point guard

Magic Johnson, regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, in 1987 The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game.

A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position and is usually the shortest player on the court, albeit this may not always be the case. Point guards are expected to control the pace of the game. They effectively "run" the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time. Generally, point guards are expected to be proficient in both passing and dribbling the ball, in order to facilitate ball movement. In a pick and roll offense, the point guard typically moves off screens to facilitate the ball to a big, in most cases either the power forward or the center. Likewise, point guards can also shoot off screens if given separation. In transition, the point guard must be able to pass and handle the ball without committing excessive turnovers. Defensively, the point guard is generally responsible for guarding above the key on the perimeter.