So, the 10 strangest decisions to retire numbers in the NBA.
In fact, not only am I not against the vast majority of numbers that are being withdrawn from circulation, but I even advocate increasing their number. When playing basketball simulators, I did not use many more numbers among the players on my team than in the real NBA. Even with the Celtics, I managed to get by not only without the 21 officially issued numbers, but also without the “seven”, “eight” and “44”, and sometimes a few others. But there are cases when even I am indignant. I am still ready to admit some numbers (almost all) from the ten below, but nevertheless, it is strange to see some banners under the arches of the arenas.
The criteria for selection and placement are simple - my own taste. I consider a player to be deserving of the honor of an immortalized number on a team if he has significantly helped the team reach real heights in the NBA or has spent almost his entire career with one team, or his greatness is so grandiose (see Chamberlain) that even a few stellar seasons with the team give him right to such honor. Numbers immortalized due to tragic incidents remain outside the brackets.
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Out of competition. Dan Marino (#13) – Miami Heat*
Honoring the number of an athlete from another sport is a pretty stupid idea. Of course, Dan Marino is a true legend in Florida. But what does it have to do with basketball? The answer is none. The year Marino was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame, the NBA's Miami Heat decided to join in the glory of the great Dolphins quarterback and hung a banner with the 13th number under the arches of their arena, presented Dan with a special Heat jersey and provided other honors. This brought good luck - the season turned out to be a championship for the Heat. Management was wise enough not to retire Marino's number, so the Miami Heat Dolphins' number 13 is out of competition.
10. Dick Barnett (No. 12) – New York Knicks
The Knicks have a long and glorious history, but only players from championship teams and Ewing received rooms under the Madison vaults. And New York won the championship only in the 70s. It was then that they decided to honor Dick McGuire as well, and until then Ewing and 6 champion players were members of the exclusive Knickerbocker Hall of Fame. Is six too many? Of course, Barnett was a great player, although not a Hall of Famer. But he joined the Knicks at age 29 and played only seven full seasons, made just one All-Star, and never led the team in any statistic. At the same time, Carl Brown, a five-time all-star, who served the team for 12 years, remains without a personal banner.
9. Larry Nance (#22) - Cleveland Cavaliers
Nance's story is much the same as Barnett's. He played well for the Cavs, but only half his career, and did not aspire to superstar status. As a result, Cleveland, which until 2007 reached the conference finals only twice in history, has already had 6 numbers retired. For comparison, LAL has only 7 so far. It seems that if Hot Rod Williams didn’t have such a negative image, he would also be immortalized in the banner - Cleveland is so attached to the players of the team that lost to Jordan in 1989 and 1992.
8. Earl Monroe (#10) – Washington Wizards
I really love Earl Monroe. He is one of the 100 greatest basketball players in history in my opinion, and the Knicks' backcourt of Frazier-Monroe is one of my favorite historical combinations of players. But Earl has two immortalized numbers. The number in New York is easy to understand - 9 years, championship, legend status and so on. But the Wizards? Firstly, the team had already moved and even changed its name - Monroe played for the Baltimore Bullets. Secondly, he only played for 4 seasons. Third, he, of course, helped Unseld-Johnson's team reach the finals in 1971, but was traded to the Knicks after that season. So all his achievements with the Bullets are two MVPs and the title of rookie of the year. Does this automatically give you an immortalized number?
7. Bob Lanier (No. 16) – Milwaukee Bucks
Another great player who, in addition to one well-deserved banner, received a second, less deserved one. Lanier in Milwaukee was already quite old and not as stellar as in Detroit, and the team was led by Marquis Johnson (no banner), Moncrief and Dandridge. Of course, Lanier's excellent leadership skills and valuable community service contributed to Lanir's number being retired by the Bucks. But he played 323 games for the team, and Paul Pressey played 648. Twice as many, and there was no talk of immortalizing the number.
