This article was written by Mike O’Donnell, the director of basketball operations at the University of Central Florida.
1. Mentally Tough
- Confidence
- Ability to think positive and be constructive in every situation
- Ability to self analyze/self diagnose
- Makes free throws
- As primary ball-handler, expect to be fouled in late-game situations
- Play through pain (not referring to injuries)
- Accept criticism from coaches and teammates
- Be great in your conditioning all through the season… always ready to play the entire game
- Stay focused and in tune with the flow of the game while on the bench
- Hates losing
- Relentless worker
- First one in, the last one to leave
- Challenge teammates
- Challenge coaches (respectfully)
- Watches film/studies opponent
2. High Basketball IQ
- Great in the open floor
- Navigate the ability to always know time, score, and possession
- Coach on the floor
- Ability to control the tempo
- Recognize flow of the game
- Don’t be perfect
- Voice in the huddle. Doesn’t always matter what you say, just that you are saying something
- Comprehension of scouting reports
3. Solid Defender
- Great point guards find a way to affect the game in any way possible
- Becoming a respected defender makes opposing coaches strategize for it
- No player is a perfect defender. Perfect your craft… be a lockdown defender in the half-court, be pesky in the full court, have incredible awareness as a help-side defender, and focus on never getting beat off the dribble
4. Physically Tough
- First to the floor
- Put in the time in the weight room
- Lead team in charges taken
5. Excellent Ball-Handler
- Doesn’t have to be flashy.
- Be efficient… don’t use four dribbles when you are quick enough to beat your opponent with one. Think about it; you are wasting energy.
- Be a great ball-handler in the open court and in tight spaces (there is a difference)
- Creating distance is the most important thing
- For you shot, the offense, and tempo
6. Strategic Passer
- Every pass MEANS something
- On-time, on target
- Recognize the hot hand
- Don’t be afraid to enjoy the hockey assist (make the extra pass that leads to the assist)
- Great passers practice passing
- Become a great “post-feeder.”
7. Have a Go-To Move
- This is key for the shot clock, end of regulation, or if the team is stagnant on offense
- The step-back jump shot should be your best friend… just ask Chris Paul
8. Respected 3-Point Shooter
- Consistent shooter
- Stretches defense
- Takes the pressure off your scorers
- Opens up your penetration
- Keeps the defense honest
8 Keys to Becoming a Great Point Guard in Basketball Conclusion
So why do you not see “Leader” listed in the group of eight? Well, what does a leader even mean? All of the above-listed qualities equate to a great leader… but that does not define leadership. A player could have only three qualities listed above and still be considered a “leader” or having “leadership type qualities.”
I did not use leadership as a point guard essential for a reason. The term “Leadership” is the most overused, misunderstood, and misinterpreted word in sports. A basketball player could be stubborn, unapproachable, and un-coachable and still be a leader… if he starts negatively affecting his teammates, he is still a leader… just not the kind of leader you envision when you hear that word.
That negative player that was just described can create followers, and he/she may not even know it. A point guard can yell, scream, pound the floor on defense, and be perceived (to the fans) as a great leader. However, yelling and screaming does not mean that the player controls the locker room, huddle, or off the court scenarios.
Acting on your emotions is the complete opposite of what authentic leadership is all about. The ability to affect your teammates on and off the court positively to maintain the overall goal of winning (as a team) makes you a truly good leader.
You don’t have to be a leader to be a point guard… but it sure will set you apart… You don’t have to have all of the eight point guard essentials listed above… but it sure is coveted by basketball coaches… you don’t have to do half of that and be a good point guard. The choice is up to you to go from good to great. The margins are so small and yet so far apart. Focus on closing the margins, and you won’t have to worry about being good; rather, people will tell you that you are great.
Thank you to Brendan Suhr, Donnie Jones, Chris Mayberry, and Drew Speraw for their input and guidance in this basketball article.
Email: Michael_odonnell4@yahoo.com
19 Responses
Love it Mike. Can’t wait to help you turn this into an OHoops clinic. I truly believe that my players could use this. This should really be taught in a class.
Great article please email this article
Thank you so much for this. It has made me realize a lot and also what I need to improve on. I, myself, am a point guard for my school’s freshman team. Thank you for these standards of this position. I will try my best to live up to all of them.
Thanks for this most of this describes me but some helped my step back game over 1000 one thing you should have put that really helps me think in your head on every shot you take say money or what ever you say when you make it
Great article, my son is a PG on our 14U travel team. He is starting to embodie each of the points. Printed and posted it on his bedroom wall for him to repeatedly refer to. Good stuff!
this is an excellent post I truly truly believe in everything that you wrote and put down and I’m going to go back tell my kids use these methods tell my play is to understand the value of becoming a point guard and if you can email me this Nice
Coach Mike O’Donnell , This is outstanding. So glad I clicked-on your 8-Keys. Yes, even though I have read countless articles and books over the years, and attended many, many coaching clinics around the country with outstanding & some legendary coaches from the high school, college and NBA level’s, where years ago, I once had a BIG 10 Coach tell me … “to be a sponge” as you will never stop learning in playing or coaching …. I am able to “focus-in” on YOUR presentation of 8 Keys to Becoming a Great Point Guard and “get a perspective” that I, as a coach, had not “focused-on” before. Keep doing what you are doing Coach, as it not only will help the young student-athlete … but, it will also help the athlete (and Coach) on any level … along with us old coaches. God Bless
Please email me a copy of this article. I would like to disperse throughout our program. Thanks.
Please send this article on my email. Thanks and GodBless!
Excellent and very beneficial article
This article is very beneficial. I am going to be a freshman this year, and I really want to make varsity. My best position is point guard, and I think that is where I can help the varsity team at. I’m not only focused on making varsity, because I want to be a team leader. The varsity team, where I live, has no leader. They have no one to get them excited or to tell them what to do besides the coach. I truly believe that our school can win a lot of games. I think we can make it to state honestly. But not without positive leadership. If you could please email this to me, that would be great. I want to be a great point guard, and a great leader, and I think this can get me where I want to be. Thank you for taking the time to write this article.
Great article…please email it to me so I can distribute to our PG’s.
Thanks
Have a freshmen son who could benefit from these points. Would you please e-mail a copy. Thank you for the excellent article.
This really helped me on the court and for my science artical.
Good Stuff! ???
Think like a coach! The point guard is the extension of the coach on the floor.
Thank you very much! I greatly appreciate this now i REALLY know what the meaning of a ”Point Guard is!
That’s ridiculous! “Mental toughness” is not about “playing through injuries”. That’s the worst advice you could ever give anyone. Smh
I did not read it to mean “playing through injury”. I felt he meant playing through the pain of effort and hard work and then connected to the exception of not playing through pain associated with injury.