Basketball Shooting Guard
Shooting guards are valuable players on a basketball team, who are known for making shots from beyond the three-point line and being one of the primary players responsible for stealing balls on defense. The shooting guard is also known by the abbreviation “SG,” and is occasionally referred to as the “two,” the “two guard,” or the “off guard.”
Role and Responsibilities
As a shooting guard, you should be a strong shooter around the perimeter of the court. Like every position, the shooting guard must be able to transition between offense and defense efficiently.
When their team is on offense, the shooting guard is responsible for shooting the ball, and making baskets from beyond the three-point line. When their team is on defense, the shooting guard is responsible for getting rebounds and guarding opposing players.
Types of Shooting Guards
There are four main types of shooting guards in basketball, which are:
- Off-Guards
- Wing Players
- Combo Guards
- Swingmen
Off-Guards
Shooting guards are also known as off-guards. Off-guards are primarily responsible for making three-pointers from an area of the court called downtown.
Wing Players
Shooting guards are known as wing players because they play in the wings and corners of the court.
Combo Guards
Occasionally, despite their primary positioning on the downtown and wings, shooting guards will be asked to bring up the ball when their team is on offense. Shooting guards who perform both of these duties are sometimes referred to as “combo guards,” because they are more versatile.
Swingmen
A swingman is a player who can play both small forward and shooting guard. It's not uncommon to see a small forward switch to shooting guard and vice versa.
Shooting Guard Statistics
The stats that are important measures of success for a good shooting guard are scores, assists, and rebounds:
Scores
Obviously, points-scored is the primary stat that shooting guards want to improve. The more points a player scores, the better their team does, and the better their prospects are in general regarding things like contracts, trades, and sponsorships.
Assists
Aside from scoring, assists are another important stat for shooting guards. Assists are great for improving team unity, and of course result in points. A shooting guard who can participate in assists will be seen as a team player, someone who is good at communicating with teammates and who understands how to respond to the constantly-shifting scenarios of the game.
Rebounds
Rebounds are a final important statistic for shooting guards. As players who position themselves near the hoop, shooting guards are in a prime position to make rebounds and convert them into offensive points. A great shooting guard will be able to spot potential rebounds, get into position to receive them, and then capitalize on them in order to get points.
Top NBA Shooting Guards
The following lists some of the top current and former shooting guards in the NBA by team:
| NAME | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards |
| Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Dwayne Wade | Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |
| James Harden | Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers |
| Jimmy Butler | Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat |
| Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors |
FAQ
What shooting guard has the most points all-time?
Amongst all shooting guards, Kobe Bryant has the most points with a total of 32,382. Bryant scored every single one of those points as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
What is the difference between a shooting guard and a point guard?
The main difference between a shooting guard and a point guard are the style in which each position plays. Point guards are typically facilitators who run the offense through great dribbling and passing, whereas shooting guards are often the best shooter on their team. Point guards are more so playmakers while the best shooting guards are scoring machines.
What does a shooting guard need to be good at?
The most essential skills found in a great shooting guard are the ability to shoot from distance and defend on the perimeter. The ability of a shooting guard to effectively hit three-point shots allows them to be a scoring weapon for their team. Additionally, their ability to defend against the three-point shot enables them to shut down opposing guards looking to rack up points from beyond the arc.