In basketball, who are the "wing" players?

The ones going down the sides, as opposed to the center, who is usually doing a straight shot. The wings usually stay outside the key on the right and left and get passes from the center or each other, and try and shoot a basket.

Shooting guards and small forwards – The “2’s”.

They have to be very good all round. I was a shooting guard on our women’s team in college, but not really talented enough to play both positions.

Kobe was one of the best wing players ever.

@JLoon

At what college did you play?

I don’t know how familiar you are with the WNBA, but can you name a player who’s nickname could be CP3?

Also, is there some unwritten rule in that league against dunking?

HA! Seattle Pacific -Division 2 obscurity. And I washed out with an injury after my second year. But they covered my scholarship so I still have warm feelings.

CP3 is LA Sparks CANDACE PARKER!! My girl ;)

And yeah, dunking was considered unladylike & sort of impossible – Until Georgeann Wells did it again and again and again at West Virginia in the 80’s. I even did I few times when I played, but had to run from half court to get the elevation.

What @JLoon said. Occasionally a power forward can play a wing position, but not usually. Sometimes teams, depending on the opposition matchups will play 3 wing position players. This decreases post presence, but this can be made up for by quickness.

A classic basketball lineup is a point guard, shooting guard (wing), small forward (wing), power forward, and center.

A wing-heavy lineup may be point guard, 2 shooting guards, small forward and power forward.

You might see this wing-heavy lineup against, say a 2–3 zone where you’re trying to shoot over the zone. If you pass the ball around the perimeter fast enough the zone can’t adjust and you can find the jump shot. However, that only works if the 3 is landing. This could pull a defense out of a zone. Unless of course, you’re a team like Syracuse.

@JLoon I remember Candace Parker when she played for Tennessee. I’m a Pac-12 guy, so my favorite player to watch recently was Sabrina Ionescu (even though she destroyed us at Cal)

@JLoon

“Kobe was one of the best wing players ever.”

How unfair do think it would have been if the 80’s Lakers had Kobe instead of Byron Scott?
Can you imagine Big Game and the Mamba on the wings? :-0

@Brian1946 – Would have been a Mad Science team for sure. Celtics would be the only other team from the era that could keep play at the same level.

Thanks for a GA, @Caravanfan ! Now I understand the expression better!