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“Michael Jordan shattered the backboard on a dunk in Italy”: How the Bulls legend emulated Shaquille O’Neal and broke an entire backboard during an exhibition game in 1986

Samir Mehdi
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“Michael Jordan shattered the backboard on a dunk in Italy”: How the Bulls legend emulated Shaquille O’Neal and broke an entire backboard during an exhibition game in 1986

Michael Jordan showed no remorse on a dunk during an exhibition game in Italy as he shattered the backboard in the process. 

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the greatest dunkers to have ever step foot on NBA hardwood, with this fact being legitimized by him winning perhaps the greatest Slam Dunk contest of all time. He wasn’t just a performance dunker however as his in-game posters weren’t to be trifled with on any given night. 

There are much too many iconic dunks from Michael Jordan to choose from but what comes to mind would have to be him conquering ‘Mount Mutumbo’ and giving him the finger wag. His poster on Alonzo Mourning is also one that gets pushed underneath the rug far too many times.

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One thing however, that Michael Jordan never did in an NBA game, was shatter a backboard. Granted, this is now measly task by any means as it takes an inordinate amount of power to pull this off. 

Shaquille O’Neal and Darryl Dawkins popularized this feat as they were known to have shattered a substantial amount of backboard. 

Michael Jordan takes it to the rim with authority in Italy. 

Michael Jordan has travelled the world over his near two-decade long NBA career and played a plethora of exhibition games. Perhaps his most famous would be the Bulls’s 1997 trip to Paris but one that doesn’t get talked about enough is his game in Italy on August 26, 1985. 

It was a Nike exhibition game in Trieste and MJ got a full head of steam, going coast-to-coast before raising up and dunking the ball, resulting in a shattered backboard. The game, of course, had to be stopped due to this but this moment is highly regarded as one that led to a monumental increase in Jordan’s popularity.

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It should be noted that the 1984-85 NBA season saw a rookie Michael Jordan take the NBA over by storm, winning Rookie of the Year honor by averaging over 28 points a game. 

Couple that with this backboard-shattering dunk and Jordan was on hiw way into becoming a global superstar in no time. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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