6. Walter Brown (No. 1), Red Auerbach (No. 2) - Boston Celtics; Chuck Daly (No. 2) – Detroit Pistons; Larry Weinberg (#1) - Portland Trail Blazers*; Frank Layden (#1), Larry Miller (#9) – Utah Jazz
There is nothing wrong with immortalizing coaches, managers, owners. But reserving game numbers for them is overkill. After all, they never entered the court as number “1” or “2” or “9”. And they didn’t even wear these numbers on their jackets. As a result, many players had to give up their usual uniform number, not because some great player played under it, but because the coach or owner assigned this number. Why one? Why not “64”, not “22” or “01”? In Portland, they came up with a good solution twice - they assigned the number 77 to the coach of the 1977 champion team, Jack Ramsey - almost no one in the NBA wears it anyway, it doesn’t bother anyone. And although Weinberg was assigned a “one,” the owner, by his decision, allows the players to wear this number. But Portland has its own cockroaches, we’ll tell you about them later...
5. Nate Thurmond (No. 42) – Cleveland Cavaliers
If the cases with Nance, Monroe, and Lanier still have the basis for reasonable explanations, then what made management perpetuate Thurmond’s number is unclear. He played just over a hundred games for the team, was a reserve and played an average of 20 minutes per match. He didn’t win any awards with the Cavs - all the glory came to him with the Warriors, for which he played for 11 years. Thurmond – great basketball player. But he is not a great Cavalier. His greatness has nothing to do with Cleveland - after all, Shaquille O'Neal's number could be immortalized in the Cavs in the same way.
4. Doug Moe (No. 432) – Denver Nuggets; Slick Leonard (#529) – Indiana Pacers; Red Holtzman (#613) - New York Knicks; Cotton Fitzsimmons (#832) – Phoenix Suns
An even stupider idea than immortalizing the number 1 in honor of the coach is the tendency to “retire” the number with the number of victories the coach led the team. For starters, it's always a three-digit number (unless you're Jerry Sloan and unless no one wants to immortalize John Kuester's number), and three-digit game numbers aren't used in the NBA - so what's the point of retiring them if they don't circulate? In addition, for some reason only victories in regular season, although the value comes primarily from victories in software. Phoenix decided to take all of Fitzsimmons' 832 victories, including his seasons in Atlanta, Buffalo, Kansas and San Antonio, thus incorporating the history of other teams into their own.
3. Pete Maravich (No. 7) – New Orleans Hornets
Maravich is a Louisiana legend. He became one in college, playing for Louisiana State University; he later played in the NBA in New Orleans for the Jazz. His memory is honored throughout the city and state. But he never played for the Hornets! The Great Pete passed away even before the founding of the Charlotte Hornets, let alone the New Orleans Hornets. His achievements in the NBA are honored along with the Jazz number, his achievements in the region are honored along with the LSU Tigers number, so there was no point in the Hornets getting involved - Maravich did not play for the franchise, and for some reason the number was retired.
2. Dave Twardzik (No. 13), Lionel Hollins (No. 14), Larry Steele (No. 15), Maurice Lucas (No. 20), Bob Gross (No. 30), Lloyd Neal (No. 36) – Portland Trail Blazers
Lucas may be worth considering for Portland's number, but everyone else certainly isn't. Between the six of them, these members of the 1977 Blazers championship team averaged 5.5 seasons with the team. Apart from Lucas, only Hollins made it to the All-Star Game once. At the same time, players such as Kersey, Robinson, Duckworth, who reached the finals twice, and Jim Paxson have 5 MVZ between them and 9 seasons in Portland on average - with statistics comparable to the “immortalized” statistics - but their numbers no one comes out. Carve in stone (in this case, in a synthetic banner) a champion team in in full force, no matter how bright it is, it’s stupid. After all, there may be a no less bright team, like Portland of the late 80s - early 90s, which is one step short of the title, but under the arches of the Rose Garden there will remain the 36th number of the reserve Neil, and not the 3rd number of the bright Clifford Robinson.
Yes, this is another rating in which Michael takes first place. “For services to basketball,” the Heat decided to immortalize Michael Jordan’s number 23. Who did not play for the team, was not in the management of the club, is not a relative of the team owner - in general, has no special relationship with the Heat. Michael is great, no doubt about it. But the league has repeatedly stated that it is not going to retire "23" in the NBA, like "42" in baseball or "99" in hockey, since it is not the league's business to perpetuate the numbers, let the teams do it themselves. And the Heat decided that “23” was a sacred basketball number. And now “6”, “13”, “32”, “33” look somewhat offended at all this disgrace.
One of best players planet LeBron James, returning to Cleveland, took the jersey with the number “23”, which was made legendary by Michael Jordan. This event gave Sportbox.ru a reason to recall the most famous and happiest numbers in NBA history.
