The most difficult and demanding position in basketball is point guard. Playing point guard is extremely important to the success of a basketball team.
Point guards have the ball in their hands more than any other basketball position, as this position is extremely important to start an offense, begin a play, but also have the ability to score points.
The point guard typically calls out all plays, and mentally has a lot of responsibility.
How to Play Point Guard (Complete Overview)
The best point guards in basketball possess a lot of skills. The ability to dribble, pass, shoot, and make calls for the rest of the offense are all essential skills for point guards.
Below, I will dive into the following topics related to playing point guard:
- Skills Required
- Ball Handling
- Passing Ability
- Defensive Requirements
- Drills to Improve as a Point Guard
How to Play Point Guard: Skills Required
Here is a look at the skills that are required to play point guard. In order to be an effective point guard, there are some essential skills needed to help your team have success.
- Speed – While speed is sometimes hereditary, there is room for improvement when it comes to speed. The point guard handles the basketball more than anyone on the basketball court. Point guards get pressured quite a bit when they have the ball, so speed is an essential skill.
- Court Vision – This is a skill that can be acquired over time. Court vision is essential for point guards because an important part of this position is the ability to distribute the basketball to other team mates. This skill develops over time with experience. Seeing the court properly is important to be able to make effective passes and put the defense in conflict.
- Knowledge of the Game – Knowing how to play the game is essential for any point guard. The point guard is the captain on the court, making most of the calls on offense and an extreme amount of decision making. Having a high basketball IQ is only going to help point guards to be more effective on the court.
How to Play Point Guard: The Importance of Being a Great Ball Handler
The point guard handles the basketball more than anyone else on the court. With that being said, ball handling skills are the most important factor for playing this position.
- Dribbling with your head up is important to playing point guard. Young point guards have difficulty doing this, but this is essential so that you can see the court and see how the defense is reacting
- Dribbling with both hands is an important requirement to be a great ball handler. Most players have a dominant hand, but being limited to this dominant hand can be detrimental to success. Defenses will pick up on this and make it extremely difficult for the point guard to be effective
- Quickness when dribbling is important so that the defense can not put too much pressure on the point guard as the ball is being brought up the court, or when trying to create a passing lane to be effective.
How to Play Point Guard: The Importance of Being a Great Passer
One of the most essential skills for a point guard is the ability to pass the basketball. Although this may seem like a simple task, there are some fine points to being a great passer.
- Court vision is a skill talked about above that is essential to play point guard.
- Once a point guard sees the play, making a quick pass is important in order to be effective. Seeing the pass and making the pass are two different things.
- Point guards need to make quick passes, they need to be where the other player needs to catch the ball. Shooters should catch the pass in the shooting pocket to allow them to get a shot off quickly and effectively.
- The game of basketball has become faster, as teams are now trying to push the ball up the court and create fast breaks. This does put more demand on the point guard to get the offensive side started quickly and effectively.
How to Play Point Guard: Defensive Responsibilities
On the flip side of the requirements for point guards offensively, point guards do need to play the other side of the ball, and be effective on defense.
- Point guards on offense are typically quick, so defensively, it is a difficult position to play.
- Defensive stances and quick feet are important defensively
- Pressure on the opposing point guard can create conflict for the opposing offense, possibly creating easier baskets because of turnovers.
- Most point guards are a bit smaller, so rebounding can become an issue. Point guards need to use their bodies and block out effectively in order to rebound.
- Point guards can create turnovers by placing pressure on the opposing point guard.
How to Play Point Guard: Drills to Improve as a Point Guard
Point guard is a difficult position, so constantly improving is one of the keys to have success.
- Ball handling – point guards should work on their non dominant hand as often as possible.
- Two-ball Drill – dribbling two balls can be an effective drill. Dribble each ball going forward the length of the court and then backwards the length of the court.
- Passing – If you do not have a partner to work with, picking a target to pass to, or hanging a tire up to try to throw through the tire. Do this drill off of the dribble, trying to make a pass as quickly as possible.
- Shooting – Scoring is an important part of being a point guard. There are many drills to use for shooting, but simply take as many shots as you can to improve. Using a shooting gun is helpful if you do not have a partner to work with.
- Quickness – Working on agility and quickness will help improve a player’s feet. Hurdle drills, bag drills, and improving quickness is essential to be effective as a point guard.
- Strength – Improving strength is beneficial for point guards. Gaining that edge with strength is important, as basketball can become physical.
Final Thoughts
These skills and requirements are essential to improve as a point guard. Playing point guard is a demanding position in basketball.
The point guard position requires a variety of skills and ability, as well as a high basketball IQ. If you can study the game as much as possible, this will help you get better as a point guard.
The point guard is arguably the most important position on the basketball court. The point guard makes a lot of decisions on the court, directing many of the other players about where to go and where to be effective.