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Basketball is a game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent's goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket.The Positions in basketball are Point guard, Shooting guard, Small forward, Power forward (basketball),and the center. These are all the players on both teams of the court. The starters are called Backups.

• The point Guard, also known as the one or the point, is one of the 5 positions in a regulation basketball game. A point Guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position Point guards are expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time. Above all, the point guard must understand and accept their coach's game PlanA point guard, like other player positions in basketball, specializes in certain skills. Their primary job is to facilitate scoring opportunities for their team, or sometimes for themselves. Lee Rose has described a point guard as a coach on the floor, who can handle and distribute the ball to teammates. This involves setting up plays on the court, getting the ball to the teammate in the best position to score, and controlling the tempo of the game. A Point guard should know when and how to instigate a fast break and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets. Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders. A point guard needs always to have in mind the times on the shot clock and the game clock, the score, the numbers of remaining Time-outs for both teams.

After an opponent scores, it is typically the point guard who brings the ball down court to begin an Offensive play. Passing skills, ball handling, and court vision are crucial. Speed is important; a speedy point guard is better able to create separation and space off the dribble, giving themselves room to work. Point guards are often valued more for their assist totals than for their scoring. Another major evaluation factor is assist-to-turnover ratio, which reflects the decision-making skills of the player. Still, a first-rate point guard should also have a reasonably effective jump shot.

Among the taller players who have enjoyed success at the position is Ben Simmons, who at 6’ 10” won the 2018 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year Award. Behind him is Magic Johnson, who at 6’ 9” (2.06 m) won the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award three times in his career. Other point guards who have been named NBA MVP include Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook, and two-time winners Steve Nash and Stephen Curry. In the NBA, point guards generally range from 6' 2" (1.88 m) to 6' 4" (1.93 m) whereas in the WNBA, point guards are usually 5' 8" (1.73 m) or shorter. Having above-average size (height, muscle) is considered advantageous, although size is secondary to situational awareness, speed, quickness, and ball handling skills. At 5' 3" the shortest player in NBA history, Muggsy Bogues enjoyed a 14 year career as a point guard. Shorter players tend to be better dribblers since they are closer to the floor, and thus have better control of the ball while dribbling.

• A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for their team and steal the ball on defense. Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as Combo guards. A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a Swingman.

As the name suggests, most shooting guards are prolific from the three-point range and long mid range.The shooting guard is also referred to as the No. 2 guard, or Off-guard.(SG) is generally the better shooter of the two guards. Normally, the off-guard's job is to put points on the board while not letting his ego get so inflated that it interferes with his basketball judgment.Three point field goal percentage is important as well. A well rounded shooting guard will also have decent Assist and Rebound stats, too. Michael Jordan was not only the greatest shooting guard of all time, but also the best basketball player of all time.

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.Kobe Bryant is famous for being one of the best basketball players in the history of the NBA. He played guard for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He was known for his tough defense, Vertical leap, and ability to score winning baskets at the end of the game. He is widely considered the best basketball player of the 2000's and perhaps one of the best of all time.

In the NBA, there are some shooting guards referred to as "3 and D" players. The term 3 and D implies that the player is a good 3 point shooter who can also play solid (sometimes elite) defense. The 3 and D player has become very important as the game sways to be perimeter oriented.

Good shooting guards can often play point guard to a certain extent. It is usually accepted that point guards should have the ball in their hands at most times in the game, but sometimes the shooting guard has a significant enough influence on the team where he or she handles the ball extremely often, to the point where the point guard may be reduced to a backup ball handler or spot-up shooter^[clarify].

Shooting guards typically, taller than point guards.Height at the position varies; many bigger shooting guards also play small forward. Shooting guards should be good ball handlers and be able to pass reasonably well,they also have a high variety of assists.

The Small forward (SF), also known as the three, is considered to be the most versatile of the main five basketball positions. "Though they're not the primary ball handler, small forwards need dribbling skills. Even though they're not expected to be great Post Players, they need to be able to post up. They're often not the top scoring option, they need to be able to score." ^[1] Versatility is key for small forwards because of the nature of their role, which resembles that of a shooting guard more often than that of a power forward. This is why the small forward and shooting guard positions are often interchangeable and referred to as wings.

