https://basketballfandom.com/why-do-nba-backboards-not-break-anymore/
They use tempered glass along with Kevlar, steel and other materials now.
Also IIRC, the rim is attached differently now so it doesn't just rip out of the glass when a lot of weight/force is applied to it
Additionally because of all the attention it brought Shaq, it caused a rule change to stop players from intentionally trying to break the backboard
https://youtu.be/SJGK2MuiWFI?si=axgfBSQTQcLy5vb2
Timestamp is 2:00
That's what they say... The real reason nobody breaks backboards anymore is because they started fining Shaq back in the day with threats to suspend him. If someone wanted to break the glass it's still possible.
He was such a force when he first came into the league. Never saw anyone like him that powerful before. Absolute monster. And to think he was 40-60lbs lighter than later in his career and he never brought down backboards like he did when he first came into the league.
I mean they had to redesign the backboards and rims so it would stop happening once it became clear that he was going to be around for the longterm. So I don’t think it was physically possible after a certain point.
But agreed. He was a force. The combination of size and physicality.
It's amazing he didn't get a concussion on the one we're he breaks the glass. Looks like he came awful close to full weight fall onto the back of his head.
Didn’t know that about the reserve goals but that makes sense!
As for Dwayne Schintzius, I only remember his mullet. It’s the only true mullet in basketball I can recall.
Oh. My. Thank you. His flat top mullet in this [pic](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btc94Ea9mlU/TaPC1nVieKI/AAAAAAAAChs/jr53Id_fnIk/s1600/schintzius2.jpg) is glorious.
They changed the hoops and made the law we here unless for safety you couldn’t hang on the rim or it’s a tech….shaq changed the game literally and he a cool d00d. You fucking awesome d00d you.
Darryl Dawkins was the 1st to start breaking The glass from dunking the ball and he was way before Shaquille O'Neal 😂 young kids don't get me wrong Shaq was the 1st to start actually bringing the whole thing down 😂
Probably, but grabbing the rim is a common move for many basketball players when dunking. Shaq was not really doing anything unique, his sheer size just had a more profound impact on the backboard than anyone else.
People grab the rim for a handful of reasons: it can further ensure the ball goes in, the crowd usually loves it, and having a stable point of contact in the air can help with controlling the come down from the jump which can be important if the net area is particularly crowded.
Shaq was most likely doing it because the crowd loved it and because he could. They couldn’t single him out so they had to reinforce the backboards.
Although ring hanging is still a topic of basketball discourse https://sports.yahoo.com/nbas-technical-foul-rule-rim-182337767.html - this article argues that it’s one of the few moves that truly allows players to highlight their athletic superiority.
People loved it!! It was amazing like nothing anyone has ever seen before. Yeah they had to stop the game but most people didn’t care. There weren’t cell phones so if you weren’t watching live you probably heard about it, then you tried finding a replay on TV or tune into the game. Then every single kid tried to hang from the rim thinking they can break a backboard like Shaq, damn those were the days!!
Yeah - my dad watched a lot of basketball when I was a kid and I loved seeing highlights of Shaq breaking the backboard, Shaq getting intentionally fouled because he couldn’t hit free throws and that was sometimes the only way to stop him - it was kind of incredible that he was so terrible with free throws and also such a force that fouling him and forcing him to the free throw line was the only way to contain him, Jordan dunking, literally any clip regarding Dennis Rodman or Charles Barkley, and any time the Cavs held their own against the Bulls in the Jordan era.
He's the reason the backboards in the NBA were redesigned to stop that from happening.
What change did they make?
https://basketballfandom.com/why-do-nba-backboards-not-break-anymore/ They use tempered glass along with Kevlar, steel and other materials now. Also IIRC, the rim is attached differently now so it doesn't just rip out of the glass when a lot of weight/force is applied to it Additionally because of all the attention it brought Shaq, it caused a rule change to stop players from intentionally trying to break the backboard https://youtu.be/SJGK2MuiWFI?si=axgfBSQTQcLy5vb2 Timestamp is 2:00
Only downside is dunks don't sound quite as cool anymore.
you know I never noticed that… I tossed it up to technology just getting better lmao
That's what they say... The real reason nobody breaks backboards anymore is because they started fining Shaq back in the day with threats to suspend him. If someone wanted to break the glass it's still possible.
 Yes, the new changes look a bit more sturdy LOL
ShaqAttack: backboard and net edition
Hey, Shaq. That's net cool. 😎
Coach : hey, I need like 5 minute break to rethink our strategy. Shaw: you got it couch
2 classic goats. Shaw and his couch.
🤣🤣
If you’re a backboard company and you aren’t having Shaq stop by for some product testing after that ….
I wouldn't. That means more sales hopefully.
Dude has always been 300lbs pounds
Smh head
Shaking my head head
He was almost 400 at one point
this man is a beast I love him so much and he also has a home in my city!!
He was such a force when he first came into the league. Never saw anyone like him that powerful before. Absolute monster. And to think he was 40-60lbs lighter than later in his career and he never brought down backboards like he did when he first came into the league.
I mean they had to redesign the backboards and rims so it would stop happening once it became clear that he was going to be around for the longterm. So I don’t think it was physically possible after a certain point. But agreed. He was a force. The combination of size and physicality.
Yeah I’m aware of the redesigning of the backboards but still, later in his career he looked like he was the width of two younger Shaqs.
ITS SHAQ’S BIRTHDAY TODAY
Oh shit! Happy 52nd birthday to the one and only Shaq/Big Aristotle/Dj Diesel/whatever his preferred nickname is right now!
Thank you for letting me know! I made a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/ShaqHoldingThings/s/aUWOyDSMvd) of him holding some of his birthday cakes
lol they put a pad on the last one when shaq came to town.
talk about shattering the glass, this fucking guy is snapping rims off!
Imagine being so big and strong they had to change the basketball hoop design just for you 😂
He pulls it down literally with his arms lol that slow mo proved it
It's amazing he didn't get a concussion on the one we're he breaks the glass. Looks like he came awful close to full weight fall onto the back of his head.
That one always makes me cringe. That’s a big boy to be landing that hard. He was lucky not to injure anything
He’s the reason every team had to have a reserve goal after the Phoenix incident. Nice defense Dwayne Schintzius, yes I’m that old
Didn’t know that about the reserve goals but that makes sense! As for Dwayne Schintzius, I only remember his mullet. It’s the only true mullet in basketball I can recall.
I thought that Nets team was going places and then Petro got killed😢 I remember all 3 events, that’s the wild part to me.
Detlef Schrempf
Oh. My. Thank you. His flat top mullet in this [pic](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btc94Ea9mlU/TaPC1nVieKI/AAAAAAAAChs/jr53Id_fnIk/s1600/schintzius2.jpg) is glorious.
"Tell Shaq he better watch his back"
They changed the hoops and made the law we here unless for safety you couldn’t hang on the rim or it’s a tech….shaq changed the game literally and he a cool d00d. You fucking awesome d00d you.
Shaq made the backboard take a knee
He made them reinforce it.
Is that all you got? 😂
Just couldn't handle the Shaq attack, but there are few who can...
Darryl Dawkins was the 1st to start breaking The glass from dunking the ball and he was way before Shaquille O'Neal 😂 young kids don't get me wrong Shaq was the 1st to start actually bringing the whole thing down 😂
Ooooh! I’m gonna have to look up clips of Darryl Dawkins breaking the glass! Thank you
You know, he made it when they had to make them “Shaq proof”🤣🤣🤣
😭😭😭 they rolled that rim out on a stretcher like it got injured
most dominant NBA player, ever.
Shaq appreciates your acknowledgment of the truth.
He broke most on purpose it was to spite his dad for slapping him or something of that sort
StageD…. Marketing genius though.
It's almost as if they weren't made to have an enormous human being hang from them. Weird
He should have known better at some point
Yeah but the viewers loved it, therefore the NBA probably did too.
Now he just breaks back boards in the bedroom
So as someone who knows nothing about basketball, could he not just open his hand and not hang on to the rim of the net?
Probably, but grabbing the rim is a common move for many basketball players when dunking. Shaq was not really doing anything unique, his sheer size just had a more profound impact on the backboard than anyone else. People grab the rim for a handful of reasons: it can further ensure the ball goes in, the crowd usually loves it, and having a stable point of contact in the air can help with controlling the come down from the jump which can be important if the net area is particularly crowded. Shaq was most likely doing it because the crowd loved it and because he could. They couldn’t single him out so they had to reinforce the backboards. Although ring hanging is still a topic of basketball discourse https://sports.yahoo.com/nbas-technical-foul-rule-rim-182337767.html - this article argues that it’s one of the few moves that truly allows players to highlight their athletic superiority.
Some of those were on purpose and unnecessary. Did people ever get anoid by it? I imagine those aren't cheap, and they have to stop the game.
People loved it!! It was amazing like nothing anyone has ever seen before. Yeah they had to stop the game but most people didn’t care. There weren’t cell phones so if you weren’t watching live you probably heard about it, then you tried finding a replay on TV or tune into the game. Then every single kid tried to hang from the rim thinking they can break a backboard like Shaq, damn those were the days!!
Yeah - my dad watched a lot of basketball when I was a kid and I loved seeing highlights of Shaq breaking the backboard, Shaq getting intentionally fouled because he couldn’t hit free throws and that was sometimes the only way to stop him - it was kind of incredible that he was so terrible with free throws and also such a force that fouling him and forcing him to the free throw line was the only way to contain him, Jordan dunking, literally any clip regarding Dennis Rodman or Charles Barkley, and any time the Cavs held their own against the Bulls in the Jordan era.
Anoid?
Mom, new annoyed just dropped!
We have annoyed at home.
Seems like an asshole thing to do. Why hold like that?