Ayrton Oneill
In basketball, the players who score the most are usually those in positions 2 or 3, also known as the shooting guard and small forward. The shooting guard is often referred to as a 'wing' and is typically a prolific shooter from three-point range and long mid-range. The small forward should be able to do a bit of everything on the court, from playing defence to shooting from mid-range and close to the basket. The power forward is also often the team's most powerful and dependable scorer, able to shoot close to the basket and from mid-range. Point guards are often more focused on setting up plays and assisting their teammates, but there are also scoring point guards who can shoot from three-point or mid-range distance.
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What You'll Learn
Point guards
The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has a highly specialized role and is usually the shortest player on the court. They are responsible for running the team's offense by controlling the ball and ensuring that it gets to the right teammate at the right time.
Passing skills, court vision, and ball handling are crucial for point guards. They are expected to be vocal leaders on the court, with a good understanding of the game and the ability to adapt to the opposing team's defense. They must also control the pace of the game. While point guards are often valued more for their assist totals than their scoring, they can also be scoring point guards, who can shoot from three-point or mid-range distances.
Some notable point guards include Magic Johnson, who won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) three times, and is considered by some to be the best point guard in NBA history. John Stockton holds the NBA record for assists, and Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard are known for their scoring abilities as point guards.
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Shooting guards
The shooting guard is one of the five common basketball positions, denoted as the number 2, the two-guard, or the off-guard. The primary role of a shooting guard is to score points, typically near the perimeter areas of the court as well as near the basket. A strong shooting guard can force the defence to play on the perimeter, creating space and opening up passing lanes to get the ball inside.
A shooting guard should be a strong ball handler, able to create their own shot off the dribble and get the ball up the court against the press. They should also be able to move without the ball, working off screens to get open and create separation from their defender. This movement can lead to defensive breakdowns as it is difficult for the defence to cover both the offensive player with the ball and any off-ball action at the same time.
When attacking the rim, a shooting guard can utilise a quick first step to get past their defender and score before their defender can recover. They can also use dribbling moves such as a crossover or between-the-legs dribble to break down the defender, before scoring at the rim with a layup, dunk, or floater.
A shooting guard's most important skill is their jump shot, particularly from three-point range. They should be able to consistently make open, uncontested shots from mid-range or three-point distance, and work on a quick release, taking shots directly after receiving a pass without dribbling.
Some of the greatest basketball players of all time, such as Michael Jordan and Dwayne Wade, have played as shooting guards, demonstrating the importance of this position.
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Small forwards
Scoring is a crucial aspect of the small forward position. They must be proficient scorers, capable of putting points on the board in a variety of ways. Small forwards can score from long shots and close ones, utilising their athleticism to drive to the basket or knock down perimeter jump shots. They are also known for their ability to “get to the line” and draw fouls by aggressively attempting plays, layups, or slam dunks. Some small forwards, like Kevin Durant, are very accurate shooters, while others, like LeBron James, prefer to initiate physical contact with opposing players.
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Power forwards
Some notable examples of power forwards include Karl Malone, Lauren Jackson, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.
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Centres
The centre (C) or "big", is one of the five positions in a basketball game. The centre is usually the tallest player on the team, with great strength and body mass. In the NBA, centres are typically close to 7 feet (2.13 m) tall, while in the WNBA they are usually above 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m).
In the 1990s, smaller forwards like Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley excelled at traditional centre functions, anticipating a trend towards shorter and quicker post players. In the modern era, especially in the NBA, some highly skilled and versatile centres can score points from three-point range.
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Frequently asked questions
Point guards are required to do many things that are different from the other four positions on the court. They are often referred to as dribblers or playmakers and usually have a high number of assists. They have a more team-focused mentality and can be further categorized as scoring point guards or facilitator-type point guards.
A scoring point guard can shoot from three-point or mid-range distance. They can also score around the basket with floaters or acrobatic layups.
A facilitator-type point guard has a high basketball IQ and can anticipate plays before they happen. They are also known as 'Coach on the Floor' and are masters of the half-court set offense.
Shooting guards are prolific from three-point range and long mid-range. They are also known as the 'two' or the 'off guard'. They must work to stay free while others pass the ball around before they can get the ball to make their shot.
While anyone can be a great scorer, the power forward is often the team's most powerful and dependable scorer. They can score close to the basket and shoot mid-range jump shots from 10 to 15 feet.