The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game.^[2] Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers but taller, larger, and stronger than either of the guard positions.^[2]Small forwards are responsible for scoring points and defending, and often are secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forward and center. In professional basketball, some have considerable passing responsibilities, and many are prolific scorers.^[3]Small forwards are responsible for scoring points and defending, and often are secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forward and center. In professional basketball, some have considerable passing responsibilities, and many are prolific scorers.Small forwards have the ability to play on the inside as well as agility to play on the outside, similar to a shooting guard. Small forwards are usually the second or third best shooters on the team and should be able to do a little bit of everything on the court.

Developing a Small forward’s skills:Ball Handling,Shooting,Passing,Creating Space,Post Up game,Defense,Pick & Roll defense,Dribble moves,Finishing,andSetting screens.They are the second-best 3 point shooters on the court along with the shooting guard and usually when stationary, sit just inside the 3 point line. Some small forwards have good passing skills, allowing them to assume point guard responsibilities as point forwards. Small forwards should be able to do a little bit of everything on the court, typically playing roles such as swing men and defensive specialists. A smaller small forward under 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) might play the shooting guard position some of the time and a bigger small forward taller than 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) might play power forward sometimes. In the NBA, small forwards usually range from 6 feet 3.5 inches (1.92 m) to 6 feet 8.25 inches (2.04 m).

• The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. ... They typically play offensively with their backs towards the basket and position themselves defensively under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man "defense".The power forward position entails a variety of responsibilities, one of which is rebounding. Many power forwards are noted for their "mid-range jump-shot", and several players have become very accurate from 12 to 18 feet (3.7 to 5.5 m). Earlier, these skills were more typically exhibited in the European style of play. Some power forwards, known as stretch fours, have since extended their shooting range to three-point field goals.

Some power forwards often play the Center position and have the skills, but lack the height that is usually associated with that position.Power forwards should be tall, strong, and aggressive. Rebounding: The primary skill for a power forward in basketball is rebounding. If you want to be a good power forward you should build up your strength and practice rebounding, especially boxing out techniques. Being a good rebounder is also a state of mind.Power forwards are known as post players because they stand near the high post and low post on the court. As a post player, the power forward will post up and shoot easy layups near the basket. Post players are also great at getting offensive rebounds.

Power forwards that are inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame include Karl Malone, Denise Curry, Dolph Schayes, Kevin McHale, Charles Barkley, Elvin Hayes, Bob Pettit, Dennis Rodman, Katrina McClain Johnson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett ,ect.

The center is the tallest player on each team, playing near the basket. On offense, the center tries to score on close shots and rebound. But on defense, the center tries to block opponents' shots and rebound their misses.The center position has been traditionally considered one of the most important positions, if not the most important.Centers are valued for their ability to protect their own goal while scoring with high efficiency. In the 1950s and 1960s, George Mikan and Bill Russell were centerpieces of championship dynasties and defined early prototypical centers. With the addition of a three-point field goal for the 1979–80 season, however, NBA basketball gradually became more perimeter-oriented and saw the importance of the center position diminished. A center with the ability to shoot outside from three-point range is known as a stretch five.

The center exists primarily for: rim protection, rebounding and scoring from near the basket. Centers generally score 2-pt field goals at a higher percentage than any other player. This is because they usually shoot from closest to the basket.

The presence of a center who can score in the low post (the area closest to the basket) helps create balance within an offense. If it becomes too easy to score from the low post, the center will get double teamed. This creates opportunity for open shots for perimeter players as the center will “kick it out” to an open perimeter or wing player. As perimeter players shoot better from long range, this creates easier opportunity for a center to score, since defenses will play out closer to the perimeter shooters.

Centers are more often than not the tallest players on the team. Their sheer height makes it much more difficult for smaller players to score near the basket. The best centers may “only” average 3.5 blocks per game. But they alter countless others.

With rim protection comes (hopefully) more missed baskets, which is where rebounding is important. Centers, along with power forwards, are expected to contribute the majority of the team’s total rebounding. The best rebounding center / power-forward combinations in the NBA will generally average over 20 rebounds / game between the two of them.

Category:Basketball positionsCategory:Basketball terminology