Nationality American Name Billy Hassett Weight 84 kg Role Basketball Player | Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg) Died November 15, 1992 Positions Basketball positions Pro career 1946–1951 Height 1.8 m | |
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Born October 21, 1921 ( 1921-10-21 ) College Georgetown (1942–1943)Notre Dame (1944–1946) | ||
Listed height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
William Joseph Hassett (October 21, 1921 – November 15, 1992) was an American professional basketball player.
A 5'11" guard from the University of Notre Dame, where he also lettered in baseball, he was a consensus first team All American selection in 1945 and a second team selection in 1946. Hassett played five seasons (1946–51) in the National Basketball League, the Professional Basketball League of America, and the National Basketball Association as a member of the Buffalo Bisons, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, the Chicago Gears, the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Baltimore Bullets. He averaged 4.5 points per game professionally in the NBA. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 1950 with teammate George Mikan.
Hassett also played one year for the Georgetown Hoyas in 1942–43 (All American selection), playing in the NCAA Championship against Wyoming in 1943. Hassett played for the AAU Dow Chemics in 1944 after Georgetown dropped basketball due to World War II. He transferred to Notre Dame in 1945. Hassett managed the 24 second clock the first time it was used in the NBA at a Syracuse Nationals game. His brother, John Aloysious "Buddy" Hassett, played Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Boston Bees and Braves and the New York Yankees (1936–1942).