<P> The breakaway rim was first used by the NCAA during the 1978 Final Four in St. Louis . Although Darryl Dawkins notoriously shattered two backboards with his dunks in 1979 , the old - style bolted rim structure was not phased out of the NBA until the 1981 -- 82 season , when breakaway rims debuted as a uniform equipment upgrade . </P>
<P> The breakaway rim was first used by the NCAA during the 1978 Final Four in St. Louis . Although Darryl Dawkins notoriously shattered two backboards with his dunks in 1979 , the old - style bolted rim structure was not phased out of the NBA until the 1981 -- 82 season , when breakaway rims debuted as a uniform equipment upgrade . </P>
when did the nba start using breakaway rims
when did the nba start using breakaway rims
1981 -- 82 season
1981 -- 82 season