The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,^[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team.^[1] Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as combo guards. Jamal Crawford, for example, is a shooting guard who is more of a playmaker than a shooter. A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman. Some examples would be Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Martin, Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, Michael Redd and former NBA star Michael Jordan.

[edit] Characteristics and styles of play

The Basketball Handbook by Lee Rose describes a shooting guard as someone whose primary role is to score points. Typically, shooting guards are taller than point guards and more athletic. Size at the position varies; most shooting guards in the professional game are between 6 ft 4 and 6 ft 8 inches or 1.93 to 2.04 m. Many bigger shooting guards also play small forward. While they are usually the best jump-shooters on the floor (such as Reggie Miller, Ben Gordon, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Ray Allen) some shooting guards (such as Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginóbili, Brandon Roy, and Allen Iverson) are known for attacking the basket. Shooting guards should be good ball handlers and be able to pass reasonably well, though passing is not their main priority. Since good shooting guards may attract double-teams, they are frequently the team's back-up ball handlers to the point guard.

[edit] Notes

Basketball positions v • d • e [edit] References The Basketball Handbook (pg 15) (2004). Lee H. Rose ISBN 0-7360-4906-1 Basketball positions v • d • e Guards 1. Point Guard Combo Guard (PG/SG) 2. Shooting Guard Swingman (SG/SF) Forwards 3. Small Forward Cornerman (PF/SF) 4. Power Forward Point Forward (PG/PF, PG/SF) Center 5. Center Forward-Center (PF/C) Captain | Head Coach | Referees and officials