Floor General: The Ultimate Guide to the Point Guard Position

The point guard is often called the quarterback of a basketball team. Why? Because they’re responsible for making sure their teammates understand their roles and responsibilities and for running the offense.

Point guards often call the offensive plays, and generally start the offense. They sometimes communicate the plays with hand signals. Point guards typically are the best dribblers and passers on the teams. They’re frequently team captains, and sometimes called “the coach on the floor” or the “floor general.”

Championship caliber teams usually have skilled point guards. Below, we’ll examine some of the critical attributes of a good point guard.

History of the Point Guard Position

When James Naismith wrote the “Rules of Basketball” in 1891, there wasn’t a position called a point guard. Back then, there weren’t designated names for each position. Generally, the 5 different positions for a basketball team are the point guard, shooting guard, power forward, small forward, and center. It’s not clear when the term point guard was first used but some believe it might’ve been coined in the 1980s. When Naismith created basketball, dribbling wasn’t allowed. Guards were used to defend the basket, which meant they only played defense. Eventually, every position played on offense and defense. The early role of the point guard was to facilitate the offense, which meant passing the ball to teammates to set them up to score. Point guards also did most of the dribbling. When a player scores after they receive a teammate’s pass, the person who passed the ball is credited with an assist. Point guards typically led the teams in assists. 

As the modern point guard evolved, they became good at scoring, passing, shooting, and handling the basketball (dribbling). Golden State’s Steph Curry is generally considered one of the best point guards ever to play in the NBA. Curry is a great passer, shooter, and dribbler. The term “scoring off the dribble” is another skill that good point guards possess. That means they can dribble through players in the lane that are close to the basket, get their shot off, and make a basket. The point guard is considered one of the most glamorous and high-profile positions in basketball.

Point Guard Skills

Point guards don’t have to be high scorers but they can be. The main job for some point guards on offense is to distribute or pass the basketball to their teammates so they can score. Many modern point guards are good shooters, scorers, and passers. Below is a list of some skills for a good point guard.

• Basketball IQ: A point guard must have a high basketball IQ (intelligence quotient). That means they must understand what role each of their teammates has when they’re playing. It’s the point guard’s job to put their teammates in the best position to succeed. Point guards are often responsible for putting players in the right spots on the floor on defense and offense. They take orders from the coach during the game, and ensure the orders are executed. Point guards are responsible for understanding the dynamics of their team and how everyone fits together at a deep level.
• Vision: A point guard must be able to “see the floor” at all times on offense. That means they know where all the players are when they are moving around on offense. Even if a player isn’t in the line of vision of the point guard, they intuitively know where everyone is or should be because they have practiced and played with their teammates so much that they can anticipate their movements. One term used to describe a point guard is they have “eyes in the back of their head.”
• Leadership: The point guard needs to be a vocal communicator. They must command the respect of their teammates. They are like the conductor in a band. A point guard’s job is to orchestrate the way a team plays on the gym floor. They might have to tell a player to do a better job in one area or compliment an excelling player. Good point guards usually take responsibility for the team’s poor play. Often, they are the public face of the team, taking blame when a team loses but giving their teammates the credit when they win.
• Improve Their Teammates: One of the main responsibilities of a point guard is to make their teammates look better. They make accurate passes that their teammates can handle, and they set them up in a position to score. Good point guards are selfless, and they truly care more about the success of the whole team than they do about any individual.
• Good Defenders: Often, point guards are the quickest players on the team. They know how to move their feet and stay in front of the players they are guarding. This trait, along with quick hands, can help make them good defensive players. Having quick hands can create more steals and deflections on defense. Point guards sometimes lead their teams in steals. A steal is when you take the ball away from an offensive player.

Training Drills for Point Guards

There are dozens of drills that you can do to help improve your skills as a point guard. Point guards must be well-rounded players who excel at every facet of the game. Below are 5 drills that you can do to make yourself a better point guard.

• 2-Minute Floaters: Starting from the 3-point line, you drive to the basket for 2 minutes, finishing with a floater. A floater is when a player takes a high-arching shot. It’s usually done to avoid having your shot blocked. This helps point guards learn how to score in crowded areas in the lane.
• 2-Ball Dribbling Drills: Using 2 basketballs, dribble the balls knee high simultaneously for 30 seconds, then to your waist for 30 seconds, and finally to your shoulders for 30 seconds. You should perform this while looking straight ahead. This drill helps you see the court better.
• Man-in-the-Hole: In this drill, a player dribbles the length of the floor, zigzagging back and forth. It’s the point guard’s job to stay in front of the dribble, making them change directions. The purpose of this drill is to strengthen the point guard’s lateral defensive movement and turn them into defenders who can shut down their opponent. Do this for one complete trip down the floor and back.
• Vacuum Drill: The point guard dribbles to the middle of the lane, comes to a complete stop, and then passes the ball to a player who’s on the baseline. You can do this drill with all 5 offensive players and 5 defenders. However, the defenders shouldn’t be actively guarding the offensive players. This helps sharpen your passing skills.
• Elbow Drills: Moving between the elbows or corners of the free throw line, a point guard stops with the ball in their hand, pulls up, and shoots a jump shot. They must do the drill until they make 10 shots from each side. This drill is designed to help you shoot over your defender while moving at full speed. You can also do it by placing a defender at each corner of the elbow. The point guard must jump over them to make their shot.

To be a good point guard, you’ll have to train consistently and play with your teammates not just during the season but year-round. It’s an exciting position to play if you have the skills. Whether you’re just starting or are more established, it’s important to work hard to master the position.