A backboard shattering is an accident or stunt in basketball. It occurs when a player slam dunks 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.[1]
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.[2] The NBA began using them after Darryl Dawkins shattered two backboards with his slam dunks during the 1979 season.[3]
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.[1] During the NCAA tournament in 1996, Darvin Ham shattered a backboard while playing for Texas Tech against the University of North Carolina.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] In the ABA, Charlie Hentz shattered two backboards in the same game on November 6, 1970 resulting in the game being cancelled.