NBA 2K HQ

Center

S-Tier:

• Anchor
• Bail Out
• Blinders
• Boxout Beast
• Break Starter
• Bulldozer
• Catch & Shoot
• Chase Down Artist
• Corner Specialist
• Deadeye
• Fast Twitch
• Fearless Finisher
• Limitless Range
• Pogo Stick
• Posterizer
• Rebound Chaser
• Unpluckable

A-Tier Badges

• Agent 3
• Ankle Breaker
• Backdown Punisher
• Big Driver
• Brick Wall
• Claymore
• Dimer
• Dropstepper
• Glove
• Green Machine
• Interceptor
• Masher
• Physical Handles
• Post Fade Phenom
• Post Spin Technician
• Precision Dunker
• Right Stick Ripper
• Rise Up
• Slippery Off-Ball
• Slithery

B-Tier Badges

• Acrobat
• Aerial Wizard
• Bunny
• Challenger
• Clamps
• Dream Shake
• Guard Up
• Handles for Days
• Hook Specialist
• Immovable Enforcer
• Needle Threader
• Open Looks
• Post Lockdown
• Post Playmaker
• Pro Touch
• Relay Passer
• Speed Booster
• Touch Passer
• Two Step
• Work Horse

C-Tier:

• 94 Feet
• Ankle Braces
• Blow-By
• Comeback Kid
• Fast Feet
• Float Game
• Free Points
• Giant Slayer
• Hyperdrive
• Killer Combos
• Middy Magician
• Off-Ball Pest
• Pick Dodger
• Scooper
• Space Creator
• Special Delivery
• Spin Cycle
• Spot Finder
• Triple Strike
• Whistle

MyTeam is one of NBA 2K23’s most popular game modes, allowing players to construct a team of different players from different eras onto a single team.

You can pair Michael Jordan with Lebron James, Kevin Durant with Shaq, and thousands of other combinations you only dream about seeing on the court together.

Each player comes as a card with an overall rating, individual attributes, badges, and a set of animations. These cards are broken into multiple tiers, or colors, which we will break down in this post.

Gold: 66-79 Overall

Gold cards are the worst cards in the game, ranging from 66 overall to 79 overall. They are usually the worst players in the game, or the weakest version of a decent players, and are thus going to be the cheapest cards.

Although they are pretty much useless outside of specific Limited challenges, they are useful for beefing up your card collection to reach the certain card collector levels in the game.

Emerald: 80-83 Overall

Emerald cards are typically for the role players of past and present. Like Gold cards, they are both cheap and have limited use, but they are typically somewhat effective at the beginning of each new game.

Although there’s little reason to keep any Emerald cards in your collection (unless you’re going for collector rewards), it’s helpful to store a few of the better ones for Limited challenges.

Sapphire: 84-86 Overall

Sapphire cards are beefed-up versions of role players, and may even include the younger versions of former stars. They can be very useful at the beginning stages of the game, but fall off as the months progress.

However, there are typically many Limited challenges throughout the year that require Sapphire cards, so it’s a good idea to stash a few with good badges and animations for those specific weekends.

Ruby: 87-89 Overall

Ruby cards are usually very important in the first month of the game, and retain their importance as budget cards throughout the year. They’re usually cheap, but there are almost always a few gems in the batch.

Many budget teams will feature multiple Ruby cards with good badges and animations, so it’s always a good idea to at least take a quick glance at them during each new drop.

Amethyst: 90-91 Overall

Amethyst cards are usually the lower end of the “good” cards. They’re usually the best players at the beginning of the year, and you’ll find a few great ones for very cheap throughout the rest of the year.

Like Ruby’s, you don’t want to automatically assume these cards stink. Many of the best budget cards of all time are Amethyst’s, and they can usually be had for considerably lower MT than expensive cards.

Diamond: 92-94 Overall

The Diamond cards start off as the best in the game at the beginning, but usually retain some value throughout the year. They are typically reserved for big names and can be very expensive.

As the year progresses, you’ll find some less popular players getting Diamond cards. In these cases, they’re usually going to be amazing cards that are much cheaper than the bigger names.

Pink Diamond: 95-96 Overall

Pink Diamond used to be the best tier in the game years ago, but it is still very valuable despite its new position. Regardless of the time of year, they’re going to be a top tier card. And extremely expensive.

You’ll find many are rewards cards at the beginning of the year, but over time it becomes easier and easier to buy them on the Auction House.

