Today’s NBA backcourts are slowly becoming more diverse than they have ever been. There are basic guards to handle the ball like Mrs. LillardAnd Luka DoncicAnd Galen Bronson. Next to them are guards shooting. Scorers who don’t need to be dealt with or at least don’t need to be the initiators of the offense, Clay ThompsonAnd Devin BookerAnd Kevin Huerter. But what about those players who don’t fit into either category and instead have one foot in every camp, combo guards?
Combo guards, as the name implies, split their time between the point guard and the shooting guard. They do not handle the ball enough to be considered primary ball handlers but they are not pure bowlers and scorers either. These guards are becoming more prominent as the league has evolved, with players like them Jamal Murray And Donovan Mitchell in the foreground.
In the past, combo guards had a negative connotation. They were seen as averages who were average in a couple of positions rather than perfectly good in one. Their matches were so murky that the coaches didn’t know what to do with them.
Modern NBA
Today, things are a little different. Combo guards raise the bar for the game, Murray is the second best player on a title favorite. Mitchell gave Cleveland the aspirations of a true competitor. until Markel Fultz, which at one time was thought to be bankrupt, has quietly become Orlando’s most important guard. It almost happened so gradually that no one even realized it.
Suddenly, more than a few teams have players who are extremely talented and highly adaptable. Therese MaxiAnd Fultz, and Murray, and Mitchell, are just some of the relatively young faces of this movement, but in fact they can be traced back even further. Steve CurryAnd James Hardenand even Alan Iverson To some extent. Which brings up an important point.
value
In 2023, athletic wingers are the kind of player everyone wants to be, but combo guard shouldn’t be far behind. In Denver, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic Everyone makes better, but Jamal Murray’s presence to provide distance, scoring and complementary facilitation has made them firm favourites. At Golden State, by how they move the ball in their offense to read and respond, Curry can work on the ball as much as he pulls from dribbling. His off-the-ball charisma makes life much easier for his teammates and makes the attack work.
What makes combo guards so valuable is what makes them combo guards in the first place – their versatility. Each one has their own specialties and ways they like to play, but the ability to find production in almost any area can be a safety net for offense. If the big middleman is the main facilitator, like in Denver, the combo guard can be the scorer who also gets the big ball when they need it. If a team needs to come out in more transition with still shooting and spacing, a player like Tyrese Maxey can keep away from fouls while also spotting in his half of the field.
What has allowed these players to shine is the interconnection between what the team needs from them and the unique talent they bring to the table. Today’s league focuses on speed and space, making a good combo guard almost a must. These players aren’t just superstars either. Boston had both Derek White And Marcus Smart A mixture of mixed-and-matched roles with their ball-dominant superstars. Miami has it Tyler Hero side by side Kyle Lowry. More and more, players who have the ability to adapt, are showing their worth.
This really speaks to the current state of talent in the league and the growth of basketball as a sport. Teams have gone from being indeterminate and lackluster players to important pieces of teams. As this trend grows, backline players with the ability to play both on and off the ball will become more valuable. They could be the piece that pushes a challenger over the edge, as Denver has waited two years for Murray to recover, and is on the verge of his first championship.