[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by LRZ

Does the game really need all this constant tinkering?

From my upcoming magazine article (first draft, several more paragraphs(George Mikan, Bob Kurland, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), Trent Tucker, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Allen Iverson, and Skylar Diggins.)):

On January 15, 1892, James Naismith published his rules for the game of basketball, the game that he invented. Basketball games played under these original thirteen rules were quite different from the games played today. Throughout the history of the game of basketball certain players have held enormous physical advantages that completely changed the way the game was played on both offense, and defense. These players were so dominant, that they caused many rule changes, rule changes that were supposed to reduce the dominance of these gifted players to make their style of play a bit fairer to other players. Most of these rule changes were originally instituted in NBA, or NCAA games, but these changes eventually trickled down to NFHS rules.

Leroy Edwards (Kentucky 1934-1935, NBL 1935-1949), a six foot, five inch, Kentucky All-American center, a prolific scorer in the days of low scoring games, is generally recognized as the player responsible for the implementation of the three second rule. Enacted in 1936, the rule was originally designed to limit rough play near the basket. The three second rule states that an offensive player cannot remain in an opponent’s free throw lane area for more than three consecutive seconds while his team has the ball in the frontcourt. A game central to this rule's introduction was that between coach Adolph Rupp’s University of Kentucky, and New York University, held in Madison Square Garden, on January 5, 1935, a game that was especially rough. While the three second rule was originally adopted to reduce roughness between big men in the free throw lane area, it is now used to prevent a tall offensive player from gaining an advantage by waiting close to the basket.

Ralph Sampson’s (Virginia 1979-1983, NBA 1983-1995) controversial basket against Brigham Young in the 1981 NCAA tournament prompted an NCAA rule change. The seven foot, four inch, Virginia All-American center dunked the ball with his free hand braced against the backboard. The basket led to a five point swing for Virginia, which capitalized on a technical foul against Brigham Young's Danny Ainge, who thought Sampson's play was illegal. Actually Sampson did nothing wrong, since, at the time, there was no rule making this an illegal play. Since 1983, NFHS rules now state that it is illegal for player to place a hand on the backboard, or the ring, to gain an advantage.

Darryl Dawkins (NBA 1975-2000), the Philadelphia 76ers six foot, eleven inch, 251 pound center, in a game against the Kansas City Kings at Municipal Auditorium on November 13, 1979, dunked and broke the backboard, sending the King’s Bill Robinzine ducking. Three weeks later he did it again, this time at home against the San Antonio Spurs at the Spectrum. Thus, Dawkins became famous for his dunks shattering backboards, and is credited for being the player to cause the NBA to introduce breakaway rims. Breakaway rims are now an essential element of the game of basketball. A broken backboard, or distorted rim, could delay a game for hours. In 1981, the NFHS adopted specifications for breakaway rims.

Shaquille O'Neal (LSU 1989-1992, NBA 1992-2011) a seven foot, one inch, 325 pound center, was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA. O'Neal dunked with so much power that he broke the steel supports holding backboards during games against the New Jersey Nets, and the Phoenix Suns during the 1992–93 NBA season. This prompting the NBA to increase the strength and stability of the backboard supports, and change the stanchion design, for the following 1993–94 season.