Choosing a number for an athlete is far from a routine process, and the number on a jersey is not just a serial number. For many, it is a talisman, a ritual, a symbol of good luck, and sometimes even an indispensable condition for physical comfort. Take at least famous story, when Dennis Rodman left the Lakers for the Mavericks. One of the indispensable conditions of the “worm” was to issue him the 69th number, since it was this combination of numbers that directly correlated with the basketball player’s favorite intimate position.
What can I say, a Rodman-style statement, thickly mixed with shockingness and generously seasoned with the desire to attract attention. But then a natural fuss erupted from this. NBA Commissioner David Stern categorically forbade the club to agree to Rodman's condition. Ultimately, the player reluctantly moved to Dallas, where he played only 12 matches wearing jersey number 70, after which he went on strike and was expelled from the team.
Or else, the famous Gilbert Arinas, took “0” for himself in spite of one particularly zealous forecaster, who said that this is how many minutes he would spend on the court in NBA matches. After Gilbert became the league's most improved player and went to the All-Star Game three times, the coined saying - From Zero to Hero - became his credo. It’s a pity that then he quickly headed in the opposite direction - From Hero to Zero, simultaneously putting dirt in the sneakers of his partners, changing clubs, playing numbers, and losing the respect of colleagues and fans.
In a word, everyone has their own cockroaches in their heads, and everyone wants to personalize their choice, and not just point their finger at the first number they come across. Some strive to be like their idols, others manage to encode the year of their grandmother’s birth in the numbers on their T-shirt. I knew a guy who, with manic pedantry, chose exclusively single-digit numbers simply because he physically felt that he could run easier with a one on his back than with a bulky twenty.
And yet, despite all these confusing meanings and many variations, basketball has its own sacred numbers that evoke awe and reverence. Those who most often take luck, believing that they will bring good luck, just like their past eminent owners. Sportbox.ru counted to five and chose the most popular, in-demand, and finally lucky numbers in the NBA.
№ 23
Facts: The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is 23 times brighter than the Sun. Arnold Schwarzenegger won his first Mr. Olympia title at the age of 23.
There are 23 joints in the human hand. And we all know the man and his hand very well, thanks to which this number is considered one of the most popular not only in basketball, but in sports in general. Michael Jordan, through his career, life and achievements, has ensured that the mention of this figure evokes the image of a black, statuesque athlete who sticks out his tongue, despite any obstacles, ignores any obstacles and makes the very last effort that leads his team to final success.
LeBron James, who once moved to Miami, renounced number 23, saying that only one person can wear it, and everyone who respects and understands basketball should be aware of this. True, James himself is a fickle person and, having returned to Cleveland, he decided to provoke the fans by holding a vote on whether he should play under number 6 or number 23. It turned out that, according to James himself, Cavaliers fans do not understand basketball very well, and from the new season LeBron will pursue the legend Jordan, copying his number.
Who knows, maybe it will come down to the manner of play, it’s not for nothing that American newspapers focus so much attention on the fact that James has lost a lot of weight, refused carbohydrate diet and hopes to give his style more flexibility. Long before Jordan and James, famous Rockets point guard Calvin Murphy wore this number. Although the 175-centimeter tall kid did not win the championship, he became the shortest player inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. Last week, similarly honored sharpshooter Mitch Richmond furthered the number's popularity by playing under it on the Golden State Warriors alongside Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullen.
In the early 2000s, as part of the same club, Jason Richardson brought Jordan to mind, and did this not only through analogies with the number. Like His Airness, he impressed with his anti-gravity abilities, winning the dunk tournament twice. Now new story NBA center Anthony Davis writes under the old numbering for the New Orleans Pelicans. And yet, no matter how many names are named, the total achievements of the players are not listed, the magical sequence “23” will always be considered as such thanks to only one person.
№ 1
Facts: Atomic number of hydrogen, the main chemical element in the Universe. In Ancient China, the number 1 was a symbol of masculinity. Number 1 is the head of the family of numbers.
Actually, in this meager unit lies main principle sports What all these efforts, restrictions, hard work are for is to be the first. What is the essence of sport in its original form. All other meanings, such as the beauty of the game, the fairness of the result, the triumph of the vanquished, have stuck over the years. First of all, you are number one and you are the best. And this sniper accurately reflects the fact that Oscar Robertson, who played in the distant 60s, may not be the first, but certainly the best of the basketball players who wore this number.
