Tapping Into the Mindset of a Floor General at UPB’s Point Guard Clinic

By: Dylan Tehada

The point guard position has evolved immensely over time. Legends like Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson paved the way for the popularity of the position with their electrifying playmaking and flashy passes. The role of a point guard was revolutionized by current legends like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Derrick Rose who proved that in addition to making plays and facilitating, the point guard can also score the ball at a high clip. In the spirit of the evolution of the position, UPB will be hosting a Point Guard Clinic starting Tuesday, September 3rd for four weeks  led by Coach Danny LaFortune.

During this clinic, Coach Danny will be focusing on both the physical skill sets and the intangible mindsets needed to exceed at the position. Physical skill sets that athletes will hone in on is handling the ball as the floor general, shooting and finishing drills, and how to facilitate as a playmaker. While these physical skill sets are easy to practice and train, an equally important, but often overlooked aspect of the position is the leadership mentality an athlete must possess. 

“[As a point guard,] you have to be a leader on and off the court. When you're on the court, you're seen as an extension of the coach… You also need composure when the game is getting down to the wire and the team starts to lose focus,” Coach Danny said. 

The mental side of the point guard position is one of the more challenging aspects of the whole sport. In addition to having the IQ to read defenses and facilitate plays for the team, the point guard is relied upon to be a leader that rallies the team in the most important moments. Throughout this clinic, Coach Danny hopes to shed light on the importance of honing the mental skills needed to be a leader and a good teammate on whatever team an athlete is a part of.

“I’m looking forward to implementing more of the mental side [of being a point guard] to the clinic, as far as the composure, the grit, and the leadership that an athlete needs to be a point guard,” Coach Danny stated.

Coach Danny himself knows what it takes to be an effective point guard at a high level. Throughout his life he played most of his career as a floor general, and learned what it takes to not only be an effective player, but also a reliable leader. As the point guard position has evolved over time, athletes have become swiss army knives because of their versatility and IQ of the game. If the point guard needs to facilitate for others, they have the skillset for that. If they need to find their own offense and get a bucket, they can do that just as well. Throughout Coach Danny’s career as a point guard, he learned that versatility is the biggest asset to the modern point guard position.

“I realized that being a point guard, you need to do a little bit of everything. If they need you to score, you need to score. If they need you to facilitate at that moment, you have to facilitate. If they need you to just play your role, you have to do whatever it takes,” Coach Danny stated.

Coach Danny is looking forward to using his experience in hoops to make an impact on the next generation of young point guards. One of the young point guards who has put in countless hours fine tuning his craft as a floor general is Aragon High School’s Armando Cajbon. During his time at UPB, he has trained both the mental and physical side of the position and seeks to continue honing these skills every time he steps foot into the gym.

“UPB has helped me reach my goals as a point guard because they have helped me with my physical skills, but have also taught me mindfulness and how to play present,” Cajbon said. “As a point guard, you don’t want to be rushed during the game or let little things get to your head, and UPB has helped me get my mind right as a point guard.”

The point guard position will never cease to continue evolving. As it continues to change new skill sets will be unlocked and new ways to train both the mental and physical skills will be paramount. If your athlete is interested in signing up for the point guard clinic and developing these floor general skills, you can sign up here!