Components of a Great Point Guard
“A Point Guard who can score is a great advantage.”
“A Point Guard who HAS TO SCORE is dangerous to their team.”
“A Point Guard whose goal is to make teammates better is giver.”
“A Point Guard whose goal is to make him look good is a taker.”
“A Point Guard who supports his teammates when they fail is trusted and
respected.”
“A Point Guard who attacks/blames his teammates when they fail is a coward
and weak leader!”
“A Point Guard who takes responsibility for a turnover is an owner!”
“A Point Guard who is quick to blame a teammate for a turnover does not
understand responsibility.”
Understanding and internalizing the quotes above and your ability execute the tips below is
key to your success as a point guard, Basketball player and teammate.
A. Out Work Everybody-Hard Work Breeds Confidence (Lead By Example!)
a. To be an effective leader, you must be the hardest worker on the team!
B. Believe in Yourself
a. The size of your Heart is more important than the size of your body
C. Be an Extension of the Coach
a. Listen to the coaches.
b. Figure out want they want-ask questions!
c. COMMIT yourself to carrying it out with enthusiasm to the best of your ability
d. Spend time with the coach(es) asking questions, watching film and discussing
philosophy.
e. Be the best communicator on the floor
f. Talk constantly on defense helping your teammates to recognize potentially
dangerous points of attack by their opponent.
g. Keep your focus throughout the course of a game, and pay attention to details at
all times.
D. Mental Attitude and Approach of a Point Guard
a. Be a leader.
b. Be an intelligent player.
c. Be a communicator with your teammates and your coaching staff.
d. Be a floor coach.
e. Be unselfish; bring out the best of your teammates.
f. Support and commit to the goals and philosophies of the team.
E. Defensive Attitude and Approach of a Point Guard
a. Set the intensity level on defense.
 Be a pest (This is a compliment)
b. Be aggressive - avoid fouling.
c. Commit to pressure on ball - baseline to baseline.
 Keeps constant pressure on a passer or dribbler forcing them off of their
desired path of attack?
d. Commit to denying every pass - 1 pass away.
e. Keep the ball out of the middle of the floor.
f. Contest every shot.
 Lean toward the lane every time the ball goes inside, still being able to
recover quickly to challenge the 3 point shot.
g. Box out and get to the outlet.
 Box out every time and do not use your position as the floor general to
excuse yourself from rebounding duty
h. Protect on defensive steal or quick rebound.
i. Don’t waste a defensive stop by trying to do something to special
j. Reward your team offensively by putting them in the best position to score after a
great stop on the defensive end.
k. Protect your basket - Your first step must be back.
F. Offensive Attitude and Approach of a Point Guard
a. Set the tempo on offense.
b. Know when to break and when to set a pattern.
c. Be an offensive threat.
d. Handle the ball with confidence and intensity.
e. Make the easy pass.
 You don’t have to dribble the length of the floor every possession.
f. Read the defense and make good entry and continuation decisions.
 Attack a one man zone front with a two man offensive front
g. Eliminate mental errors.
h. On deep penetration to the hoop, utilize a strong jump stop, shot fake if
needed, and finish with an assist or shot.
i. Shoot at least 80% from the foul line.
j. Think pass first, Shot second.
k. Be the absolute best ball handler on the floor! Always try to improve your
handling. Dribble North/South (up the court- not across).
l. Have a plan when you get into the lane.
m. Go to the ball when receiving the outlet pass under pressure
n. Outlet Pass - call for the ball quickly - yell "OUTLET"
 above foul line extended
 ball side
o. Look at the rim but see the whole floor
p. Having 3 point range makes you one step quicker
q. Be a great Free Throw Shooter!
G. Knowledge of Game Situations
a. Have a feel for the game. Understand the other players' positions in order to help
them be as effective as possible.
b. Think 2 or 3 Passes ahead - Know what you want to do before the ball arrives
c. Great point guards know who can score on their team,
 How and where
 Be willing to give them the ball. Team before self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
d. A good point guard will support teammates when they fail to convert on a shot
and celebrate for the teammate when he is successful.
e. A good point guard does not give up on a scorer. Often times it is the last shot a
teammate takes that means the most!
f. Look for and find quickly player mismatches.
g. Always know the score and time
 Understand the importance of having the last possession at the end of a
period.
h. When your team is ahead by a lot you have more freedom with the ball.
i. In a close game, you must be more fundamental (make the safe pass),
j. Your Performance is reflected in the last two minutes of the game
k. YOU MUST WANT THE BALL LATE IN THE GAME-you are the director and
must be a good decision maker.
 Be available at all times against pressure
 Accept the challenge of being pressed
H. Ball Handling Skills Needed by a Point Guard
a. Become efficient with:
 Speed
 Control
 Crossover dribble
 Between the legs dribble for direction change
 Behind back dribble for direction change
 Pull back dribble
 Hesitation dribble
 Behind the back dribble
 Fake reverse dribble
I. Receiving the Ball as a Point Guard
a. Outlet Pass - call for the ball quickly - yell "OUTLET"
 Above foul line extended
 Ball side.
b. Out of Bounds – utilize:
 V-cuts
 Reverse pin
 Bump & release
 Screen away-roll back.
c. On Perimeter - Be a threat at all times...meet the passes.
J. Making the Entry Pass as a Point Guard
a. Pass to the low post from only below the foul line extended.
 Above this line creates a bad angle pass.
b. Keep the ball alive - avoid "Dead Ball" situations.
 Don’t pick up your dribble!
c. Pass away from the defender.
d. Pass to target hands of the receiver.
 If their hands aren't ready, don't pass!
e. Make quick, sharp passes. No floaters.
K. Movement without the Ball as a Point Guard
a. Go to basket.
b. Replace yourself.
c. Screen away.
d. Cut through.
e. Screen on ball.
f. Slide on perimeter vs. zone -- sneak a pivot foot into gap as you receive a pass.
g. Pass and relocate on a pass to the post,
 Especially if defender double teams the post.
L. One on One Moves for a Point Guard
a. Jab & Go
b. Jab & Shoot
c. Shot fake & Shot
d. Shot fake & Drive
e. Crossover dribble
f. Reverse layup, both right and left
g. Runners
h. Floaters