Shattering The Backboard Will Result in a Technical Foul

Published on October 23rd, 2024 6:18 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


From time to time, a particularly savage dunk will result in the backboard being shattered in the NBA.

Did you know that shattering the backboard will result in a technical foul?

That's right - let's say that a still-playing Shaquille O'Neal cuts to the basket and throws down a dunk, which shatters the backboard, leaving Shaq with the rim in his hand.

According to the NBA, if this occurs DURING a game (and not in pre-game or halftime warm-ups, an automatic non-unsportsmanlike conduct technical will be called against Shaq.

It doesn't matter about Shaq's intent or if he threw down a particularly powerful dunk because he was trying to fire up his team - shattering the backboard will result in an automatic technical foul being assessed.

The NBA, however, does point out that players CAN NOT be tossed out of a game for shattering the backboard.

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The good news for the NBA is that their backboards don't shatter very often.

In fact, the last time that a backboard was shattered was way back on April 23rd, 1993, when a young Shaquille O'Neal broke the stanchion in half while playing against the New Jersey Nets.

Shaq had to run for his life in that instance, as the entire apparatus almost came crashing down on him.

Chris Morris and Darryl Dawkins are some of the other players who have managed to shatter backboards over the courses of their careers.

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The NBA had more "bigger" players back in the day, which resulted in more backboards getting shattered. In this day and age, even the "big men" are much leaner.

Or, there is always the possibility that backboards are simply designed better in this day and age, and less likely to break.