Mr. Triple-Double himself, in the 1961/62 season Robertson averaged 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. In 79 games, Robertson had 41 triple-doubles. Over his entire career, 181. He is still the only one who has succeeded in this. And it is very likely that these two records will never be broken. It was “Big O” who mentored Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. when he entered the league. Together they won the only championship in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks, and after that the rookie became one of the standards for centers, already playing under the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
NBA Hall of Fame member and one of the best point guards of the 70s, Nate Archibald changed numbers throughout his career, but it was the one that was retired by the Sacramento Kings, with whom he spent his days. best years. Point guards are born to wear one, just based on their position number. The beloved Muggsy Boggs and the often underrated Rod Strickland were keen to prove this point in the '90s. And yet they could not compete in popularity with the one who was called the point guard of the new formation - Anfernee Hardaway.
It was to him that the concepts of point forward and combo guard were first applied. With a two-meter height, he had excellent vision of the court, and passed the ball no worse and more effectively than his point guard Darrell Armstrong. Penny didn't manage to make it to the end, as did Tracy McGrady, who took the first number in honor of him. Also No. 1, also Orlando Magic, and also an abundance of career-ending injuries. It’s not easy to be first, and the examples of Derrick Rose and Amare Stoudemire confirm the sad trend today, but if it were otherwise, the very concept of victory, for which many are ready to give everything, would be distorted.
№ 32
Facts: An adult has 32 teeth. 32 in the Pythagorean tradition is a symbol of justice. May 32 is a fictitious date from the film “That Same Munchausen.”
As with Jordan, number thirty-two is obvious in basketball. Magic Johnson was the only one who could compete with Jordan in popularity at one time. His playing was original, his style was recognizable, and his results were phenomenal. Unlike Michael, the Lakers point guard never changed his number in his career.
Just like one of the sworn enemies of all of California, the representative of the hated Celtics, Kevin McHale. The unyielding power forward had one of the widest arsenals of movements. It was impossible to predict what he would do in the next second. Another heavy weight was slightly less variable, but by no means less effective. The honored postman of all Marmons, Karl Malone, spent most of his career under the “32” marking, under which he competed against the HIV-infected Magic, and in his old age he ended up with the Lakers, where, due to Johnson’s number being retired, he was forced to be content with paired units.
Today, different times, different morals, especially in Los Angeles, and now in the Clippers, again in the position of the fourth number, Blake Griffin shines, who, in addition to those already mentioned, continues the work of Billy Cunningham from the days of the Sixers, Jerry Lucas when he was a Knick , and Shaquille O'Neal in Orlando.
№ 13
Facts: The number 13, the devil's dozen, is considered unlucky in European culture. Initially, the United States consisted of 13 states. In Russian military aviation there are no aircraft with tail number 13, as well as call signs with this number. Moreover, during the Great Patriotic War hero pilot Pokryshkin fought under number 13 with call sign 13.
In general, even at the level of facts it is clear that this number is different for everyone. Some are afraid of him like fire, others, on the contrary, believe that by challenging prejudices, they themselves take the threads of fate into their hands. But no matter how you treat the number 13, from time to time it still gives you reasons to think.
Paul George, at the end of a great season in Indiana, decided, out of respect for Kobe Bryant, to give up No. 24 and change it to 13. George will miss next season due to a terrible injury suffered in the national team's training camp. But athletes are gambling people by nature and love to tickle their nerves. Therefore, judge for yourself, the greats of the past Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone passed on their disdain for superstitious ditties to Mark Jackson, Sarunas Marciulionis, and they, in turn, to Steve Nash, Joakim Noah, James Harden.
Wilt and Moses became champions and will forever be part of the pantheon of the best big men in basketball history. Jackson and Nash are two of the best passers in the NBA, Marciulionis revolutionized the concept of a foreign player in American basketball. Noah and Harden are the stars of this generation. So, in the case of No. 13, it’s either even or odd, as is the case with luck, without which, as you know, not a single victory can be achieved.
№ 33
Facts: 33 years old is the age at which Jesus Christ was crucified. The Hindu Vedas list 33 major demigods. 33 cows.
