Basketball has evolved over the years. The characteristics of the game and the improvement in the physical condition of the players have led to the fact that the roles in this sport have evolved in parallel. Basketball 20 years ago defined certain roles, for each of which there was a specialized player. This is not the case today. The trend in sports in general is to create versatile basketball players who can fulfill different roles.
The range of attacking and defensive capabilities of players is increasing, and the current school of sports teaching and animation should promote the development of the type of athletes who are able to play in different playing positions.
Roles of players in basketball
As the sport has evolved, coaches have adapted to new ways of working. In order to achieve greater versatility in players, coaches invest a lot of time in developing individual technical and tactical skills. They look for more complete players, without neglecting the specific skills of the role they play on the court. In traditional basketball, training was more focused on team tactics, with five players — that's how many players there are in basketball. On the other hand, modern coaches get better results by focusing their training more on individual improvement, relative to the players' positions in basketball.
Let's look at how many basic positions there are in basketball:
1. Center
Responsible for directing the game, moving the ball from one court to another to get it into play as quickly as possible. The main thing the center does is organize, direct, control the rhythm of the game, depending on the game situation, etc. Thus, his role is to organize and control the movements and rhythm during the match. You could say he is the coach's right hand, as he is responsible for transferring the coach's decisions to the court.
Characterized by being shorter than the other team members. Usually, the game is concentrated in the central part of the court. Often called the No. 1 position player. In addition, he must control the ball well to be able to make effective short and long-distance passes, as well as have excellent hand and foot skills, and protect his basket.
Stars in this position:
- Magic Johnson — 1979-1996 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Ricky Rubio has been with the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2011, although he previously played for the Spanish teams Barcelona (2009) and Juventud (2005).
- Stephen Curry — from 2009 to the present, with the Golden State Warriors.
2. Point guard
Positioned between the point guard and the small forward. The role is to score as many points as possible, as his great skill is shooting from both far and close to the basket. Known for his ability to penetrate the opponent's half, which gives him more opportunities to score more points, as well as for his passes to teammates. The point guard is usually larger than the point guard, called the second number. They must have good individual technique, so that, as we have already mentioned, they can penetrate the opponent's zone, and must master different roles, as they sometimes have to occupy the position of point guard and small forward.
The 3 most famous point guards in the world:
- Michael Jordan — 1984 to 2003 with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.
- Kobe Bryant — 1996 to 2016 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Manu Ginobili - Argentine league "Andino Sport Club" (1995-1996), Italian league for "Viola Reggio Calabria" (1996-1998) and NBA, where he finished his career playing for "San Antonio Spurs" (2002-2018).
3. Small forward
Located between the power forward and the point guard. The position is the most variable, versatile, as it can change positions with other team members depending on what game they want to play. Provides the most support to his teammates, is an excellent defender in his zone and, at the same time, offers good offense and takes advantage of rebounding situations where he can show his ability to shoot free throws.
Usually the strongest winger, he stands out for his strength and speed, using them in game time. The small forward is known as number 3. Among his skills, his control in one-on-one situations against an opposing player stands out.
We can highlight 3 players with outstanding speed at this position:
- LeBron James - from 2003 to the present, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
- Larry Bird — 1979 to 1992 Boston Celtics.
- Rudi Fernandez - Joventut de Badalona (2003-2008) and Real Madrid from 2012 to present.
4. Power forward
Second in height and strength on the team, after the center. Must understand this number well. Also stands out for his muscularity and the strength he demonstrates.
Playing position - at medium or short distance in the inner space. As a rule, approaches the ring with his back. Their shots are usually accurate when they are at a distance of 4 or 5 meters from the basket. They demonstrate great speed in counterattacks and are able to take advantage of rebounds. Also, when it is necessary to defend their area, they are responsible for protecting the opponent who is closest to their basket.
Known as the number 4. Must be able to develop play that takes place in the outer positions, but, in addition, is also able to pass the ball well, connecting with the inner positions and, thus, redirecting the ball from the outer part to the inside, establishing himself in the opponent's half.
Celebrities:
- Pau Gasol — Barcelona (1999-2001), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-2014), Chicago Bulls (2014-2016), who retired from the club where he began his career in 2021.
- Charles Barkley — 1984 to 2000 Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
- Kevin Garnett — 1995 to 2016 Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
5. Power forward
Positioned closest to the basket, usually the tallest and most powerful. Must be able to predict the moves that opponents will make, have excellent vision of the game, and know where to position themselves to take advantage of rebounds. Has excellent ability to block shots and steal rebounds from opponents. Although his game is always close to the rim, he must demonstrate excellent long-range shooting skills, with the ability to drive the ball out of bounds.
At number 5, he is a key and most important figure in a basketball team. At the beginning of the development of basketball, this position was occupied by players with little speed, but very tall. With the evolution of the sport, the center became a player very similar to a power forward, since it is very difficult to find players with the recommended height for this position. His weapons can be counterattacks and fast forward, passing to his partners.
The trio that made history:
- Marc Gasol - "Barcelona" (2003), "Los Angeles Lakers" (2020), and now plays for "Bàsquet Girona".
- Roberto Dueñas - ACB league player for Barcelona (1996-2005), refused to play in the NBA, and ended his career with CB Prat in 2007.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — played the most minutes and games in NBA history between 1969 and 1989. Played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Positions in basketball that are outside or inside
Understanding basketball positions is essential to understanding the dynamics of the game and maximizing team performance. The key difference is that there are two main groups of players: outside and inside.
External
The outside play takes place 6.75 meters away, i.e. in the areas furthest from the basket. These players play an important role in creating opportunities for shots from outside the court, breakthroughs and passing the ball.
These include point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. Each of these basketball positions has its own numbering that is used to build the game.
Internal
They are characterized by always being close to the basket. Therefore, their game takes place 4 or 5 meters from the basket. These players are needed to protect the ring, rebound and score the ball within the ring area.
The technical names for point guards are "power forward" and "center."
Conclusion
In conclusion, basketball is a sport that is constantly evolving. The functions performed by different roles adapt over time to new trends in the game. That is why coaches must constantly learn. Who knows, maybe in the future the composition of a basketball team will change, and some traditional positions will cease to exist, giving way to new ones.
