Basketball is a team sport in which we have the opportunity to watch a fight between two teams of five players on the field. This sport is very dynamic and is played very fast.

Basketball positions on the court 

Teams change very quickly from defense to attack, which lasts only 24 seconds. Basketball is at the same time a very attractive sport and fans can enjoy watching this sport. Each player has his role on the field, and what will be the task of a player is largely determined by his position on the field.

Just because each team has five players on the field, the players perform their tasks in exactly that many positions. Some players can play in multiple positions, but the basic basketball positions on the court are: center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard, and point guard.

Basketball positions and roles

According to their characteristics, the players are assigned to the mentioned positions. In addition, basketball positions and roles depend largely on the coaches of a particular team.

The coach is there to see which player will do better in one position or another. Some players are versatile and do equally well in multiple positions. On the other hand, some players specialize in playing in a certain position.

Michael Jordan has played in several positions during his career and has done great on the field whether he has played as a shooting guard, point guard, or small forward. It is understood that some positions imply certain qualities that a player must possess in order to play in any of the mentioned positions. The center, for example, cannot be a player who is not strong and who does not have the appropriate height.

He must be able to jump and catch balls under his own and someone else's basket. What is especially important in basketball is that the players know how to play equally well in attack and defense. Some players specialize only in defense and they play it in a top way. Many coaches will say that attack brings victories, and defense brings trophies.

What does center do in basketball?

The center is, as usual, the tallest and strongest player on the field, who is mostly positioned below the basket. It goes without saying that a player who plays in that position must have great physical predispositions, be strong, and have an enviable dose of athleticism.

Their task is to catch the balls under their own and the opponent's basket. Rebounds are one of the key features that a center must possess. In addition, the center is there to place blocks against opposing players and to provide its teammates with an easier way to the basket. In the NBA, a large number of tall players shoot from mid-range distance or make shots for three points without any problems.

Some of them, on the other hand, can have big problems with the percentage of shots. The centers often play with their backs against their rivals and the actions end with a layup or a dunk.

In defense, they have the task of catching the balls after the opponent's misses and blocking the opponent's passes and shots. Some of the best and most popular players playing in the NBA today in this position are: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embid, Rudy Gobert and in this position played during his career famous basketball players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O Neal, Wilt Chamberlain.

What does power forward do in basketball?

As for this position, it is quite similar to the previously mentioned position of the center. This position can often be played by players who also play in the center position, but power forwards are generally much faster than the center. This position is also played by basketball players who are very tall, with great athleticism and a very similar style of play as centers.

These are mostly the second-highest players on the field who are able to score points in different ways. Power forwards as well as centers are known for a very good game under the basket where they are able to play one on one back, to score points by dunking or passing.

These players are able to hit shots from half distance, but also to shoot well for three points. They can jump equally well on both sides of the field, block or steal the ball.

When it comes to defence, power forwards are there to prevent tall and corpulent players from getting close to the basket and scoring easy points. Some of the famous players who play in this position in the NBA are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green. Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley played in this position during their careers.

What is the role of small forward in basketball?

Small forward is probably the most diverse position in basketball. Players who play in this position can do many tasks very well. This type of player does great in both the basket and off the line for three points.

Small forward can play great with their teammates and can share great assists. Small forward can perform well the tasks intended for players playing in the position of power forward or shooting guard. These players are good at ball control, dribbling and they shoot very well for two and three points.

They open the space for their teammates very well, and they can finish the action in various ways, by dunking, passing, or shooting from mid range distance and for three points.

They can respond in a quality way to the tasks that need to be done in defense. Popular players in the NBA today include Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins played in this position during their careers.

What does shooting guard do in basketball?

Players who play in this position are not characterized by too much height. As the name suggests, the most important characteristic of these players is a good shot.

Shooting guards during the game take a large number of shots either from a mid-range distance or for three points. These players, in addition to being good, have several other important characteristics. Since shooting is their primary characteristic, these players have to fight for a good position.

Therefore, they need to move adequately and open up for convenient positions. On the other hand, quality players who play in this position shoot from impossible positions and hit those shots because they are incredibly talented players. These players also need good ball control and good vision on the field.

A shooting guard can hit shots from the place but also with dribbling. Players who play in this position are simply able to score from any position on the field. Shooting guards can also submit to the team when their shot is not working, and then play their players.

As for some popular players playing in this position, these are Klay Thompson, James Harden, Devin Booker. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson became famous in this position during their careers.

What is the role of point guard in basketball?

The players who play at the point guard position are mostly the lowest players on the field, but these players have great ball control and a great overview of the game. Their main job is to play their teammates, but at the same time to be able to shoot free throws well, with mid-range distances and three points. This player is most often represented on the field by what the coach is on the bench. We can call him another coach.

He is the player who implements and invites actions that the coach agreed with the players during the timeout. The point guard is the main organizer of the game who is there to play his teammates, but also to contribute his points to the good result of his team.

Generally, players who play in this position can also play in the shooting guard position and sometimes take almost the same number of shots as players in that position. Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant play in this position in the NBA today. Steve Nash, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas played in that position during their careers.

Final words 

Basketball is a 5vs5 team sport in which each player has his own position in which he feels and manages best.

These are the five mentioned positions: center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard, point guard, for which we have explained in detail what the roles of the players are for each of these positions.

Centers and power forwards are mostly tall and strong players who mostly play under the basket, but are also able to hit certain shots. Small forward is one of the most universal positions involving similar roles played by power forward and shooting guard.

A shooting guard is a player who is recognizable by a fantastic shot where a good shot for three points is especially important. Point guard is a position that is almost certainly the most important on the field because it is a player who plays his teammates and puts the coach's ideas into action.