If we decide to collect a symbolic five of the best players in NBA history from the basketball players who played under No. 33, then it will not be much different from some others who are not limited by a similar condition. Problems will arise only with the point guard. With all due respect to Sarunas Jasikevicius, it is difficult to count him among those who were spectacular in the NBA. Otherwise, front line: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning. Back Line: Larry Bird, David Thompson, Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill. The number of great players to wear the repeating three jersey is rivaled only by No. 32, and only just barely.
Throughout the 90s, this was the most popular number in the NBA, but now players are not so willing to take it. Either they are afraid of not being able to stand comparisons with the giants, or they are trying to stick to their line. Of the more or less noticeable players currently wearing number 33, one can name only Marc Gasol, and at a stretch Ryan Anderson. Otherwise, duplicating threes are the domain of giants who forever inscribed their name in NBA history.
Today, among team sports there are three most popular ones. Without question, football comes in first place, while basketball and hockey share second and third place. It is worth noting that the first sport is more common in Europe, while the other two are in American continent. However, basketball has wide popularity everywhere, even if the strongest is located in the USA. Millions of people are watching basketball games and get incredible pleasure from it. And you can have even more fun if you know all the positions in basketball. If for you until now there were simply five players from each team on the field, then this article is intended just for you. Here you can find out what each of the five positions is called, what functions each player performs, and how these positions are divided into lines.
Lines in basketball
If you want to know everything about positions in basketball, then you need to start small, or rather, from the general. The first thing you need to figure out is the lines into which all players are divided. There are only two of them - front and rear. It’s easy to guess what each of them is responsible for. The back line is the players who defend their ring from enemy attacks and also initiate attacks from their own team. Accordingly, the front line is the players who attack the enemy’s ring. They may also try to prevent the enemy from launching a counterattack. Strictly speaking, there is nothing complicated about this: different formations require different numbers of players in the lines, but the standard formation involves two back line players and three front line players. Now that you understand the basics of lines, you can take a look at the basic positions in basketball.
Basic positions
Each player has his own positions in basketball, but we will talk about them a little later. There are only five of them, and each of them will be discussed in detail. But first you need to consider the basic positions, of which there are only three: defender, center and striker. Again, there is absolutely nothing complicated here, since the roles of the players in their positions can be understood instantly. Defenders protect the ring, attackers attack the opponent's ring, and the center is the link between attack and defense. However, it is impossible to single out any of the three basic positions as the most important, because each of them is incredibly important. But that's just general concepts. Now you should take a closer look at the positions in basketball in English and Russian, as well as the tasks of each of the five players.
Five positions
So, it's time to look at the five main basketball positions. In the back line there is a point guard and an attacking defender, and in the front line there is a heavy and light forward, as well as a center.
Point Guard
So, it’s worth starting with an analysis of the abbreviations that are used in basketball to designate specific positions on the field. For example, SF is a position in basketball that denotes the small forward who is usually closest to the opponent's hoop. But the place to start is with your rim, so the first player to consider is point guard. In English it is called either combo guard or point guard, and its abbreviation looks like PG (in the Russian version, respectively, RZ). What functions does this player perform? In fact, his volume of work is very large, since he sees almost the entire court, and accordingly, how effectively the whole team will play depends on him. He is a dispatcher, a passer, from whom the team’s attacks begin. In defensive actions, he serves as the last line, so he must be tall in order to be able to take off enemy throws. But don't think that this position is more important than other basketball positions. Freestyle 2 and others computer games basketball also proves that every position is important.
Shooting guard
The next back row player who is a little further from his hoop is the shooting guard. As you can see, basketball is not so easy to understand; the positions of the players are very diverse. In English, this position can be called either a swingman or a shooting guard, the abbreviation looks like SG (or AZ in Russian). As for the role on the field, this defender, as you might already understand from the name of the position, is more focused on attack than defense. Usually this is the best sniper of the team, who can score more points than others, and also draw down the enemy’s defense, freeing the hands of his partners. In defense, this player’s task is to take care of the most dangerous attacking opponents.
Now you know what positions there are in the back line in basketball. It's time to move on to the front line, which has three more players.
Small forward
The first offensive line player worth talking about is the small forward, who was already mentioned a little earlier. In English, this position is called small forward, that is, SF. Accordingly, the Russian abbreviation for this position is LF. But what is more important is what role this player performs on the field. This position is a place for a mobile attacking player. He acts all over the front at once, and can also spend a lot of time under the basket, scoring points there. Many people played in this position or in the mixed position of point forward. The latter combines the traits of both a small forward and a point guard. As you can see, absolutely all positions in basketball play a huge role. The description of each of them once again proves this.
