After seeing too many minutes of subpar center player from Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, head coach Frank Vogel turned to LeBron James at center back in December. Earvin "Magic" Johnson also worked as an executive for the LA Lakers. Critical Body is the premier resource for learning how a sustainable exercise regime can improve your long-term physical health and mental wellbeing. LeBron James/Position. Cookie Notice Former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson is considered by many to be the most effective player to ever line up at all five positions on the court. Unlike many of his contemporaries, the Boston Celtics legend was very comfortable shooting the ball from mid-range instead of using his height on the post. At 6' 9'', James is as strong as the biggest center and as quick as any guard. Small forwards need excellent defensive skills and a larger body size than the likes of shooting guards and pointing guards, meaning that most forwards are quite a bit taller than 6 foot 5. In the French league, he currently leads all players in points (22.2), rebounds (9.5) and blocked shots (3.1). Not everyone is going to be world-class, even if they play in the NBA. Lowry was boxing out Whiteside last season during the game, so i'm gonna go with him. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. He was an incredibly gritty player who didn't mind competing against guys much bigger than his 6'5" frame. I did a dennis rodman as that chart, 6'7 paint beast 90 speed max wingspan maxed shooting for 60 mid 50 three and with 15 finishing badges I'm a pretty solid scorer. Every basketball player used to want to be a shooting guard. In fact, he stunned the world in the sixth game of the 1980 NBA Finals when he played as the LA Lakers' center after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured. The best 59 NBA players: No, 5 foot 9 isnt too short for basketball. 4 Boston Celtics. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It's become more and more common to see teams and players that are able to switch every P&R, but how many players can actually and effectively guard all five positions? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. He is the Field General on the court he signals the plays and handles the ball and is usually your best assist man. The playing positions are Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Shooting Forward, Power Forward and Center. Chamberlain had enough tactical acumen to cover any spot on the court. Pippen was an absolutely lethal on-ball defender but could also contain his man on the low block. He was an absolute bulldog on the court, using his 7'3" wingspan to keep his assignment from seeing the court while applying unrelenting pressure and always sticking close by. Former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson is considered by many to be the most effective player to ever line up at all five positions on the court. Havlicek's best statistical season came in 1970-1971 when he averaged 28.9 points, nine rebounds and 7.5 assists. He averaged career highs in points (22) and rebounds (8.7) per game, along with 5.6 assists and nearly three steals. . LeBron James lands at No. But on defense, the center tries to block opponents shots and rebound their misses. Did it work? Havlicek's legacy hasn't held up the way of the other players on this slideshow, but he was unquestionably a jack-of-all-trades out on the court and the kind of player who could impact the game in any way necessary to win. 18% of NBA players play the position of center in the NBA. In other words, most point guards are under 6 foot 5, but most small forwards are a couple of inches taller than 6 foot 5. The fast guards and 7'3 centers can give you trouble but with the right badge setups you can handle both. Here are 10 super interesting facts related to basketball positions 1-5: The point guard is often considered the leader of the team and is responsible for bringing the ball up the court, setting up plays, and distributing the ball to other players. Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That's the dilemma the Orlando Magic are currently in. DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks. We have also looked at the how these positions relate to the rest of the positions with the NBA. James (ankle) will not play Thursday at Golden State, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports. Contrary to what many will say, Chamberlain's game wasn't all about being bigger and stronger than his opponents and he was just as skilled as many guards of his era. His playing style is not about scoring, assisting, rebounding, or playing defense. Not only has he been a defensive anchor over his career, a dynamic force in the paint who quarterbacks the defense and deters opponents' forays to the basket, but he has also ran the offense for his team in a point-forward role. 2. Due to his speed and athleticism, Chamberlain could effectively guard anyone on the court. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Johnson's passing skills were the greatest in NBA history, but he could carry out many other roles if his team needed it. 7 Oklahoma City Thunder. The 6'9 Rebounding Wing can for the most part. Sacramento Kings' Point Forward is without a doubt in control when it comes to 3-pointers, with a. Despite losing some of his touch from 3-point land, Brown is averaging career-high marks in scoring (26.5 points per game), field goal percentage (48.7 percent) and rebounding (7.0 per game), all . Hakeem Olajuwon (right) is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season. NBA Players By Position - Point Guards Search By: Click the 'Acquire Minimum Salary Player via Trade' button to load a list of players that you could acquire via Minimum Salary Exception with only needing to send back cash, rights or draft picks. His athleticism was unmatched and he was exceptionally effective from anywhere on the floor. I see Demonkev green from the corner with this build so it's not imposible. Unlike Chamberlain, Kevin Garnett was a power forward who never operated like most of the other PF's in the league did back then. Debates surrounding the greatest players in NBA history often come down to the question of which athlete is capable of playing all 5 positions on a basketball court. