The answer to this question is the point guard. The point guard is responsible for so many things during a game. He is the guy who has to makes most of the vital decisions while on the court.
He is the one who has to get his teammates involved and motivated. He is the guy who has to make sure everybody is ready to play when the game starts. He is the leader of the team. Without him, the other players won’t have any directions. They’ll be aimless. They are also in charge of the offense and the conductor of the band.
Why is it hard to be a point guard?
The point guard requires total concentration and focus. It’s not like other positions where you can watch the game, zone out for a few minutes, and come back with fresh eyes and new energy. You can’t do that at point guard. You have to be totally into the game and 100% involved from the beginning to the end.
Being the one responsible for everything is tough. You’re always thinking about what the team needs and how to make the game more effective. You are never delighted with what you’ve done because there’s always something else you could be doing better. It’s a constant state of dissatisfaction.
Ensuring that the whole team is engaged and operating at their best all the time is tough. And, when things aren’t going well, it’s even more challenging. The point guard has to read the game, see the situation developing, and then make the right move at the right time. If he makes a bad read or a bad pass, the whole team can get bogged down in a losing situation. It’s hard to overcome a bad read or a bad pass. Being the leader of the team is tough.
Skills needed to be a good Point Guard
Ball Handling:
The point guard needs to have excellent ball handling skills. Not only does he have to be able to handle the ball effectively himself, but he also needs to be able to recognize situations where he needs to pass the ball and make a good decision. Identifying the right time to pass requires excellent basketball IQ. The point guard must be able to make quick decisions under pressure. He must possess the ability to think on his feet.
Court vision:
The point guard needs to have excellent court vision. He must be able to see the entire floor and where all the players are at all times. This is especially true in fast-break situations where he must anticipate where his teammates are going to look for the ball. If he doesn’t see his teammate, misjudge the distance, or misses his timing, the play can go wrong. If the point guard is too close to his teammates, they will never get the ball to him.
Passing skills:
The point guard needs to have excellent passing skills. Not only does he need to be able to pass the ball effectively himself, but he also needs to be able to recognize situations where he needs to pass the ball and make a good decision. Identifying the right time to pass requires excellent basketball IQ. The point guard must be able to make quick decisions under pressure. He must possess the ability to think on his feet.
Playmaking ability:
The point guard must be able to create his own shot as well as create opportunities for others. This requires the ability to make good decisions with the ball, excellent court vision, the ability to see the floor, and the ball-handling skills needed to make the right pass at the right time. Defensive awareness: The point guard must always know where the opposing team is looking to score. He must constantly be reading the play defensively.
The next most challenging position to play in the center
He has to be able to play both offensively and defensively with equal skill. He has to know how to move without the ball, how to score, how to block shots, and, if necessary, how to defend his man one on one. Centers have to shoot from outside as the game is gradually moving its emphasis on the perimeter shots. Centers have to be able to shoot the 3s as the game demands it.
And, they have to do all this while remaining in control of the game. They are the anchors of the defense, and they have to make sure that the team stays in a proper defensive stance and plays within its means. They are the ones who have to make sure that the team does not get out-muscled and out-worked by physically superior teams. This is a challenging position to play.
Why it’s hard to be a center.
Centers have to score, block shots, move without the ball, read the game, rebound, and, if necessary, defend one on one. Most players can do some or many of these things, but very few can do them well. There are only a handful of great centers globally, and most teams don’t even have one.
Conclusion
The hardest position to play in basketball is the point guard because he has to do everything that is asked of him while leading his team on the court. He has to be his team’s quarterback, the orchestrator of the offense, the passer, the defender, the rebounder, and the creator of opportunities for his teammates. In other words, he has to do everything that a “general manager” would do off the court and on it.
