Point guard
Point guard (
PG), also called
one guard or
lead guard, is one of the standard positions in a regulation
basketball game. The point guard is usually 5ft 9 to 6 ft 5 in. The point guard is normally the smallest player on the team (notable exceptions include
Magic Johnson, and
Shaun Livingston), and has perhaps the most specialized role of any position. Essentially, the point guard is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right players at the right time. Above all, the point guard, must totally understand and accept his coach's game plan. This means knowing when and how to instigate a
fastbreak and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets.
[ 'Point guard's duty' - Fox Sports' Charley Rosen article on a point guard's job URL last accessed on 2006-07-29] After an opponent scores, it is typically the point guard who brings the ball down court to begin an offensive play. For this reason, passing skills and court vision are essential. Great point guards are often evaluated more on their
assist totals than on their scoring. Still, a first-rate point guard should also have a reasonably effective
jump shot.
Point guards should also exert a leadership role on the floor similar to that of a
quarterback in
American football. A true point guard's job is to create scoring opportunities for his team. The role includes passing and running the offense: setting up plays on the court, getting the ball to the teammate that he feels is in the best position to score, and dictating the tempo of the game. Many times, the point guard is referred to by announcers as a "coach on the floor" or a "floor general". In the past, this was particularly true, as several point guards such as
Lenny Wilkens served their team as a player-coach. This is not as common anymore, as most coaches choose to call out the plays they wish to have run before each possession. Some point guards are still given a great deal of leeway in the offense, such as
Steve Nash of the
Phoenix Suns. Suns head coach
Mike D'Antoni allowed him to freelance often when leading the Suns' high-powered offense, even letting Nash call his own plays at times. But even point guards who are not given this much freedom are still extensions of their coach on the floor, and must display good leadership skills.
The styles with which point guards do their job vary widely from player to player. Quickness is often cited as a necessity for the position, but this is not necessarily true. While players like Steve Nash, and
Tony Parker thrive on quickness, many other point guards, like
Mike Bibby and
Kirk Hinrich, rely on savvy to lead their team. Likewise, many effective point guards help their team by being fantastic shooters (examples include
Chauncey Billups,
Steve Nash,
Jason Terry). Some point guards are famous for their no-look passes like Steve Nash. The most important skills for point guards are to pass and dribble the ball frequently without committing turnovers, and to keep the team under control at all times.
A few high-profile point guards currently playing include Steve Nash,
Chris Paul, Tony Parker,
Jason Kidd,
Jason Terry, Mike Bibby,
Baron Davis,
Chauncey Billups,
Sue Bird (of the
WNBA),
Stephon Marbury,
Steve Francis, Kirk Hinrich and
Gilbert Arenas. Great point guards of the past include
Bob Cousy,
Lenny Wilkens,
Walt Frazier,
Nate Archibald,
Magic Johnson (who was an unusual point guard, standing at 6'9"/2.06 m),
Isiah Thomas, and
John Stockton. Another great guard of the past,
Oscar Robertson, combined the skills of a point guard with those of a
small forward, becoming one of the first
point forwards which eventually became popularized by
Scottie Pippen.
