Basketball Player Positions

Typically, there are five (5) main positions: two guards, two forwards, and a center. By rule, there is nothing that any one of these positions can do that the others cannot. But they all have traditional "roles" which they usually adhere to. They are listed below.

The five traditional basketball player positions are:

Point guard:

• The point guard is the team leader and play caller on the basketball court.
• A point guard needs good ball handling skills, passing skills as well as strong leadership and decision making skills.
• Traditionally basketball point guards were small, fast players and this is still often the case. However, Magic Johnson changed the way point guards were used. He was a big 6-8 player that used his height and size to get great passing angles. Magic's success has opened the door for all sorts of point guards.
• The key to a strong point guard today is leadership, passing, and running the team.
• Point Guards are usually the shortest players.
• They have excellect dribbling and usually play point and on the wings. Should be a good passer and a very good dribbler.
• Able to use both hands evenly. Cannot be selfish. Sets up the offense.
• They aren't always the smallest Note, Michael Jordan was a point guard and he was 6 feet 6 inches tall.
• Point guards are usually the ones that handle the ball. They bring it up and down the court and call the plays. They are essentially the quarterback of basketball.
• Example of a point guard: Allen Iverson.

Shooting guard:

• The shooting guard in basketball has the main responsibility of making long outside shots including the three-point shot.
• The shooting guard also should be a good passer and able to help the point guard with the ball handling.
• Shooting guards are often the top scorer on a team. Perhaps the best shooting guard in the history basketball was Michael Jordan. Jordan could do it all, from scoring to defense to rebounding.
• It's this versatility that makes a great shooting guard, but all shooting guards should be able to extend the defense with their outside shot.
• Usually taller than the point guard. Often these players are the best shooters from longer distances.
• They are also expected to be very fast and need to be able to dribble well.
• The back-up ball handler, usually better shooters (hence the name).
• The job of the shooting guard is to get open and find a shot or find another open player to keep the ball moving.
• Example of a shooting guard: Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller, Kobe Bryant

Small forward:

• Along with the shooting guard, the small forward is often the most versatile player on the basketball team.
• They should be able to help with ball handling, make an outside shot, and get rebounds.
• The small forward is often a great defensive player as well.
• The combination of height and quickness can allow them to defend a number of positions and take on the best scorer on the opposing team.
• On many teams today the small forward and the shooting guard are almost the same position and are call "wing" players.
• Vary in mold. Taller than shooting guards but not as big as power forwards, these players are often very versatile, and can either shoot well from long range or get near the basket and get rebounds, etc.
• Forwards are some of smallest players on the team. Usually plays around the wing or corner and usually drives along the baseline. Should be a solid rebounder. A good runner.
• A hard driver and a good passer.
• Very much like shooting guard, usually starts lower on court.
• Example of a small forward: Carmello Anthony.

Power forward:

• The power forward on a basketball team is usually responsible for rebounding and some scoring in the paint.
• A power forward should be big and strong and able to clear out some space under the basket.
• Many great power forwards in the game today do not score a lot of points, but lead their team in rebounds.
• Power forwards are often good shot blockers as well.
• The next biggest player. They traditionally do not stray out and shoot long shots but play near the painted area and by the basket, trying for short-range shots and layups.
• Good power forwards are also very good at rebounding. Recently in the NBA many power forwards have emerged and can shoot three pointers very well.
• Forwards fight under the net to get open for an easy lay up. They are post players and are usually taller than the guards.
• Usually larger players (hence the name); starts low with small forward.
• Example of a power forward: Dennis Rodman, Larry Bird

Center:

• The center is usually the biggest or tallest member of the basketball team. In the NBA, many centers are 7 feet tall or taller.
• The center can be a big scorer, but also needs to be a strong rebounder and shot blocker. On many teams the center is the final line of defense.
• Many of basketball's great players (Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Kareem, Shaq, David Robinson) are centers. A strong center presence was long considered the only way to win an NBA championship.
• In modern times, many teams have won with other great players (Michael Jordan), but a strong center is still a prized basketball position on any basketball team.
• Usually the tallest and slowest players on the team.
• Their primary jobs are to get rebounds and score points when close the basket.
• They are rarely expected to dribble the ball much nor shoot from more than 15 feet away.
• Some centers are very dominant at scoring from in close while many others only score a handful of points per game.
• The best players at blocking shots on defense are often centers.
• He stays around the paint, which is the colored part of the floor around the basket. Should be a solid rebounder and a good inside shooter.
• The center has to be able to move around and help move the ball and occasionally shoot. For the most part they are very helpful on defense.
• The center is the biggest or strongest player, and is usually interchangable with power forward.
• Example of a center: Shaquille O'Neal.
• Player positions can also be refered to by numbers: the point guard(pg) is the 1, the shooting guard(sg) is the 2 guard, the small forward(sf) is the 3, the power forward(pf)is the 4 and the center(c) is the 5.

Bench:
Although only 5 players play at a time on any basketball team, the bench is still very important. Basketball is a fast paced game and players need to rest. A strong bench is key to any basketball team's success. In most games at least 3 players from the bench will play a significant amount of time.

Defensive positions:
There are two main types of defensive basketball strategies: zone and man-to-man.

In man-to-man defense each player is responsible to cover one player on the other team. They follow this player wherever they go on the court.

In zone defense, players have certain positions or areas of the court they cover. The guards usually play at the top of the key with the forwards playing closer to the basket and on opposite sides. The center usually plays in the middle of the key. However, there are a wide variety of zone defenses and combinations of zone and man-to-man that basketball teams play. Teams will often switch defenses around during a basketball game to see which works best against a particular opponent.

Adapted from:

http://www.ducksters.com/sports/basketballpositions.php
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_various_positions_in_basketball