By 1893, the first backboards were created to keep fans from interfering. They were originally made out of chicken wire, as were the baskets. With the addition of backboards, the game changed to include rebounding.

When did the NBA switch to glass backboards?

According to the book “Basketball's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Hoops' Outrageous Dunkers, Incredible Buzzer-beaters, and Other Oddities” by Floyd Conner, glass backboards were introduced in 1909 but banned briefly in 1916 due to a rule requiring white paint on all backboards.

Why is there a backboard in basketball?

As the game became a spectator sport, backboards came into use to prevent the ball from flying into the spectator area. Chicken wire provided the first protection from spectator interference with the ball, but wooden backboards were soon introduced to the sport.