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Basketball: positions & court

14 questions · Sports

Basketball (positions & court): The playmaker is the point guard. Shooting guard. The tallest player at the rim is the center. There are five classic positions. Each team has 5 players on court. Three-point line. Free-throw line. The painted area under the basket is the paint (key). The hoop is at 3.05 m (10 feet). Good to know: The point guard is the 'director' on court. The shooting guard is usually the best long-range shooter. The small forward is often the team's most versatile player. The power forward works near the basket and battles for rebounds. The center is usually the tallest player and dominates near the basket. Traditionally five: but modern teams often play 'positionless'. Five against five on the court. The NBA only introduced the three-point line in 1979. The free-throw line is about four metres from the basket. An attacker may only stay in the 'paint' for a limited time. The hoop hangs at exactly 3.05 metres (10 feet). The centre line divides the court into attacking and defending halves.

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7 of 14 questions with answers

What is the playmaker who brings the ball up called?

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Point guard

The point guard is the coach's extension on court: running the offence and distributing the ball.

💡 Did you know? The point guard is the 'director' on court.

What is the scoring guard next to the playmaker called?

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Shooting guard

The shooting guard is the sharpshooter: strong from range, often the team's best scorer.

💡 Did you know? The shooting guard is usually the best long-range shooter.

What is the versatile wing player called?

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Small forward

The small forward is the all-rounder: able to shoot, defend and drive to the basket.

💡 Did you know? The small forward is often the team's most versatile player.

What is the strong forward near the basket called?

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Power forward

The power forward battles near the basket for rebounds: strong, but increasingly a shooter too.

💡 Did you know? The power forward works near the basket and battles for rebounds.

What is the usually tallest player at the basket called?

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Center

The center is usually the tallest player: ruling the paint with rebounds and blocks.

💡 Did you know? The center is usually the tallest player and dominates near the basket.

How many classic positions are there?

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Five

Classically five positions: in modern „positionless“ basketball the roles increasingly blur.

💡 Did you know? Traditionally five: but modern teams often play 'positionless'.

Which position did Michael Jordan mostly play?

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Shooting guard

As a shooting guard Jordan was first and foremost a scorer; he led the NBA in scoring ten times.

💡 Did you know? Wearing number 23, Jordan turned the shooting guard into basketball’s glamour role.

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