NBA + WNBA

basketball positions.

Five spots on the floor, five different jobs. Modern basketball blurs the lines (plenty of centers shoot threes now), but this is still the map most broadcasts use.

Point guard

The primary ballhandler and playmaker. They bring the ball up the court, read the defense, and decide who gets it next, a pass for a teammate's shot, or a drive for their own. Basketball people call this “running the offense.”

Usually the smallest, quickest player on the floor, and the one holding the ball most possessions when the team isn't rushing a fast break.

Point guard's walking it up. Watch who she's looking at, that's the pass coming.

Shooting guard

A perimeter scorer, often the team's best or second-best outside shooter. They move without the ball to get open for a pass, then shoot fast before a defender recovers.

Watch for a player cutting around picks near the 3-point line. That's usually this role, hunting an open look.

He just curled off two screens for that three. That's a shooting guard's whole job in one play.

Small forward

The most versatile spot on the floor: scores inside and outside, defends multiple positions, and often guards the other team's best perimeter scorer. Modern NBA teams lean on this role heavily.

If a broadcast calls someone a “three-and-D” player, this is usually the position: shoots threes, plays defense, does a bit of everything else.

He switched onto their star scorer again. That's the small forward's night job.

Ballbot calls out who's doing what live, in your group chat.

Save my seat →

Power forward

Plays closer to the basket than the guards, fights for rebounds, and finishes plays near the rim. Many modern power forwards, called “stretch fours,” also shoot 3-pointers to pull defenders away from the basket.

Look for the player boxing out for rebounds under the hoop, or popping out to the 3-point line if their team plays a modern spread offense.

Offensive rebound, put it back up. That's exactly what a power forward is on the floor for.

Center

Usually the tallest player on the team. Anchors the defense near the rim, blocks shots, sets screens to free up teammates, and grabs the majority of a team's rebounds.

The player standing under the basket on defense, and the one setting a body-block (screen) at the top of a play on offense.

He just swatted that at the rim. Centers exist to make that shot disappear.

Other sports

Football.Baseball.Hockey.Soccer.

Once you know who does what, the basketball glossarycovers what they're actually doing out there.

Want Ballbot in your pocket?

Hail Mary calls out who's doing what live during the game, in your group chat. iOS, summer 2026.

Save me a seat →