Why Point Guards Need to be Clever

All great point guards are creative, not just flamboyant. They can innovate and create new patterns. They're also excellent at the unexpected. The NBC Basketball Coaching staff recommends that all athletes work to develop point guard sensibilities. This way, no matter what position you play, you'll be able to see the game from a point guard's perspective. You'll also have the complete skillset of a point guard.

4 Key Areas Point Guards need to keep in mind

1. Passing: Great point guards have great passing skills, being able to smoothly and deftly maneuver the ball around defenders to place it exactly where their teammates need it.

2. Intuition: A key trait of a great point guard is the ability to see the court like a game of chess, anticipate the various moves that could be made, and set up the defence accordingly.

3. Flexibility: Making the same mistake over and over again is counterproductive. Instead, point guards must possess the wisdom to be able to critically problem-solve on the fly.

4. Anxiety can negatively impact the frontal cortex, leading to decreased creativity. Have you ever seen a team make silly mistakes and wondered, "What are they thinking?" The reality is, they're not thinking. Silly mistakes are made from anxiety or from being on autopilot. A player who telegraphs his or her pass right into the hands of the defence often responds with, "I was just doing what the coach told me to do." A great point guard never telegraphs or tips his or her hand.