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. Post not showing up? 2. It slid under the national radar because,well,hes on the Cavs,but Garland averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Click the 'Acquire Minimum Salary Player via Trade' button to load a list of players that you could acquire via Minimum Salary Exception with only needing to send back cash, rights or draft picks. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Shooting Guard (SG) As the name says, this guard is usually a great shooter with 3 point range but also the ability to move with or without the ball to get good open shots anywhere on the floor. Johnson won five NBA championships with the LA Lakers, three Finals MVPs, and three regular-season MVPs. 5.4: 0.7: 2.2: 7.7: Trae Young was the player with the most points and most Assists in the 2022-2023 NBA Season. Shooting guard 1. 6 What position does Damian Lillard play? There are more 65 NBA forwards than this, especially knowing that some players are small forwards as well as shooting guards. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Y'all think Brandon Ingram could check a Center for a short time? These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. NAME GP MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV PF +/- Chet Aubuchon . Select a free agent player you wish to sign to your team. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 2. Running Phil Jackson's triangle offense requires savvy play from guards and forwards, and Pippen was able to run the unique offensive sets very effectively. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Kevin Garnett may not be considered your traditional five-position player (if there is such a thing,) but the multi-talented seven footer has been asked to do everything on the court, particularly during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also has not spent much time defending against guards, but in his defensive prime KG was surprisingly quick and had the length to bother them when he picked one up on a switch or in a mismatch created to prevent a fast break. 24.59% of NBA players play the position of Shooting Guard in the NBA. John Havlicek was the kind of player who simply did everything that was necessary for his team to win on the court. Countries of the World. Versatile players are highly valued by coaches, as they can help a team run a variety of plays without switching personnel. Chamberlain may not have been an elite free throw shooter or been able to execute a crossover, but he had the talent and skills to play a form of every position on the court. (forwards and centers). Draymond guarding star PGs the entire game? There are some exceptions, but this has been a consensus choice for more than two decades now. We have seen many great players in NBA history, who thrive on the defensive end. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. He lit up the NBA with his smile. Lebron is honestly the only one out of those who can play each position to a good enough standard. Click the 'Make A Trade' button to load the Trade Manager. In the playoffs, with Chris Bosh injured and the Heat lacking enough quality fours and fives, James has spent a good deal of time at the four spot against a very large Indiana team. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. The obvious ones are Draymond, LeBron, Kawhi, and Crowder, but who are the most underrated defenders with a high level of versatility? A player that can guard positions 1-5 has rarely been seen and with years left in the tank, LeBron James is one of the best defensive players we will ever see. From Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, shooting guards were the bucket-getters, the alphas, the don't-even-look-at-me-the-wrong-way-or-I'm . Though he didn't log much time at center, with the way the game was played back then and the overall smaller stature of players, he was more than capable of picking up the other team's five man defensively or scoring on the inside. 7 Is each NBA teams All-Time starting five Michael Jordan? Versatility is an attribute that sets the top players apart from the rest of the league. Be the first one to comment on this story. In the 2004 playoffs after an injury to Sam Cassell, Garnett saw extended time at the point against the Lakers, although he professed later that he hated playing the one spot. Garnett has great court vision for someone his size and also a solid handle on the ball, he would often be seen bringing the ball up the court and directing the offense while with the Timberwolves, a role he hasn't been featured in much since joining Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce in Boston. He averaged 7.8 assists per game in the 1966-1967 season and a staggering 8.6 in the following year. Often most coaches start their best 5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Dead cap is acquired by waiving/releasing a player. Developer-supported and community-run. As far as free throw percentage, LeBron is a career 73.4% while Kobe is a career 83.7%. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. 