In honor of Kobe Bryant’s last regular season game, here is an inspirational quote from him that fits this blog post: “I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it’s sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.” The best part about a basketball team, besides winning together of course, is the team itself. Sure, it is great to find your position on the court and dominate until the last second ticks off the clock, but the best position is the one that impacts the team as a whole. As Bryant says, it’s not always about being on the court. Sometimes it’s simply supporting your teammates in whatever way possible.
That being said, it is important to know what position best suits you on the court as a player. In my many years of playing basketball, at one point or another I have played every position on the court. However, I was not suited for all of them nor did I like all the positions. Basketball positions can be broken down in three ways depending on the level – for example recreational leagues for younger children versus the high school, collegiate, or professional level. Often times in leagues with younger children, positions aren’t assigned or they are simplified to two types: guard and forward.
Guards are typically players who possess ball handling and shooting skills on the offensive end, and usually defend the top of the key and the 3-point line depending on the defensive tactic. Forwards, on the other hand are typically taller players whose defensive and offensive area is closer to the hoop. This position typically plays closer to the paint blocking out defenders to score under the basket, or boxing out opponents for either offensive or defensive rebounds. This player, after getting a rebound, should typically kick the ball out to a guard along the outside edge to dribble the ball down the court or set up a new play.
In the higher levels of play, such as high school, college, and professional ball, the positions of guard and forward are broken down even further with corresponding numbers. The positions include point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.
First is the point guard, also known as the one. In most cases, this player is the team’s best ball handler and passer. He/she is the leader on the court with the ability to get the ball down the court and set up necessary offensive plays. Playing at this position mean you have an understanding of the court and your opponents strengths and weaknesses. One of the key skills a player must possess to successfully play this position – besides the already mentioned abilities – is to see past the defense and zone in on his/her offense. By doing this, the point guard won’t get distracted by the defense and is able to direct the offense. Depending on the skill level of the point guard, they can shoot from the 3-point line or in the paint, as well as drive the ball into the hoop for a lay-up. In many cases, the NBA especially, the point guard is the shortest player on the team.
The shooting guard, or the two, is referred to as a wing player. This is because the shooting guard is typically closer to the outside areas of the court – for example along the 3-point line – waiting for open looks to shoot. Suggested by the name of the position, this player is typically the teams best shooter. Besides that however, shooting guards are also known for their ball handling skills which helps to create his/her own shot driving the ball to the hoop. With these versatile abilities, the shooting guard has the ability to step into the role of point guard if needed.
The three, also called the small forward, might be considered the most versatile player on the court. This is because of the nature of the position. Many times, this position calls for a player to resemble a power forward more often than a shooting guard. Depending on the strengths of your team and your opponent this can vary. With this, the small forward and shooting guard can be interchangeable and is the reason such positions are also referred to as wings. A common ability among small forwards is the ability to “get to the line”. In other words, a player in this position useshis/her body to draw fouls when driving to the basket or posting up against an opponent to have a chance at shooting free throws. This also means that a small forward’s free throw percentage is typically high showing accuracy. While quickness and strength are some of the common attributes of this position, the small forward has the ability to do a little bit of everything on the court, which creates a versatile player.
Power forwards, also known as the four, is a player that is positioned closely to the basket having similar responsibilities and attributes to that of the center. During offensive plays, the power forward is typically posting up underneath the basket, ready to receive, and score points by way of lay-ups. These players also show versatility in their shooting with the ability to make lay-ups, short-range, and mid-range jump shots. However, in more recent years the term “long fours” has developed because many power forwards are also displaying the ability to shoot from the 3-point range. This can only add to the player’s and team’s versatility and strength. Qualities of a player in this position include quickness and strength both on offense and defense.
Finally the five, or the center, is very similar to the power forward. This position is played near the baseline or close to the basket, which is also referred to as the “low post”. This player is typically the tallest player on the court with the ability to score down low and in the paint. Both height and strength are key to this position both on the offensive and defensive end in order to score points and get rebounds. A very versatile player also has the ability to shoot outside shots, but typically are best closer to the paint. Many times, this position is used in plays to set screens for any of the guards to create space on offense and delay the defense. With this combination of skills, this player is of the utmost importance on the court.