Power forward
This is a rather interesting position that allows the player to work both in attack and defense at once. Moreover, some famous power forwards almost always concentrate on defensive actions, but there are also those who manage to earn a quarter or even a third of their team's total points. On English this position is called power forward and, accordingly, is designated as PF, but in Russian its abbreviation, naturally, is designated as TF. It’s worth saying right away that the main responsibility of this player, who does not play as close to the opponent’s hoop as a small forward, is to rebound the ball both in defense and in attack. Accordingly, the player must have a high physical strength, a powerful build, because otherwise it would be very difficult to cope with such a task. As with small forward, this position can be combined with point guard duties (or play as a combo forward who plays both forward duties). However, this is rarely practiced, since the heavy forward’s workload is already impressive. Accordingly, such mixtures are rare.
Center
And of course, we definitely need to tell you more about the center, who is actually the center of the entire team. In English it is called just that - center - and therefore is designated accordingly - Ts. As you can already understand, in Russian the abbreviation will be exactly the same, therefore in all languages this position is designated as Ts.
As for the game role of this player, everything is quite complicated. It would seem that this player should play in the center of the field and link attack with defense - similar to football. But in reality, everything is completely different here, because the center in basketball defines his center by the field not along, but across. This means that this player is always focused on the opponent’s ring. Strictly speaking, his task is to play under the basket and get points. Of course, for the tallest player on the team, so most often in this position you can find players over 210 centimeters tall, up to 225 centimeters. Note that a center can take on the additional duties of a power forward so that he can play a point forward or combo forward, thereby moving away from the rim and playing a little further, which changes his function. As you can see, the five main positions of players may not be clearly assigned to them; there are also intermediate ones.
As in football, in basketball there are three groups of players on the playing court: defenders, center field players and forwards. However, if in the “game of millions” about 15 roles can be detailed, then in basketball there will be only five, and they will be more simplified. Why? Yes, because the game takes place on a relatively small court and is characterized by high dynamics and the need for constant movement, so positions in basketball and their meanings are a very relative question.
About personnel
Personnel decide everything - these words, once uttered by a great leader and subsequently becoming popular, could not be more tellingly applied to basketball. There are players who by their nature (speed, height, vision of the court and innovative thinking) are created for a particular position, and there are universal players. The latter are rarer personnel, and therefore more valuable, both for the manager and for the team as a whole. They feel confident both in the center of the court and under the hoop, they just play basketball. The positions of players with such personnel are a common convention for a team coach and a real one. headache- for the enemy.
Nuances and formalities
So, a few words about the classic arrangement. None of the current rules regulate what positions there are in basketball, who should be located where and “with whom to play.” Everything is purely arbitrary, and the choice of one tactic or another, and, accordingly, the formation depends on the availability of players in the team and how the opponent is expected to play. If you look very superficially, then all players can be divided into front and back lines.
Basketball: position numbers and location on the court
Number 1 is a point guard, also known as a dispatcher, who starts the team’s attack from his ring.
Number 2 is an attacking defender. On the site it is located in the support zone.
Numbers 3, 4 are light forward and heavy forward respectively. Location - close to the enemy ring (sometimes they share flanks).
Number 5 is the center. Zonal location - under the enemy's ring.
Point guard
The point guard position in basketball is a kind of control room or, if you like, a starting point. How usually basketball players, those playing in this role have good speed and excellent ball control. The main task of the point guard is to create conditions for partners under which each of them can be as useful as possible for the team. If, for example, in football the outcome of the game can be decided by a single accurate shot by a specific player, then in basketball the result consists of hundreds of little things, each of which can give a certain advantage over the opponent. After the match, all positions in basketball are thoroughly analyzed, TTD statistics are kept, and adjustments are made to the organization of the game.
In addition, in order to realize the strengths of his team, the point guard must see the enemy’s weak points and “put pressure” there in time. He starts the team's combinations, provides insurance in defense, especially during sharp counterattacks from opponents. As a rule, players in this position are the shortest in the team - the average height is about 190 cm.
Among legendary basketball players NBA players who played the point guard position include Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, and current Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving.
