How to Become a Dominant Point Guard

As a point guard, you are perhaps the most valuable player on the court. This is because your position is what the entire offense runs through. You might not even be the most talented or the highest scoring player, but the fact remains that as you go, the team goes. You are in essence the coach on the floor, not unlike a quarterback in football. In order to be dominant, you need not focus so much on your stat lines as you do on your leadership skills (see: reference 1).

Instructions

    • 1

      Master the fundamentals of ball handling. When the defense is pressuring you and your team, you'll either be the one who has to dribble and pass your way out of tough spots or be the one that bails out heavily guarded teammates. Evasive moves such as the crossover dribble and the no-look pass should be part of your repertoire (see: reference 2).

    • 2

      Learn to recognize defenses and how to call the right play for the situation. For example, if you notice that the defenders are running below screens and not honoring the perimeter shooters, call a play that has you driving up the lane, collapsing the defense and subsequently isolating a sharpshooter at the 3-point line that you will pass to (see: reference 1).

    • 3

      Get others involved. You aren't the be all/end all with the offense; it merely runs through you. This is why assists are such a telltale statistic with point guards, arguably more so than points scored. The key is to play to your teammates' strengths, make them look good and put them in the best situation possible. For example, NBA Hall of Fame member Earvin "Magic" Johnson wasn't the most prolific of scorers, but he made virtually every other member of his "Showtime" Lakers look excellent on the court with his timely and precise passing (see: reference 2).

    • 4

      Show persistence on defense. Since you are one of the quickest players on the court who can keep up with the offensive player man-to-man, perhaps the biggest hurdle that you will face is fighting through screens. Opposing offenses use them to separate you from the ball handler and to create mismatches. After a screen, you might find yourself guarding the biggest player on the court. It's important to get back as quickly as possible to the man you are responsible for guarding.