SUMMARY
AbstractObjectives. The aim of this study is to examine the linear and direction reverses sprint profile with and witout ball of young basketball players by positions. Methods. Forty one young basketball players participated in the study. They were categorized as center (age: 17.25±0.88 years; height: 1.96±0.05 m; n=8), power forward (age: 16.75±0.71 years; height: 1.91±0.06 m; n=8), small forward (age: 17.11±0.78 years; height: 1.87±0.06 m; n=9), shooting guard (age: 16.63±0.74 years; height: 1.80±0.07 m; n=8), and point guard (age: 16.63±0.51 years; height: 1.76±0.06 m; n=8). Basketball players participated in four different 2–meter sprint runs, with and without ball linear, with and without ball zigzag. The data were evaluated according to the positions of the players. As results. 20-meter linear sprint (s): Center is significantly worse than small forward, shooting quard, and point quard (P<0.05). 20-meter linear sprint with ball (s): Power forward performed significantly worse than small forward (P<0.05). Power forward performed significantly worse than shooting quard and point quard (P<0.05). 20-meter zigzag sprint (s): Power forward is significantly worse than shooting quard and point quard (P<0.05). 20-meter zigzag sprint with ball (s): Power forward is significantly worse than small forward, shooting quard and point quard (P<0.05).Small forward is significantly worse than point quard (P<0.05). In conclusion, results of this study show that 20-meter sprint times have shown differences between playing positions such as point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center players. So, according to this study, the 20-meter sprint profiles of the centers and power forwards appear to be worse than other positions (small forward, shooting guard and point guard). The 20-meter sprint times in four different runs which is named linear and nonlinear in with and without ball. All the 20-meter sprint time of the guards were found to be better than in other positions.