A backboard hasn’t been broken in the NBA for a long time. Shaquille O’Neal was the last to break a backboard when he basically dismantled the entire hoop. Basket technology has improved over the years to prevent the stoppages they would need to fix the hoops and avert possible injuries. Daryl Dawkins rocking the rim to pieces twice in 1980 led the league to make their first wholesale changes. Next, Shaq brought down the whole board and then folded the stanchion, bringing about even more changes.
The NBA Players Most Likely to Break the Backboard
It is nearly impossible to break a hoop now, but assuming we used the hoops during Dawkins’ era, what NBA player would have the best chance to smash the glass?
5. Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLd8n4_dRH4
Bennett is perhaps best known for being the worst number one pick in history. Overall, he gets a bad rap, but the dude can straight slam it with the best of them. A big strong guy like Bennett is the perfect build for breaking the glass. He’s cut down his weight considerably in his second year and posts the best shoulders in the NBA outside of Dwight Howard.
4. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Drummond, like many in the NBA, almost exclusively relies on his athleticism, and he’s as athletic as they come. Clocking in at 6’10″ and weighing 275 pounds, Drummond is a freak of nature. He can sky to the rim and slam as hard as anyone. You’ll see the rim shake for several seconds quite often after Big Daddy Drummond slams one home.
3. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzxFJa6rfsg
Blake Griffin is probably the best in game dunker in the NBA today. It seems that almost every night, you can see Griffin on Sportscenter throwing one down on some poor power forward. In the video, Griffin makes Pau Gasol eat his lunch twice, but the first dunk is just ferocious. Griffin can sky with the best of them and he also has the power to break the board.
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Possibly the most impressive athlete in the history of the world, LeBron is a prime candidate to ruin the rim, though with his recent weight loss, he isn’t as a prime candidate as he once was. Still, a 245 pound beast flying through the air can throw it down with extreme force. The King has every bit of power necessary to break a board.
1. Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iwZRgraojA
Dwight Howard is the most physically imposing player in the league today. He can be best described with one word: shoulders. With the shoulders of a demi-god, Dwight has all the power he would ever need to break a backboard. I think that Dwight could very easily do so if he played during Dawkins’ time. You may not like Dwight, but you have to admit, he is a bad, bad, bad man.
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