Roles

The five numbers, and the blended roles that replaced them.

All families · 7 terms · 0 full, 0 partial, 7 short

Center (5)

Also: the five, the big

The primary screener, roller and rim protector.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10 · See also Rim runner, Drop coverage

Combo guard

A guard who moves between initiating and spacing without a fixed role.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10 · See also Point guard (1)

Point forward

A forward-sized player who runs the offense, which puts a bigger defender at the point of attack.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10 · See also Point guard (1), Mismatch

Point guard (1)

The primary ball-handler and initiator.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10 · See also Combo guard, Point forward

Power forward (4)

Also: stretch four

The second big; today often a perimeter player who screens, pops and makes short-roll decisions.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10 · See also Short roll, Pop

Shooting guard (2)

The secondary handler and primary perimeter scorer; today mostly an off-ball mover and spacer.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10

Small forward (3)

The wing; expected to shoot, drive and defend several positions.

offense · General · short · Taught in lecture 3.10