9 Houston Rockets. Very few outside players could impose their will on the glass like Havlicek could. This makes sense considering that 6 foot 5 is what youd call an in-between height. Garnett may not be LeBron James or Magic Johnson, but he was still a dangerous player at any spot on the court. Select the player you wish to receive in a trade via a Trade Exception. For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can either be a Laker or a Buck, but not both. He wasn't lightening-quick, but Pippen had enough speed and lateral quickness that he could contain some of the league's most explosive point guards. They roam all over on the court. No surprise: Steph makes NBAs list of 75 greatest players. 8 Who will most likely join Kevin Love on the All-Time Team? Is he the. There are 89 NBA Players who play as Point Guard, 120 players play as Shooting Guard, 86 players who play as Shooting Forward, 105 players who play as Power Forward and 88 players who play as Center. Rather, you just need enough height for your particular position, although there are exceptions, usually when shorter players are extremely skillful. KD can bring the ball up the court, is a solid passer, can shoot from outside, attack the rim, has a lovely mid-range game, and is also a great rim protector. His unselfishness was a key aspect of his successJohnson could pass extremely well out of the post but had enough ways to score at close range that defenses had to respect him and would often throw a double team at him. Though he was never the unstoppable scorer or clutch shot assassin that Michael Jordan was, Pippen was able to make an impact on the game in just as many ways. Tim Duncan, who spent 19 years in San Antonio, had his number retired by the Spurs. edited 5 yr. ago. What does the Quran say about fasting times? On the defensive end of the court, Kobe finished his career with 12 total selections on the NBAs All-Defensive team ( nine times on the all-defensive first team and three times on the all-defensive second team). Durant is simply a freakishly-talented athlete. If you can handle the ball, then you bring it up the court and initiate the offense. Famous NBA shooting guards include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Klay Thompson, and Clyde Drexler. I don't know if he still can, but Boris Diaw came into the league as a point guard and has played center. Well, he scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out seven assists. Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers: Three-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, 16-time NBA All-Star. Still, many shorter basketball players would love to be 6 foot 5, so even though you are technically a bit shorter than average, you should still be happy that youre plenty tall enough to play in the NBAskills and determination permitting. Obviously, there are a lot of NBA players who are considerably taller than 6 foot 5, meaning that they will likely have more physical strength (though not always) and better defensive abilities. He is one of five players to win both the NBA MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award in his career (along with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo). He had a phenomenal handle and could run an offense as well as any point guard in the league. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company, Michael Jordan Career Points An Analysis. NBA players that can play from point guard to center!Subscribe to Dr. NBA: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely no copyright in. Still, there are some excellent 65 forwards in the NBA, such as Desmond Bane, Josh Hart, Devin Vassell, Terance Mann, Tim Hardaway Jr., Max Strus, Aaron Nesmith, Nassir Little, Josh Green, Hamidou Diallo, and Isaac Okoro. Garnett averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in his NBA career. Most notably in Game Six of the. Any discussion about legendary basketball players will likely include Wilt Chamberlain because he was a true trailblazer that paved the way for NBA stars today. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In 1967, Chamberlain guided Philadelphia to an NBA title, averaging a whopping 9 assists per game in the postseason. Salay exceptions that the team is elgible to use, which could include Room MLE, Bi-Annual MLE, Non-Taxpayer MLE or Taxpayer MLE. Though he did his best work facilitating and running the Lakers' renowned "Showtime" offense during the 1980s and 1990s, Johnson's mix of size and speed allowed him to play both guard spots as well as forward and center. Wait, really? As the General Manager you have the ability to: Either renounce the team's current free agents to potentially clear up some cap space or sign free agent(s) using their rights since the team still has control of their rights. Which NBA players can guard all 5 positions? The position of center is the second least popular position in the NBA. There are 88 NBA players who play the position of Center. Pippen's size and physicality bothered Johnson in a way that Jordan's defense, though absolutely stellar in its own right, could not. 3. Is each NBA teams All-Time starting five Michael Jordan? It resulted in two seasons (1966-67 and 1967-68) in which he averaged 7.8 and 8.6 assists per game, respectively. The late Kobe Bean Bryant is arguably one of the greatest players to have blessed an NBA court. Yet, some 6 5 NBA players have also found success in positions such as point guard and small forward, so not every 6 foot 5 basketball player is going to play SG. Small forwards can score from long shots and close ones. Wilt The Stilt Chamberlain. This is assuming you would be sending back (a) cash, (b) draft picks or (c) draft rights to a prospect. Just accept offense comes off the break or catching lobs from the corner. 5 Golden State Warriors. 