Backboard shattering
Encyclopedia
A backboard shattering is an accident or stunt
in basketball
. It occurs when a player slam dunk
s the ball hard enough to break the fiberglass
of the backboard
. The stunt has caused games to be canceled or delayed, serious injuries to occur and expensive costs of clean up and replacement. Shattering a backboard is extremely dangerous sending shards of glass flying over the players and fans. In the NBA, shattering a backboard during a game is penalized with a technical foul and a possible fine towards the player.
Backboard shattering has altered the game in many different ways. In 1967, the dunk was banned in high school and college basketball. The rule-makers claimed the dunk was outlawed to prevent injury and equipment damage. After multiple issues with the new rule, nine years later they allowed the slam dunk to be legal again due to the invention of the breakaway rim
. The NBA began using them after Darryl Dawkins
shattered two backboards with his slam dunks during the 1979 season.
Many athletes have been known for breaking the backboards during their career. Shaquille O’Neal has slam dunked so hard that he broke the supports holding two backboards during games against the New Jersey Nets and the Phoenix Suns. Following the 1993 season the NBA increased steel brace strength and increased stability of the backboard to prevent the hoop from falling down. During the NCAA tournament in 1996, Darvin Ham shattered a backboard while playing for Texas Tech against the University of North Carolina.
Throughout the history of basketball there have always been athletes with the size and strength to slam dunk the ball through the rim. Chuck Connors
was the first NBA player to shatter a backboard, he did it while playing for the Boston Celtics in 1946. All-star power forward Gus Johnson
of the Baltimore Bullets became famous as a backboard breaker in the NBA, shattering three during his career in the 1960s and early 1970s. In the ABA, Charlie Hentz
shattered two backboards in the same game on November 6, 1970 resulting in the game being cancelled.
Stunt
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre, or cinema...
in 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...
. It occurs when a player slam dunk
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
s the ball hard enough to break the fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
of the backboard
Backboard (basketball)
A backboard is a piece of basketball equipment. It is a raised vertical board with a basket attached. It is made of a flat, rigid piece of material, often plexiglass. It is usually rectangular as used in NBA, NCAA and international basketball...
. The stunt has caused games to be canceled or delayed, serious injuries to occur and expensive costs of clean up and replacement. Shattering a backboard is extremely dangerous sending shards of glass flying over the players and fans. In the NBA, shattering a backboard during a game is penalized with a technical foul and a possible fine towards the player.
Backboard shattering has altered the game in many different ways. In 1967, the dunk was banned in high school and college basketball. The rule-makers claimed the dunk was outlawed to prevent injury and equipment damage. After multiple issues with the new rule, nine years later they allowed the slam dunk to be legal again due to the invention of the breakaway rim
Breakaway rim
A breakaway rim is a basketball hoop that can bend slightly when a player dunks a basketball, and then instantly snap back into a horizontal position when the player releases it. It allows players to dunk the ball without shattering the backboard, and it reduces the possibility of wrist injuries...
. The NBA began using them after Darryl Dawkins
Darryl Dawkins
Darryl Dawkins is a retired American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career...
shattered two backboards with his slam dunks during the 1979 season.
Many athletes have been known for breaking the backboards during their career. Shaquille O’Neal has slam dunked so hard that he broke the supports holding two backboards during games against the New Jersey Nets and the Phoenix Suns. Following the 1993 season the NBA increased steel brace strength and increased stability of the backboard to prevent the hoop from falling down. During the NCAA tournament in 1996, Darvin Ham shattered a backboard while playing for Texas Tech against the University of North Carolina.
Throughout the history of basketball there have always been athletes with the size and strength to slam dunk the ball through the rim. Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors was an American actor, writer, and professional basketball and baseball player. His best known role from his forty-year film career was Lucas McCain in the 1960s ABC hit Western series The Rifleman....
was the first NBA player to shatter a backboard, he did it while playing for the Boston Celtics in 1946. All-star power forward Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson (basketball)
Gus Johnson was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Bullets, and a final season split between the Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers of the ABA...
of the Baltimore Bullets became famous as a backboard breaker in the NBA, shattering three during his career in the 1960s and early 1970s. In the ABA, Charlie Hentz
Charlie Hentz
Charles Hentz is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'5" forward from Arkansas AM&N College, Hentz was signed by the Pittsburgh Condors of the American Basketball Association in Fall 1970. He appeared in 57 games during the 1970-71 ABA season, averaging 6.0 points per game and 6.8...
shattered two backboards in the same game on November 6, 1970 resulting in the game being cancelled.