NBA role guide · Taxonomy, not ranking

NBA player archetypes

A visual guide to the recurring roles that shape basketball: what each archetype does, which traits define it and the players who show its different forms.

Understand the job

Learn what a role asks a player to solve.

Compare different versions

See how stars reach the same outcome with different tools.

Open the careers

Continue directly into each representative player's profile.

Organize the floor

Point guards

NBA

Pass-first point guard

The possession starts with vision: manipulate help, deliver teammates the ball on time and control tempo before hunting a shot.

Advanced court visionTempo controlPick-and-roll command

Johnson · Stockton · Nash · Rondo

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Pressure from the backcourt

Guards

NBA

Scoring guard

A lead guard whose first threat is putting points on the board from every level, forcing the defense to tilt before the pass arrives.

Self-created offenseThree-level scoringLate-clock shotmaking

Iverson · Curry · Lillard · Harden

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Score or create

Guards

NBA

Combo guard

Too dangerous to call only a point guard or shooting guard: a creator who can run the offense and become its primary scorer.

On-ball creationSecondary playmakingDownhill burst

Wade · Westbrook · Mitchell · Ginóbili

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The modern connector

Wings

NBA

3-and-D wing

Defend the opponent's best perimeter scorer, preserve spacing and punish any help with a reliable catch-and-shoot three.

Point-of-attack defenseCatch-and-shoot rangeLow-usage impact

Pippen · Leonard · George · Holiday

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Create over any matchup

Wings

NBA

Scoring wing

A perimeter-sized primary option who can manufacture shots against switches, traps and playoff defenses built specifically to stop him.

Isolation scoringSize over defendersPost and perimeter craft

Jordan · Bryant · Durant · McGrady

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Size becomes the playmaker

Forwards

NBA

Point forward

A forward who initiates offense, bends the defense as a scorer and sees passing windows normally reserved for lead guards.

Frontcourt playmakingTransition initiationMismatch creation

James · Bird · Pippen · Antetokounmpo

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Pull the rim protector out

Bigs

NBA

Stretch big

A power forward or center whose shooting range changes the geometry of the paint and creates driving lanes for everyone else.

Frontcourt shootingPick-and-pop gravitySpacing at size

Nowitzki · Bosh · Love · Towns

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Own the paint

Centers

NBA

Traditional big

A center who establishes offense on the block, controls the glass and makes the restricted area feel unavailable at the other end.

Post scoringRim protectionRebounding

Abdul-Jabbar · O'Neal · Olajuwon · Ewing

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Win the space defenses concede

Shot creators

NBA

Midrange specialist

A scorer who turns the supposedly inefficient middle of the floor into a playoff-proof source of controlled offense.

Pull-up balanceFootwork and countersLate-clock reliability

Jordan · Bryant · DeRozan · Durant

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The scheme starts here

Bigs and back-line defenders

NBA

Defensive anchor

The back-line organizer who protects the rim, finishes possessions and gives perimeter defenders permission to be aggressive.

Rim deterrenceCoverage communicationDefensive rebounding

Russell · Duncan · Mutombo · Gobert

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