How To Be Successful As A Shooting Guard

Shooting Guard Blueprint

In the second edition of the off-season blueprint for players, we will be focusing on the shooting guard position. Historically, some of the greatest players to arguably ever play basketball played the shooting guard position. It's a position that, if played well on both ends of the floor, can be a valuable asset to most teams.

Be Efficient

Great shooting guards know where they are most effective on the floor and consistently put themselves in position to catch the ball in those spots. If you like catching the basketball on the right wing vs. the left wing, get there and make a play for your team. Great shooting guards have also mastered the mid-range position. Jordan, Kobe, and Wade all have great mid-range pull-up jump shots.

Versatility

Pull-up jump shots are also consistently made by the current generation of shooting guards, including Beal, Thompson, and Derozan. If you want to be nearly unguardable, you should be able to knock down spot-ups, master the mid-range, and finish at the basket!

Shooting Guard Points Of Emphasis

- Create own shot in 2 or 3 dribbles

- Get open without a screen

- Able to make plays using screens

- Handle the basketball well enough to relieve pressure from PG position

- Knockdown 1 or 2 dribble mid-range pull-up jumper 70% or higher while unguarded

- Knockdown spot-up 3pt shots 60% or higher while unguarded

- Able to score out of triple threat in 2 or 3 dribbles

- Lock down defender!

- Sprint the floor consistently in transition

- Mentally tough (your teams will need you to knock down big shots, so you must have short term memory even if you’re having a tough shooting game!)

- Able to pass on time and on target in the half court

- Able to finish through contact

- Be a great free throw shooter!