Danny Schayes
Encyclopedia
Daniel Leslie "Danny" Schayes (born May 10, 1959) is a retired American
professional basketball
player who played in the NBA from 1981
until 1999
. At 6'11" and 235 pounds, he played at center
. He is the son of Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes
.
n descent in Syracuse, New York
his father's parents were born in Romania and immigrated to the United States
. He is an alum of Jamesville-Dewitt High School
. Schayes scored 1,012 points in his high school career, and led his team to the Onondaga League North title in 1977. He ended the year as a player on the gold medal-winning U.S. basketball team coached by his father at the 1977 Maccabiah Games
(in Tel Aviv, Israel, before beginning his college career.
Schayes had an outstanding senior year at Syracuse University
, in which he averaged nearly 12 points and compiled 284 rebounds for SU. He was named to the 1981 All-Big East first team, and was both an All-American, and an Academic All-American. He still holds the Carrier Dome
record for rebounds in a game, with 23 in a game against Georgetown.
in the 1981 NBA Draft
out of Syracuse University
.
After a career with the Jazz, he played for a number of different teams, notably with the Denver Nuggets
, in which he spent his best years. The highlight of his NBA career was his performance in the 1987–88 season
with the Nuggets, when he averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. In the playoffs that season he averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was 4th in the NBA with a .640 true shooting percentage.
He retired after the NBA lockout
-shortened 1999 season, after averaging 1.5 points in an injury-plagued 19-game stint with the Orlando Magic
. He averaged 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in his career. Schayes also had a spell with the Minnesota Timberwolves
after signing as a free agent prior to the start of the 1999–00 season. However, he made no appearances for them due to his injuries, and was waived.
athletic Hall of Fame. He was honored by the High School in 1989 when the school retired his uniform number "55."
In 2000, the Post Standard named Schayes the "Best male athlete to hail from CNY," and he was also named to the Syracuse University All-Century Basketball team.
He was inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame.
Schayes, who is Jewish, is a member of the New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
, a former Olympic
diver. He currently runs No Limits Investing in Phoenix, Arizona
.
Schayes was part of a promotional campaign put on by the Anti-Defamation League
that depicts him slam dunking and says, "If you really believe in America, prejudice is foul play!"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played in the NBA from 1981
1981-82 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets*Coach of the Year: Gene Shue, Washington Bullets*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
until 1999
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...
. At 6'11" and 235 pounds, he played at center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
. He is the son of Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes
Adolph "Dolph" Schayes is a retired American professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. A top scorer and rebounder, he was a member of the 1955 NBA champion Syracuse Nationals and a 12-time All-Star....
.
Early life
Schayes was born to a Jewish family of RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n descent in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
his father's parents were born in Romania and immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is an alum of Jamesville-Dewitt High School
Jamesville-DeWitt High School
Jamesville-DeWitt High School is a New York State public education facility located in the Town of DeWitt, serving high school students in the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District. The current principal is Mr. Paul Gasparini....
. Schayes scored 1,012 points in his high school career, and led his team to the Onondaga League North title in 1977. He ended the year as a player on the gold medal-winning U.S. basketball team coached by his father at the 1977 Maccabiah Games
1977 Maccabiah Games
Called the Jubilee Maccabiah, the 1977 10th Maccabiah Games saw the number of competing athletes nearly double.From 33 countries, 2,700 athletes came to compete in 26 sports....
(in Tel Aviv, Israel, before beginning his college career.
Schayes had an outstanding senior year at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, in which he averaged nearly 12 points and compiled 284 rebounds for SU. He was named to the 1981 All-Big East first team, and was both an All-American, and an Academic All-American. He still holds the Carrier Dome
Carrier Dome
The Carrier Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, USA. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. High school football championships are also held in "The...
record for rebounds in a game, with 23 in a game against Georgetown.
Professional career
He was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Utah JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1981 NBA Draft
1981 NBA Draft
The 1981 NBA Draft was the 35th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
out of Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
After a career with the Jazz, he played for a number of different teams, notably with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, in which he spent his best years. The highlight of his NBA career was his performance in the 1987–88 season
1987-88 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Mark Jackson, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls...
with the Nuggets, when he averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. In the playoffs that season he averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was 4th in the NBA with a .640 true shooting percentage.
He retired after the NBA lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
-shortened 1999 season, after averaging 1.5 points in an injury-plagued 19-game stint with the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. He averaged 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in his career. Schayes also had a spell with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
after signing as a free agent prior to the start of the 1999–00 season. However, he made no appearances for them due to his injuries, and was waived.
Halls of Fame and awards
He was inducted into the Jamesville-Dewitt High SchoolJamesville-DeWitt High School
Jamesville-DeWitt High School is a New York State public education facility located in the Town of DeWitt, serving high school students in the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District. The current principal is Mr. Paul Gasparini....
athletic Hall of Fame. He was honored by the High School in 1989 when the school retired his uniform number "55."
In 2000, the Post Standard named Schayes the "Best male athlete to hail from CNY," and he was also named to the Syracuse University All-Century Basketball team.
He was inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame.
Schayes, who is Jewish, is a member of the New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Schayes is married to Wendy Lucero-SchayesWendy Lucero-Schayes
Wendy Lucero-Schayes , is a former Olympic diver.A native of Denver, CO who attended Southern Illinois University, Lucero's aim was to compete in gymnastics, figure skating and diving. However, she started her gymnastics and figure skating at a more advanced age than would allow her to compete at...
, a former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
diver. He currently runs No Limits Investing in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Schayes was part of a promotional campaign put on by the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
that depicts him slam dunking and says, "If you really believe in America, prejudice is foul play!"