After the war, Spira returned to the United States and settled in Manhattan. Despite many lucrative offers, Spira declined to play first base for the Yankees. His above-average height drew interest from a newly-founded professional basketball team known as the Knickerbockers. Spira’s curiosity got the best of him, and he joined the team. Among many contributions to the game, Spira invented the alley-oop. The 24-second shot clock rule was created to combat his many courtside conversations with the young ladies of New York while games were in session. It was also during this time that he became famous for the phrase, “Spira draws the foul!”