Galaxy Opal: 97-98 Overall

Galaxy Opal cards are some of the best in the games, and the Opal glow when you open packs is something many players dream of. They are usually the top names with the best attributes, badges, and animations.

They are extremely expensive or time-consuming to acquire, but many are worth it. Going against a team with enough Opals will scare many other players to hit pause and quit.

Dark Matter: 99 Overall

The best card tier in the game – the Dark Matter. These cards are 99 Overall, feature a plethora of Hall of Fame badges, and have the majority of their ratings in the 90s.

2K likes to hold out on showing these cards until at least after Christmas. Regardless, any team with a slew of Dark Matter cards is going to strike a ton of fear into any opponent – and probably win.

Boosts are one of the most consistent parts of the NBA 2K series, providing either a boost to specific attributes or your player’s stamina. In this post we break down whether you should buy them for your player.

Skill Boosts

There are six categories of skill boosts, which cost either 200VC for one game, or 1500VC for 10 games. Here are the categories and whether you should spend your VC on them:

• Jump Shots: Boosts your 3pt and Midrange ratings. We recommend these for most online games, because any boost to the most important part of the game is welcome. Pricey but worthwhile.
• Ballhandling/passing: Gives a boost to your Speed with Ball, ball handle, etc. Unless you’re an iso-heavy player, these aren’t worth the price.
• Layups/Dunks: Not really worth it. We haven’t see a situation where you’d actually get a real benefit from these.
• Steals: May be helpful in steal-happy environments like the Rec, but steals are already overpowered in 2K23.
• Blocks: Undersized centers are the biggest beneficiary of this boost, but I never noticed anything special while using these on a 7’0″ center.
• Rebounding: Another boost that I didn’t see that much of a difference while using. They’re nice if you get them for free from the daily spin or events, but otherwise are not worth the VC.

Essentially, we really only recommend Shooting boosts. They work pretty well and shooting is certainly the most important part of NBA 2K24. And you should earn more than 150VC per game, so you don’t burn VC by buying them.

Gatorade Boosts

Gatorade boosts are all for stamina, and are far pricier than skill boosts. At 500VC for one game, or 3500VC for 10 games, they are an expensive accessory. There are three types of Gatorade Boosts:

• Gatorade Super Shake: Slow down energy loss (RT/R2) by 25%
• Gatorade Thirst Quencher: Increase energy (RT/R2) by 20%
• Gatorade Zero with Protein: Recover energy (RT/R2) 25% faster than normal.

Are they worth it? At such a high cost, we don’t believe so in many cases. If you are an iso dribbler, then you’ll want to make the investment. But other positions, who really only lose stamina on defense, probably won’t get a huge boost from something that costs more than most players earn from a park game.

Swings are defined as any player between the height of 6’6″ and 6’10”. This post details the best players within this height range, and which badges fit best with this player.

This build is well-rounded and can do a bit of everything, but especially excels at finishing, help defense, and spot-up shooting. It can put the ball on the floor as well, and guard 1-on-1 if necessary.

The steps to reach Legend in NBA 2K23 are brand new, and differ from the systems of past games. Before, it was rather straightforward in that you could play a lot and reach the pinnacle.

Here are the ways to reach Legend in NBA 2K23, which seem to be a lot tougher and more gruesome to accomplish. You have to accomplish all four of the following:

• Score 100,000 points in the City, Pro-Am, or Rec games: At 10 points a game, that is 10,000 games, which is about on par with what it took to reach Legend in past games.
• Play 500 Games at GOAT Level: This is the purple color behind your season level, and can only be achieved by playing extremely well for extended periods of time.
• Complete 12 Season Quests: These quests are usually ridiculous and time-consuming, and there are only 4 per season. So it takes at least 5 seasons to get this one.
• Earn Prizes across 20 Events in the City: The Events are typically sweat-fests, so this is another tough thing to reach.

It seems like 2K wanted to make it harder for people to reach Legend in 2K23. In 2K22, you could just reach Level 40 in four seasons and reach Legend. Before that, you typically had to no-life the game, but the requirements were pretty linear.

Now, the requirements are a bit more surgical and require more thought when you’re playing the game. At least when it comes to the Season Quests and Events. Good Luck to anybody trying, it’s going to be a grind-and-a-half.

