Slapping the Backboard: Historical Inquiry

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It would take a major earthquake to vibrate most backboards back then.

More backboard history:

Darryl Dawkins (NBA 1975-1989), 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 away. 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 backboard shattering dunks 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 while playing for the Orlando Magic during the 1992–93 NBA season. This prompted the NBA to increase the strength and stability of the backboard supports and change the stanchion design for the following 1993–94 season. The NFHS added backboard support specifications to the rules in 1996-97.

[BillyMac]

More backboard history.

My town had the first glass backboards Connecticut. They're still in the ancient building that used to be the high school that is now an elementary school where recreation and travel games are now played.

A teacher colleague of mine played basketball at this former high school. The entry to the gymnasium was on the endline directly under the backboard. As visiting fans entered the gym they would all take a few seconds to look at these amazing glass backboards.

Oddly, only a part of the backboard was glass. It was wood from the bottom of the backboard to the level of the ring. The ring was attached to the wood portion. It was glass from that level to the top of the backboard.