A basketball squad could be made up of many players, but only five can be on the field of play at any given time. Each player has a duty geared towards winning the game for the team. Here are the five specific positions on a basketball team.
Center
A basketball center is also referred to as a five. The traditional center is the tallest player on the field in each team. This size usually translates to immense physical strength relative to the other players. A center tries to use his height advantage to score close shots and contest rebounds during offensive plays. He regularly plays nearer to the basket.
Conversely, the center is big enough to block opponents’ shots, and rebound misses on defense. The importance of a traditional center position has diminished as NBA basketball has slowly become perimeter-oriented. Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid still perform great as traditional centers in today’s game.
Point guard
The point guard, also known as the point, PG, or one, is perhaps the most specialized basketball positional role. This playmaker role is what stars like Magic Johnson built a legacy on. Point guards are in charge of running the squad’s offense. They have excellent ball control and ensure a pipeline for the ball to get to the right players when necessary. The point guard is the basketball equivalent of a quarterback in American football. He is expected to have a complete understanding and effect the implementation of the coach’s game plan.
Shooting guard
The two or off guard is another name for the shooting guard. As the name implies, they shoot and score as their primary objective. They also have a lot of steals in defensive plays. A shooting guard can regularly bring up the ball to become a combo guard. A shooting guard has to have the ability to net long balls with the bests averaging 30-40% from the three-point line. This deadly range usually attracts double teams and distracts opponents from their defense. This way, shooting guards can also rack up assists. Michael Jordan, who is arguably the greatest basketballer in the history of the NBA and probably ever, was a shooting guard.
Power forward
Power forwards are similar to centers in that they play offensively and defensively. The power forward is the four in the squad. They play defensively under the basket in zone defenses. Power forwards also have a quality midrange shot. In the evolution of basketball since the advent of Steph Curry, power forwards now shoot effectively from the three-point line. Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman are two Hall-of-Famers who were power forwards.
Small forward
Small forwards are usually smaller compared to centers, but they are larger and more robust than both guards. The threes are the most versatile of all five positions. They score points but also rebound behind the center and power forward. They could also be playmakers with passing responsibilities like a point guard. Lebron James, one of the greats, is considered a small forward.
The responsibility of positions could overlap, and coaches could change the team formation for strategic reasons. Nothing is set in stone as regards positions in basketball.