Dunking in NBA 2K24 is heavily reliant on animations, especially with badges like Limitless Takeoff and Posterizer, which require certain packages to get the contact dunks you want. Here are the best dunk animations in NBA 2K24:

Swings and Bigs

These dunk packages are for players taller than 6’5″:

• Lebron James: The best dunk package that unlocks ferocious dunks. The best part about this package is that there are great animations that pair with the Limitless Takeoff badge, which gives you unblockable dunks.
• Scottie Pippen: Some of the regular dunks are nothing crazy, but Pippen’s dunk package maximizes the Limitless Takeoff badge and gets you crazy dunks from far away from the basket.

Swings and Guards

These dunk packages are for players shorter than 6’10”:

• Michael Jordan: Smaller guards will dominate with this package, as you get the free throw line dunk, plus a bunch of other animations that help you dunk on opposing players.
• Russell Westbrook: Another great package that gives you ferocious dunks. It works great with Limitless Takeoff and Posterizer.

One of the (too) many quests in the MyCareer mode of NBA 2K23 is the “It’s a Cole World” quest that launches your career as a rapper. It’s a multi-step process, and you’ll need the following to pass it quickly and efficiently.

Talk to Marvin Castleberry at Erick’s Vinyl about PhD Monk

You will be posed with three questions, and these are the answers, in correct order:

• Lizzo
• Queen
• They Reminisce Over You

Head to the Spot on the Map where Rappers Hang Out

You’ll need the following answers in the rap battle. I messed up a few times, so you’ll need to pay attention closely to the answers:

• I got lockdown defense so don’t try to get mental
• Check ya I’m with the extras, I’m eurostepping and flexing
• I’ll break your ankles and probably fix that wart in your foot
• You don’t have a lift pass you not supposed to ski here
• End your career, throw a party on your own dime
• I heard you’re sleeping on me with your stuffed toy Piggie Smalls?

Head to Rita’s and Ask about PhD Monk & Talk to whoever You can find about PhD Monk

Again, you want to pay close attention to all the answers to ensure that you are choosing the correct answer, as some answers will seem similar.

• Got a little shine now you think you hotter than ovens
• You are not the type that these other playas are idolize
• And if you’re hoopin, you’re doo doo I’m poop scoopin’
• Hope it doesn’t rain, since I caved the roof in
• I’mma pull up in your face like I know your addy
• I know you seen me skate I got nothin’ but decks

Head to Dreamer Court to record sounds for PhD Monk

You’ll play a 3v3 game with J Cole on your team, and the key is to win the game. It shouldn’t be too hard, as J Cole is actually really good in the game.

Bring the Sounds You Recorded Back to PhD Monk

This is a session in a recording studio, and there are 12 answers you’re going to need. Once again, you’ll need to pay close attention to the answers, as some of them will look pretty similar:

• Whenever, wherever. Soon as I tough the leather
• Like your kindergarten teacher, I’m giving L’s for free
• And I’mma take the rock like I went in that man’s wallet
• Crazy how he laced up for the wall of shame
• And don’t mumble it’s a concrete jungle
• I call a iso, then I put the icing on
• Take off from a free throw, take off the durag
• Cross-over, half-spin, hit ’em with the hop skip
• How you gonna stop this nah how you gonna top this?
• 2K, who you’re dealing with? You know I’m a savage
• The rock ain’t safe, I’ll take the money out your dresser
• You know who I am I’m a national treasure

Meet Bas at Dreamville

Another studio session, though it will only require 6 lines instead of 12. It’s a pretty easy section and shouldn’t take too long if you input these answers:

• Leave em frozen when I pull up for the jumper
• It’s the playoffs, play y’all? Y’all beginners
• My arm in the rim look at shorty below
• Like Dr. J’s afro you getting blowed out
• “Smile for the camera” chill? Yeah, no doubt
• This that rolling down the window on the flight feel…NEXT!

This is the last big quest you will have to complete, and there are just small quests left after this. None require specific answers and will be pretty quick and easy.

NBA 2K23 featured 24/7 matchmaking for the first time ever in the Old Gym, and while that specific game mode has been taken out of the game, a new version has been released in NBA 2K23: the Theater.

The Theater is another 24/7 matchmaking mode with a bit of a twist. Whereas the Old Gym was 3v3 random matchmaking, the Theater has several different game modes.

Theater Game Modes

For example, the first week was 2v2 “No Squads”, 2v2 Squads with bonus points for alley oops, 3v3 with Bonus points for assists, and 4v4. Four different game modes, four different themes.

