The basketball backboard is attached to the top of the basketball stand and ring, and provides the basketball player with a method of scoring by shooting off the backboard, through the ring and into the net. Basketball boards are usually rectangular, although there are some fan shaped ones available to purchase as well, and they are either made from metal, fibreglass, acrylic or tempered glass. Together with the basketball ring, net and stand, the basketball backboard makes up what is known as the basketball system, a packaged product that retailers now offer to make it easier to purchase all of the necessary basketball equipment.

The standard basketball backboard is rectangular and measures 1.80 metres in length and is 1.05 metres in height. The bottom of the backboard is supported at a height of 2.90 metres from the ground by the basketball stand, ensuring that the ring is the required 10ft high. A smaller rectangular box is painted or drawn using tape on the surface of the backboard which displays the general area that the basketball needs to be thrown at to go off the backboard and into the ring, thus scoring points for the throwing player's team. This rectangular box measures 0.59 metres in length and 0.45 metres in height and sits directly above the basketball ring, which is 0.45 metres in diameter.

Most basketball backboards are painted white, however teams may choose to have their own logos or emblems on them for decorative or traditional purposes, however these are regulated by the NBA. The official NCAA (college basketball) basketball backboard has a blue background with an orange ring.

More basketball equipment: Basketball Clothing