Syracuse owner Danny Biasone to develop the innovative 24-second shot clock. This invention is credited with revitalizing professional basketball by increasing game tempo.

Ferris also introduced celebrity halftime performances featuring renowned entertainers like Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sarah Vaughan, and Duke Ellington. These events boosted attendance figures and enriched game-day entertainment, thereby improving overall fan engagement.

Later career

After departing from sports management in 1955, Ferris pursued a career in real estate. He passed away in 1993 at age 76 due to complications from Huntington's disease.

Halls of Fame

Ferris has been nominated on nine occasions by the Veterans Committee for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, spanning from 2016 through 2024; however, he has not yet been inducted.

One factor contributing to this omission is that the NBA officially traces its origins to the BAA (established in 1946) rather than acknowledging the earlier NBL (founded in 1937), despite their merger in 1949. Bill Himmelman, formerly an official NBA historian, described Ferris’s exclusion as both "sad and comical."

Ferris holds membership in three regional sports halls of fame: Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, Chemung County Sports Hall of Fame, and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

In 2017, an induction video celebrating Ferris’s professional accomplishments was produced by the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.