Shooting guard
| Basketball Positions | |
| Point guard | |
| Shooting guard | |
| Small forward | |
| Power forward | |
| Center | |
| Additional Positions | |
| Swingman | |
| Point forward | |
Shooting guard (SG), also known as “two guard” or “off guard”, is one of the five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards, and are frequently called upon to create a high volume of shots on offense and guard the opponent's best perimeter player on defense. Shooting guards are also known as "2-guards" (or simply "2's"), and "off guards", since they play off the ball on offense. Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as "combo guards". A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman.
Typically, shooting guards are considerably bigger than point guards, although being undersized does not necessarily limit smaller players from playing the shooting guard position -- one notable exception to the idea of big SG's is Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the greatest 2-guards ever despite his relatively small stature.
While shooting guards are sometimes the best jump-shooters on the floor (hence the "shooting" part of the position name), most can also drive to the basket well. Many bigger shooting guards can also play small forward. A shooting guard should be a good ballhandler and be able to pass reasonably well, though passing shouldn't be high on his list of priorities. Most shooting guards focus primarily on scoring, allowing the point guard to worry about distributing the ball. Most shooting guards are between 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), such as Ben Gordon, and 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), such as Tracy McGrady. They weigh from 190 to 240 lb (86 to 109 kg).
A good catch-and-shoot skill set (being able to line up at a designated spot, catch the basketball and make a shot without dribbling) is often a requirement for shooting guards. Shooting guards also typically show an ability to penetrate into the basketball lane, and finish at the rim, by either a dunk or layup.
Michael Jordan, perhaps the most well-known basketball player in history, was a shooting guard, and helped define the role of the modern position. That said, his skills, especially his ability to cut to the basket, were features that made him as much of a small forward as a shooting guard. Reggie Miller, on the other hand, is a more classic display of what the shooting guard position prototypically demands: lankier than Jordan, he moved very well off screens without the ball, and was a deadly jump-shooter with a lightning-quick release. Other famous shooting guards of the past include Clyde Drexler, Jerry West, Mitch Richmond, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Earl Monroe, Pete Maravich, and John Havlicek. Notable shooting guards who are currently active include Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady (although he plays the small forward more often), Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Diana Taurasi, Richard Hamilton, Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd, and Paul Pierce.
[edit] Notable Present Shooting Guards:
- Ray Allen: Boston Celtics
- Brent Barry: San Antonio Spurs
- Raja Bell: Phoenix Suns
- Kobe Bryant: Los Angeles Lakers
- Vince Carter: New Jersey Nets
- Michael Finley: San Antonio Spurs
- Manu Ginobili: San Antonio Spurs
- Ben Gordon: Chicago Bulls
- Richard Hamilton: Detroit Pistons
- Larry Hughes: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Andre Iguodala: Philadelphia 76ers
- Joe Johnson: Atlanta Hawks
- Kevin Martin: Sacramento Kings
- Rashad McCants: Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tracy McGrady: Houston Rockets
- Mike Miller: Memphis Grizzlies
- Cuttino Mobley: Los Angeles Clippers
- Michael Redd: Milwaukee Bucks
- Jason Richardson: Charlotte Bobcats
- Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat
