Want to be an elite point guard?
That was a silly question. Of course you do. Becoming a true point guard is actually a very straightforward task.
It takes time, dedication, and an eagerness to learn. To learn the 5 must-have skills of a point guard is a great start to achieving your goal and grabbing that starting position from the coach.
These 5 following skills are the skills that almost all coaches look for in a point guard to lead the floor and command the team on the court.
1. Court Vision
Court vision is the most important skill that a point guard must possess. The role of the point guard is to be the floor general. He must command the team like a captain commands a ship
Court vision is the ability to locate all your players at all times, and to always know where they are standing, and where they will run to.
Great court vision leads to great passes and more points scored, resulting in more wins and more playing time.
2. Speed
What do the top NBA point guards Steve Nash, Tony Parker and TJ Ford have in common?
They’re incredibly quick and nimble on their feet.
Speed forces multiple defenders towards you so you can dish the ball out to an open teammate. Speed allows you to break down the defense to create holes and open up passing lanes.
Speed is what starts off the offense, to get the offense moving on its feet so more chances arise and better shots are taken.
3. Confidence
As the captain of your team, you MUST have confidence.
The captain never reveals fear, for he goes down with the ship. Show to your teammates that you guys are a great team, and run the floor and handle the rock with confidence, and your teammates will automatically respect your decisions and trust you more with the ball.
4. Ball Handling
Great ball handling skills are super super important for a point guard because he can focus more on controlling the flow of the game and less on whether he can perform a proper crossover.
The better you handle the ball, the easier it is to keep your head up and spot your teammates for that critical pass. Work on your ball handling every day, because there is not one point guard I’ve talked to that does not stress ball handling as a critical skill.
5. Strong Jump Shot, 3 Point Shot
The jump shot is the point guard’s primary weapon.
As a point guard, your job is to stand around the top of the key and see where your team is, so you can tell them where they should go.
Let the big men play on the inside, so playing on the outside, you’ll want a really nice shot. A lethal point guard is one who works on his threes and his jump shot to be a consistent threat.
Defenders will have to cover you up close, so that will leave the rest of your teammates with one less defender to worry about.
9 comments ↓
thanks im a point guard trying to make the varsity squad next year that was some good advice not the best could have had more but it helped me out alot and now i know what i got to pratice on thanks again tp3 hoopa of the year
i’m goyng to be the best point guard in the state next year thanks for the tips its just what i’ve been looking for
Thanks guys, I’m just trying to help.
Honestly though, by researching and studying the tips of how to be a point guard just shows that you’re determined to become good, and it’s exactly that type of commitment which will help you to succeed.
I know when I first started, I was doing what very few kids were doing: Research, and training. And that’s what helped me become the starting point guard.
I am 6′4 right now and I have played power forward and center all my life in basketball. I will be a junior next year. I know if I want to play in college I will be a guard. I can shoot and dribble well and I’m pretty fast. What else would I need to be a point guard in college?
Hey pretty good tips there…im trying to change my game to PG position i mean its so hard to make a transition from SF to PG.Im trying out for varsity next year and well most of the guys are bigger so im asuming im going to be given another pos….Ive been intrigued with PG game ever since i started bball from watching Johnson to nash and now to cp3 and dwill. I mean i would love to learn more and more so at least i can become a decent PG…I ll be reading this site alot more its Great!!
Yeah. Thanks for the tips. I am only 5′10, but I leap high and get boards over people about 6′2-6′6. So I know that is out of the way, but in highschool, I will be a PG from my size. I’m pretty fast, but a couple of things are worrying me.
1. I don’t know the right ball handling drills so I have great ball handling abilities.
2. Not to good with changing my pace with dribbling.
3. Lastly, I’m training with an NBA Player, Darwin Cook, and he is helping fundamental wise. Well since I was in 3rd Grade, I have shot with two hands. I just started adjusting it last Thursday from his help. Do you think he can help fast enough, because I start HS in August.
Thanks for the tips Admin.
I Know what to do now to stop the automatic turnovers in pick-up games, and organzied games as well.
You’ll hear more from me
Big Thanks for the tipS
i’m a pointguard in my college,i try to lead the team ,but i always confused when the ball in my hand,and i really confused with the coach strategy,i can drill well and crossover
so i just wanna ask hOw to be a smart point guard
This is great info to know.
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