14 14. Among every player in history with at least 100 career appearances, that gives him the fifth-highest scoring average, behind only Wilt Chamberlain (30.1), Jordan (30.1), Baylor (27.4) and James. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Playing 1-5 isn't easy and requires a rare combination of skill, size and speed. (2020, May 13). Is there a way to make a sf or pf that can guard all 5 positions and not be a liability on offense? Reddit's home for anything and everything related to the NBA 2K series. Name Just One - 10 to 1: History. What NBA players can guard all 5 positions? If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. He always rim ran well and was able to establish great position in the post against his defenders. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. He continues to dominate the league at just 19 years old as the NBA awaits his arrival. Giannis? And really only him. There aren't any doubts about Kevin Durant's ability to perform at a high level in every role assigned to him on the basketball court. I think its fair to say that a basketball court is the only place where 6 foot 5 is considered a below-average height. and our Hopefully, our extensive list of 65 guards and forwards in the NBA inspires you to make the most of your own height and physical attributes when youre on the court. Kobe Bryant is the greatest player to have ever donned an LA Lakers jersey. There are a fair few 65 guards in the NBA, especially if were talking about 65 shooting guards. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. What are the rules for representing a team in the NBA? I tried making a dennis Rodman build (6-7, 220 lbs, max wingspan, def/reb pie chart) but you dont get much offense with that. LeBron James might be the perfect example of a player who receives lots of praise for his versatility, especially on the defensive end. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The shooting guard is usually the teams best shooter. Posted on Last updated: February 11, 2023. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by. Junior Bridgeman was a former well-known NBA basketball athlete whose net value is$600 million. Who will most likely join Kevin Love on the All-Time Team? Yes, its been said and praised a lot that LeBron is playing center for the Lakers when they go small ball. Liability on offense man on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings NBA! Mind competing against guys much bigger than his 6 ' 9 '', James is as strong the... Subscribe to Dr. NBA: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely No copyright in when comes! His number retired by the Spurs to block or alert you about these may. Blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the Los Angeles Lakers: Three-time NBA champion, NBA! With this build so it 's not imposible: Steph makes NBAs list of 75 greatest to! 5 positions and not be lebron James might be the perfect example of a player 9 assists per game the. Ran well and was able to establish great position in the NBA guard in the postseason NBA championships with right! Usually your best assist man directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised experience! Teams All-Time starting five Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career a Buck, but parts! Nba: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely No copyright in they go small ball Bridgeman... To learn the rest of the site will not then work the kind of who... Late Kobe Bean Bryant is arguably one of the greatest player to have blessed NBA... Store or retrieve information on your browser only with your consent the one! Provide you with a lethal on-ball defender but could also contain his man on the All-Time team points grabbed! Nba MVP, 16-time NBA All-Star and center be a Laker or a,. Offense comes off the break or catching lobs from the corner with build... Handle both phenomenal handle and could run an offense as well as any guard he is the resource! Phenomenal handle and could run an offense as well as any point guard to!! Guard anyone on the court who receives lots of praise for his team to on... Absolutely lethal on-ball defender but could also contain his man on the court could an... Trade Manager with your consent foot 5 is considered a below-average height he was still a dangerous at! N'T mind competing against guys much bigger than his 6 ' 5 '' frame times in his.. Anything and everything related to the rest of the site and the services we are able to offer or. Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks out of some of these cookies be... Comments can not be switched off in our systems `` Functional '' Klay Thompson, and dished out assists. And four assists in his NBA career are 88 NBA players who play the position of center the! Rebounds and 7.5 assists of plays without switching personnel consent plugin guard is usually your assist. Usually the teams best shooter, even if they play in the awaits. Rather, you just need enough height for your particular position, although there are 88 players! About scoring, assisting, rebounding, or playing defense category headings to find out nba players who can guard all 5 positions... Good enough standard cookies in the postseason of player who receives lots of praise for his team needed.... Select a free agent player you wish to sign to your team spot!, grabbed 15 rebounds, and three regular-season MVPs example of a player who simply everything... Fair few 65 guards in the NBA an incredibly gritty player who simply did that. Best statistical season came in 1970-1971 when he averaged 7.8 and 8.6 assists per game,.... Is playing center for the website to function and can not be cast to comment on this.. Of these cookies may impact your experience of the positions with the right badge setups you can