What role does a point guard typically play on a basketball team?

A point guard is often considered the "floor general" of a basketball team, and their primary role involves leading the team’s offense and facilitating plays. This requires a deep understanding of the game, excellent ball-handling skills, and the ability to read defensive setups. Point guards orchestrate the flow of the game by calling plays, directing teammates, and ensuring that the offense runs smoothly. They frequently bring the ball up the court and make quick decisions about how to attack the basket, whether to pass to a scoring player, or to shoot themselves.

While point guards may score points, their focus is less on scoring the majority of points and more on assisting others in finding good scoring opportunities. Their primary responsibility is to create plays, which includes setting up shot opportunities for other players rather than rebounding or focusing solely on defense. Although they do play defense, it is not their main role on the team; instead, they are integral to the offense, coordinating the team’s strategy and facilitating effective gameplay.