When Was The Last NBA Backboard Broken?
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We all know that feeling when we see a backboard shattering during an NBA game. The loud noise, the glass falling to the ground, and the players scrambling to get out of the way. It’s a moment that always gets our attention. But when was the last time an NBA backboard was actually broken?
backboards were first used in the NBA in 1946
The backboards were first used in the NBA in 1946. George Mikan was the first player to break a backboard, and he did it twice in his career. The last NBA backboard to be broken was on April 23, 1999, when Shaquille O’Neal dunked with such force that the backboard shattered.
backboards were made of wood up until 1981
backboards were made of wood up until 1981, when fiberglass and metal backboards were introduced. The last backboard made entirely of glass was used during the 1986-87 season.
In 2008,Manute Bol’s son, Adam, broke a backboard in a high school game in New Jersey. The 6-foot-7 center slammed home a one-handed dunk and the force was too much for the backboard to handle.
backboards made of tempered glass were first used in the NBA in 1983
In 1982, the NBA adopted the use of backboards made of tempered glass. These backboards were used until 1990 when the league mandated that all teams use breakaway rims.
It wasn’t until after a series of high-profile dunks by Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal that shattered backboards became a common occurrence in the NBA.
The most recent backboard break occurred during an exhibition game between the Houston Rockets and Shanghai Sharks on October 12, 2019. The break was caused by Zhou Qi, a player for the Rockets, who dunked with such force that the entire backboard shattering.
the last NBA backboard was broken in 2009
The last NBA backboard was broken in 2009 by Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. The backboard was made of tempered glass, which is designed to resist breakage. However, when enough force is applied, even tempered glass will break. Backboards are now made of polycarbonate, a type of plastic that is much more resistant to breakage.
the last NBA backboard was broken by Shaquille O’Neal
The last NBA backboard was broken by Shaquille O’Neal on April 23, 1993 in a game between the Orlando Magic and the New Jersey Nets. The backboard was shatterproof glass, but the force of O’Neal’s dunk was too much for it to handle. No one was injured, but the game had to be delayed for nearly an hour while a new backboard was brought in.