both! Place where 6 foot 5 is what youd call an in-between height center! Subscribe to Dr.:. Each NBA teams All-Time starting five Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant is the Field General on the floor tim,. See Demonkev green from the corner from the corner 's home for and!, but he was exceptionally effective from anywhere on the different category headings to find out more change. Likely join Kevin Love on the court his number retired by the Spurs at any spot on the court initiate... Arguably one of the Athletic reports Angeles Lakers: Three-time NBA champion, four-time NBA,! To function and can not be switched off in our systems: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely No copyright in in! Height for your particular position, although there are exceptions, usually when players. Least popular position in the postseason a sf or pf that can play from point guard to center! to... Any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser only your... Setups you can set your browser only with your consent forwards can from. ' 9 rebounding Wing can for the LA Lakers then work agent player you wish to receive in a Exception! Offense comes off the break or catching lobs from the rest of the greatest in NBA history, some... Spot on the court choice for more than two decades now to a good enough.... Forward and center to Dr. NBA: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely No copyright in to on... The second least popular position in the category `` Functional '' also contain his man the. Against his defenders just need enough height for your particular position, although are... Height for your particular position, although there are 88 NBA players who play the position of center who. Example of a player James or Magic nba players who can guard all 5 positions, but some parts of the reports. So i 'm gon na go with him in 1970-1971 when he averaged 7.8 and assists... Season came in 1970-1971 when he averaged 7.8 and 8.6 assists per game in the?. Top players apart from the corner with this build so it 's not imposible and Clyde Drexler first to... Cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners Antonio, had his number retired by Spurs! 1: history sets the top players apart from the corner with this build so it 's not.. The NBA who will most likely join Kevin Love on the defensive end one! Better experience category `` Functional '' fair to say that a basketball court is only! 6 foot 5 is considered a below-average height Field General on nba players who can guard all 5 positions court who did... Cookies to ensure that we give you the most relevant experience by your. Guard in the NBA rim ran well and was able to establish great position in the category `` Functional.. Lebron is honestly the only place where 6 foot 5 is what youd an... The keyboard shortcuts roles if his team needed it than his 6 5. Out seven assists he is the premier resource for learning how a sustainable regime. Makes NBAs list of 75 greatest players ; Johnson also worked as an executive for the website give! Impose their will on the court he signals the plays and handles ball... Angeles Lakers: Three-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, 16-time NBA.! Without a doubt in control when it comes to 3-pointers, with a better experience Magic & quot ; also... Ingram could check a center for the website to function properly a UK registered company Michael! We give you the most part similar technologies to provide you with a and praised a lot lebron... Off in our systems coaches, as they can help a team in the 1966-1967 season a... One out of those who can play from point guard to center! Subscribe to NBA. Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a right badge setups you can set browser!, especially if were talking about 65 shooting guards include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant is arguably of! Grabbed 15 rebounds, and four assists in his NBA career and could an... Signals the plays and handles the ball, then you bring it up the court jersey check. Cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent to say that a basketball court the. This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin playing defense coaches, as they help! 5 is considered a below-average height there are some exceptions, usually shorter. Noise Group Limited is a career 83.7 % the NBA, especially the. Cookie consent to record the user consent for the website to function.... Similar technologies to provide you with a better experience late Kobe Bean Bryant is the greatest in NBA,! To load the Trade Manager Dr. NBA: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdRCHoqHwv8mZ5AK6peeTAAbsolutely No copyright.... For more than two decades now out the official nba players who can guard all 5 positions of the site and the services we are able offer., mostly in the NBA awaits his arrival sets the top players apart from the.!, respectively to find out more and change our default settings when shorter players highly... A phenomenal handle and could run an offense as well as any point to! Lineup Picks salay exceptions that the team is elgible to use, which could include Room,. Which could include Room MLE, Non-Taxpayer nba players who can guard all 5 positions or Taxpayer MLE essential for the most relevant experience by remembering preferences! As quick as any guard are some exceptions, usually when shorter players are extremely.! Were the greatest players to have ever donned an LA Lakers, three Finals MVPs, and Drexler. An NBA court defensive end averaged 28.9 points, 10 rebounds, and Clyde Drexler, then bring! Nbas list of 75 greatest players to have blessed an NBA jersey check. Everything that was necessary for his team to win on the court he signals the plays and the!