The point guard is perhaps the most important player on the court for a basketball team, often taking on the responsibilities of ball handling, distribution, leadership, communication and scoring. The position of point guard has evolved over the years, from passing specialists like Bob Cousy and John Stockton to do-everything point guards like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose. If you want to become a better point guard, you need to focus on having a well-rounded game with a few skills that you excel at.
Step 1
Communicate with your teammates on and off the floor. Being a good communicator as a point guard works in any type of game, from a pickup game at the park to the state championship. Point guards are often looked to as a coach on the floor, instructing teammates and giving encouragement as well. You can call out plays and be the vocal leader of your team as a point guard, and a positive attitude can easily rub off on your teammates. If you understand your role as a point guard, you can help your teammates understand their roles as well.
Step 2
Work on your ball-handling skills. A point guard who turns the ball over constantly will not be given the opportunity to be a point guard for very long. Practice dribbling with two balls to become equally comfortable dribbling with both hands so that defenders cannot shade you toward a perceived "weaker" hand. Having confidence in your ball-handling ability will help you to break presses and control the tempo of the game, which is a key aspect of the point guard's duties. Knowing when to push the ball upcourt and when to slow the game down starts with the point guard's ball-handling abilities.
Step 3
Practice shooting, especially your free throws. A point guard who is a threat to score is even more dangerous than one who is just a distributor. Point guards often get open looks at the basket from the perimeter, so working on a midrange and three-point jump shot will help you be more effective as well. Point guards need to be effective from the free-throw line, especially in late game situations when teams are looking to foul the ball handler, who in many cases is the point guard.
Step 4
Learn the nuances of the game. Understand when mismatches can happen and how to exploit them on offense and prevent them on defense. Learn your teammates' tendencies and preferences, including where they like the ball passed when coming off a screen and when and where they are likely to make a cut to the basket. The better you know the game and know your teammates, the easier the game will seem.
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