What are the 5 positions in basketball?

All 5 positions in basketball are equally significant. To win, each player must understand their role in the team’s overall success. Whether you’re a point guard or a small forward, you should understand how each member of your team contributes. Knowing how they fit together will allow you to lead your team to victory.

What is the position in basketball?

Every member of a team plays a specific position based on their height, strength, and weaknesses. Each role in the organization has a certain responsibility. While each position has a designated area on the court, they may change throughout the game for various reasons.

History of position in basketball

Players in basketball played similarly to frisbee, with no dribbling allowed, and this prepared the way for the designation of roles as guards, forwards, and centers. We named all the jobs based on their roles. The coach assigned these 5 positions in basketball to the players based on their height, weight, skill, and intellect.

How many positions are there in a basketball game?

The 5 positions in basketball are:

• Point Guard – number 1
• Shooting Guard – number 2
• Small Forward – number 3
• Power Forward – number 4
• Center – number 5

And each position has an important part in the game. Historically, athletes who filled certain basketball positions tended to stick to their roles. However, basketball is fast-paced. Players now like to play two or more positions at once. They do this to be versatile and ready for any situation.

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1. Point Guard

The very first position in the 5 positions in basketball is point guard. The point guard is usually the captain and serves as the team’s brains. He both directs and creates the plays.

The duties

As the team’s playmaker, you are accountable for its success. He signaled and initiated the plays. On defense, he looks to impede the opposition team’s greatest ball handler. The point guard, together with the shooting guard, makes up the backcourt and is responsible for getting the ball out of your half.

Ability

His quickness and agility recognize a point guard. He must be an amazing dribbler. He must be able to maintain track of the game’s progress and react to it as it happens. 

Famous point guards: 

• Magic Johnson – Earvin Johnson was the most exciting and amazing player on the open court.
• Stephen Curry – He is the most influential offensive player in terms of what he does to the defense, possibly ever.
• Oscar Robertson – He was fluid, swift, and knew the game. He had no flare; he simply did his job every night.
• Jerry West is as obsessively competitive and prolific as Jordan, and there’s a reason his silhouette is the NBA’s emblem.
• Chris Paul – The quintessential point guard, managing offense and shooting when needed. 

2. Shooting Guard

The second position among the 5 positions in basketball is shooting guard. The shooting guard is also referred to as the second guard or off-guard. These basketball positions and the point guard make up the backcourt.

The duties

The shooting guard’s responsibilities include dribbling and shooting. He must also be able to do the chores of a point guard while playing more offensively.

Ability

Shooting guards must be very agile and quick. It is also critical that they can correctly shoot from a distance and make three-point shots.

Physical prerequisites

The shooting guards are heavier than the point guards but are also among the smallest players on the court. Most NBA shooting guards stand between 6’1″ and 6’6″ tall. 

Famous Shooting Guards

• Michael Jordan is regarded as the smartest, sneakiest, and most competitive player in NBA history. He also had great athleticism.
• Kobe Bryant – the greatest maker of difficult shots in NBA history.
• Dwyane Wade – is responsible for one of the best individual Finals performances in history.
• Clyde Drexler – A phenomenal pure athleticism. 
• Allen Iverson – Gervin’s finger roll is one of the most recognizable hallmark moves in basketball history. 

3. Small Forward

The third position in the 5 positions in basketball is small forward. The team regards the tiny forward as their all-rounder. He and the power forward and center make up the front court.

The duties

The small forward can play both offensively and defensively. He must be able to shoot from both the midrange and three-point line. On defense, one of his responsibilities is to stop the opponent’s three-point attempt.

Ability

Small forwards are typically the most athletic players on a squad. He must be exceptionally agile and have excellent jumping abilities. He also impresses with his exceptional dribbling abilities.

Physical prerequisites

Small forwards are typically powerful and athletic. Small forwards in the NBA typically stand between 6’8 and 6’10. 

Famous Small Forwards

• LeBron James – possesses the best combination of size, speed, and strength in NBA history.
• Larry Bird – He possessed a wide range of abilities and was the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter in his day.
• Kevin Durant – A player that is nearly 7 feet tall, with infinite range, a 2-guard’s handling, and can finish.
• Elgin Baylor – was the forerunner of every high-flying small forward in NBA history.
• Scottie Pippen – A smothering defender with exceptional scoring and playmaking abilities.

4. Power Forward

The fourth position in the 5 positions in basketball is power forward. The power forward is a team’s most powerful player. He is a combination of a small forward and a center who plays around the hoop.

The duties

The power forward’s responsibilities include rebounding, setting offensive screens, and blocking shots. For some years, power forward has become increasingly important to a team’s success. They are expected to shoot threes in a pinch while also spending time in the opponent’s paint.

Ability

The power forward requires muscle to keep the paint under the basket. At the same time, they must be accurate shooters.

Physical prerequisites

Power forwards are especially strong and are typically the second-tallest player on a team. NBA players are typically 6’7” to 6’10” tall. 

Famous Power Forward

• Tim Duncan – represents what basketball should be about.
• Karl Malone was the first player in NBA history to receive the First Award.
• Dirk Nowitzki revolutionized the power forward position. He was Europe’s greatest import and the sweetest-shooting big man we’ve ever seen.
• Charles Barkley – No one was better at collecting rebounds and traveling coast to coast.
• Kevin Garnett – one of the most versatile and intense players ever.

5. The Center

The fifth position in the 5 positions in basketball is center. The center, often known as the inside player, five-man, or “big man,” is the team’s largest player who plays in the paint underneath the basket.

The duties

The center grabs rebounds, establishes himself on the court, and plays with his back to the hoop. Centers play both offense and defense.

Ability

A center should be quick and nimble, in addition to being strong and big. It’s also critical that he be a consistent shooter.

Physical prerequisites

Centers are the tallest and most powerful players on the court. In the NBA, players are normally no shorter than 6’9”. 

Famous Centers

• Kareem Abdul Jabbar – won more MVP awards than anybody else. No one else has more career points. 
• Wilt Chamberlain – statistically the most dominant athlete in the history of American sports.
• Bill Russell – A defensive genius who exemplified the terms leader, team, and champion.
• Shaquille O’Neal – Surprisingly agile and athletic, he is the game’s most dominant force.
• Hakeem Olajuwon – Pioneered the use of footwork and agility in post-play. 

Conclusion

So, discussing the interesting things about the 5 positions in basketball was fun. Today, many players play in more than one position. New talent is emerging but the old Bears are still giving tough times to their opponents.