Shooting guard
For a person who is not very knowledgeable about basketball, the name of this role may seem a little paradoxical, because positions in basketball are logically named in accordance with the functions they perform, while the main task of an attacking defender is to break through to the hoop and earn points. To be a sniper, in other words.
As a rule, these are athletes with good athletic abilities, but at the same time have good dribbling and the ability to dribble. Some coaches require shooting guards to work closely with rebounds, especially on rebounds.
A high level of passing is another important quality due to which players this role can “raise their price.” A good sniper can easily pull out 2-3 opponents, so a high-quality and timely pass to a partner can give the latter time to prepare a throw.
The height of the classic second number, as a rule, reaches 200 cm. Due to anthropometry and good speed, the attacking defender can with equal success resist both the sniper and the center forward of the opposing team. Some NBA teams with strong second numbers often build games around them.
Famous NBA players who played as an attacking guard at different times include Kobe Bryant, who recently retired, and, of course, the legendary Michael Jordan.
Small forward
The functions of a small forward on the court are usually similar to those of an attacking defender, but offensive line players are usually taller (up to 210 cm) and located closer to the opponent’s basket. They are indispensable when playing rebounds and often block shots from opposing players.
Among the main qualities of a small forward, we note a high percentage of shots made from any distance. A competent “three” uses its advantage in maneuverability over the opponents’ heavy forward and center, and its advantage in height over the point guard and defender. Compared to an attacking defender, a small forward is more focused on rebounds, thereby helping his center.
The small forward position in basketball is the most versatile. Their height and jumping ability, combined with dynamism, allow them to fight at the basket, block shots from opposing forwards, and also insure their own defenders.
From famous basketball players who played number three, we note the current leader of Cleveland, LeBron James, as well as Dirk Nowitzki, who has been playing for the same club for nineteen years, the Dallas Mavericks.
Power forward
The main function of a heavy forward is to fight for rebounds at his own and someone else’s hoop, so playing in the “four” position requires not only tall height (usually more than 200 cm), but also extraordinary physical strength. Some heavy forwards playing in the NBA and European national leagues, who are over 210 cm tall, can easily perform slam dunks, which the spectators in the stands love so much.
The heavy forward has a lot of work to do especially at the end of the match, when the game begins on fouls. At this moment, the 4th number often “lowers” closer to his own ring, preventing the opponent’s light players from getting within shooting distance of the goal. In the history of basketball, for example, there were and are power forwards for whom 10 points scored per game is something supernatural, because most of the time they are on defense.
One of the brightest power forwards of our time is Blake Griffin, who defends the colors of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Center
Number five is usually the highest on the floor (often more than 210 cm). Like the power forward, the center must compete for rebounds and also defend his own three-point zone during the opponent's attack. Basketball players of this role, who have athleticism and speed in addition to anthropometry, are valuable personnel for any club. As a rule, a player with such a set of qualities is a rarity. In general, all positions in basketball related to the offensive line can be called universal, but this one applies to a greater extent to the fifth number.
There is a kind of strategy that teams usually use late in the game. It is aimed against centers who have a low percentage of free throws. The idea is to foul the number five, after which he could theoretically miss a free kick and the ball would go to the opposing team. By the way, there is an opinion that this strategy was born as one of the options to confront the legend of American basketball - Shaquille O'Neal. The latter was the undisputed leader under the basket, but to the same extent practically useless as a player taking free throws.
Non-standard positions in basketball
In addition to the main conventional positions, there are also modified roles in basketball. As a rule, such positions are played by universal athletes who, thanks to individual skill, are able to work “both here and here.”
A combo guard is a player who combines the qualities of the first and second numbers, but does not have a complete list of characteristics to fully cover one of the two positions. Comboguard - a rare guest starting lineup, most often he is a reserve for the point guard or attacking defender on the team.
A swingman is a basketball player with the skills of a shooting guard and small forward. Unlike the combo guard, on the contrary, he can take advantage of his versatility. With a height of up to 200 cm, the swingman has good speed and dribbling, so, depending on the situation, he can either work on defense against short players or attack the basket.
Point forward is probably the most unusual of the non-standard positions. A point forward is usually called a player who has the field vision of a point guard, as well as the power and pressure of a forward. If such a basketball player is used correctly, this combination can turn out to be an explosive mixture.
Combo forward - a player with the skills of a small and heavy forward.
