Do NBA Teams Have Captains (Explained)

In the NBA, as with many other professional sports leagues, individual and franchise teams are comprised of veteran, rookie, and mid-career players. An NBA team, in an effort to remain competitive and in the pursuit of an NBA championship, will look to mix up-and-coming players with solid veterans and mid-career players.

And this mix of players can often lead to rivalries, internal competitions, and scuffles. And one such way that an NBA team may look to quell internal divisions and rivalries is to elect a team captain. Typically the best player on the team, these captains have a plethora of additional responsibilities and are seen as the leader of the team.

Below, we are going to discuss just whether or not do NBA team have captains and fully explain the roles and responsibilities that come with being elected the team captain. In addition, we will be discussing just how a certain NBA player may be elected as the team captain and how that honor affects their style of play.

Why do NBA Teams Elect a Team Captain?

The decision to elect a team captain is, in no uncertain terms, a difficult one. With many competing egos and personalities, electing the wrong or an under-qualified or unqualified team captain can have disastrous effects and can quickly foment discord and dissent amongst the team.

However, the decision to elect an NBA team captain remains a popular one. And though not all NBA teams have a captain on the team, many choose to do so for the following reasons.

• As an honor to the top player – many times, NBA teams will elect an NBA player as their team captain to honor the player and pay respect to their tributes to the team and the league. Typically, this scenario is reserved for the top players in the league.

• For inexperienced teams – similarly, many NBA teams will elect an individual player as the team captain when the team consists of many newer, inexperienced, and younger players. Typically, these players need guidance both on and off the court and the team captain is usually expected to provide the advice those players need and crave.

• Franchise players – similarly, for franchise players, that is players who are the face of the team, the team will appoint them as a team captain to provide them with the confidence and security of the job title and future vision of the organization.

• As a recognition for performance – in addition, many NBA teams will elect an NBA player as the team captain in honor of their work and performance to the team. Typically, this is done after the end of the NBA season and is meant to recognize the work and effort the player accomplished in the previous season.

• Due to players requesting one – interestingly enough, many times an NBA team will elect an NBA player as a team captain due to players on the team requesting one. Usually occurring in less experienced teams, players may want to pay respect to a veteran player and will request that player be named the team captain.

Do NBA Teams Have to Have a Team Captain?

Ultimately, the decision to have a team captain on a specific NBA team is left to the individual and specific NBA team, head coach, front office, and team players. Under the current NBA rules and regulations, there is no rule stating that an NBA team must elect a team captain.

Rather, the decision to do so is ultimately left to the individual NBA teams and many teams elect to not elect or appoint a team captain. The reason why many teams elect to not appoint a team captain are varied but typically include some of the following reasons.

• Recent roster changes – perhaps the main reason why an NBA team won’t name a team captain is due to recent roster changes. With many NBA players retiring, being traded, or entering free agency each year, an NBA team may be hesitant to name an individual player as the team captain who may end up departing from the team mid-way through the season.

• No player is qualified – while NBA players are some of the best basketball players in the world, to be named as the team captain requires exceptional basketball, interpersonal, and leadership skills. If no player meets those criteria, then it is simply easier to not name a team captain.

• Too many good players – conversely, an NBA team which contains too many good, experienced, and veteran players may find it difficult to name a single NBA player as a team captain. When a team is comprised of too many exceptional players, it can be difficult to name just one as the captain of the team.

What do NBA Team Captains Do?

Contrary to popular belief, NBA team captains are not necessarily the best players on the team. Rather, they are the players on the team that are most likely to be able to make a positive impact on less experienced and newer players.

NBA team captains, above-all-else, are meant to provide leadership both on and off the court. And as NBA players are some of the best basketball players in the world, the guidance off the court is typically more important for newer players then the guidance on the court.

However, there are some important on the court duties which team captains typically serve to accomplish. This usually includes meeting with the opposing team’s team captain and game referees before the start of the game and ensuring that players conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner.

In addition, team captains will typically place the onus on themselves to discuss any happenings on the court with the referees. That is, if they see an errant call or believe there to be any bias, they will be the one’s to speak directly with the refereeing staff on it.

Off the court, team captains will typically look to help newer NBA players get situated and accustomed to the league. From housing to emotional support, team captains will provide advice and lessons to the newer, less experienced players to help them avoid the mistakes they themselves may have made.

What Makes a Good NBA Team Captain?

Again, contrary to popular belief, a good NBA team captain isn’t necessarily the player who can score the most points or take the last second buzzer beater shot. Rather, it is the player who is most experienced and respected by the team, the players, and the overall league.

These players typically hold themselves and their teams accountable and do so in a professional and respectful manner. In addition, these players typically have longstanding relationships with players on other teams and are able to foster relationships to long-term growth.

Lastly, an NBA team captain is typically excellent at communicating the overall team vision to the other players. Whether as a bridge between the players and the coaches or amongst the individual players, the team captain can help to settle disputes and put aside petty differences.