Reference for Throwing Ball off Own Backboard

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BigCat

A player's own backboard has not ever and is not the same as a ball hitting the floor. The opponent's backboard, and only the opponent's, is considered same as hitting floor.

You might wish to check rule 4-4-5:

A ball which touches the front faces or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds; see also 4-15-1.

Then 4-15-1 that says the ball touching your own board is not a dribble but doesn't remove the fact that it otherwise considered the same as touching the floor.

... It is not a part of a dribble when the ball touches a player’s own backboard.

Why the distinction? I think it is more historic than anything, perhaps hearkening back to the time when jump balls were held in the circle at each FT line (yes, they were once complete circles). A tapped jump ball hitting the backboard would have ended the jump ball restrictions. I can't think of any other reason it would matter aside from making it clear that it is still inbounds even though it is mounted on an OOB surface.