We expect to see much of the same as the year progresses. Four different game modes, ranging from 1v1 to 5v5, all to 21, with matchmaking. It is unknown how often the events are updated, but there seems to be a mode for everyone.

This game mode has been an awesome upgrade over the Old Gym, and will continue to be so. Whether you have a squad or not, want to get away from the sweats in the Park, or just want instant games, the Theater is open.

Rep in the Theater

You do get park rep in the Theater, although it is lower than playing in your own park affiliation. The games also count towards your park record, although you will not see any progress in your GOAT levels.

The one advantage, at least rep-wise, is that you can get games quickly without a squad. You can play whenever and rack up the rep needed to reach level 40.

2K killed it with the jumpshots this year, updating a lot of players to their real-life animations. In addition, they added a series of attributes to each jumpshot, which determine their effectiveness. Here is a description of each attribute:

• Shot Speed: How quickly the shot gets to its ideal release point.
• Release Height: How high the shot is released.
• Defensive Immunity: How effective the shot is against defensive contests.
• Timing Impact: Adjusts shot windows to reward good timing at the cost of an increased penalty for bad timing.

For each category below, we match the jumpshot with a) the minimum 3pt rating needed to unlock the jumpshot, and b) the attributes for each jumpshot:

Guards

Jumpshot	Min 3PT Rating	Release Height	Release Speed	Def. Immunity	Timing Impact
Nickeil Walker-Alexander	63	C+	B-	C-	D-
Grayson Allen	78	D	B	B+	B+
Cole Anthony	63	D+	B+	B	C+
Ryan Archidiacono	77	B-	A-	B+	C`
DJ Augustin	79	B-	D	A	A+
Lamelo Ball	80	B	A+	B+	C
Lonzo Ball	77	C-	C+	B+	B+
Dalano Banton	72	B+	B+	B-	D+
Dick Barnett	77	D+	D-	A+	A+
Kent Bazemore	67	C	B+	C+	D-
Bradley Beal	81	B	C	A	A-
Malik Beasley	74	B	C-	A-	C+
Patrick Beverley	55	B-	C-	D-	D-
Eric Bledsoe	71	B+	D-	B+	B-
James Bouknight	74	C-	D+	B+	B+
Avery Bradley	81	D-	A	A	B+
Malcolm Brogdon	74	A	D+	A	C
Bruce Brown	81	B-	B	B+	A-
Jalen Brunson	85	C+	A	A	B+
Jared Butler	72	A-	C+	C+	C
Facundo Campazzo	74	D	B	B	B
Jevon Carter	78	C+	C-	A	B+
Alex Caruso	73	C+	C-	B-	B+
Chris Chiozza	73	A+	D-	B	B
Josh Christopher	75	B-	C	B	B-
Jordan Clarkson	78	C+	B	B+	B
Darren Collison	80	B-	D+	A+	A
Mike Conley	75	D	D+	A-	A
Seth Curry	85	A	C-	A+	A
Stephen Curry	91	A	A-	A+	A
Johnny Davis	74	A-	D-	A	B
Terence Davis	76	C	B-	B+	B-
Spender Dinwiddie	76	C-	B-	B+	B
Donte Divincenzo	74	D+	B	B-	B
Luka Doncic	83	C-	C	A+	A+
Luguentz Dort	69	A+	C+	B-	D
Ayo Dosunmu	83	C-	B	A	A
Anthony Edwards	79	B+	C-	A-	B+
Carsen Edwards	77	C+	C+	A-	B
Wayne Ellington	82	B	A-	B+	B+
Derek Fisher	82	A+	C-	A+	A-
Malachi Flynn	77	A-	C	A-	C+
Bryn Forbes	80	C	B-	A	A-
De'Aaron Fox	83	C-	A+	A-	B+
Steve Francis	78	B+	D+	A	A-
Tim Frazier	72	B-	C-	B-	C+
Markelle Fultz	72	A-	C+	B+	D+
Darius Garland	85	D-	A+	A+	A
Shai Gilgeous Alexander	82	B+	B+	B+	B+
Brandon Goodwin	72	A+	D	B	C
Eric Gordon	76	D-	C+	A	B+
Devonte Graham	71	B+	C	B+	D+
Jalen Green	78	B-	C	B+	A-
Quentin Grimes	75	B	D-	A	B+
Kyle Guy	81	C+	B-	A+	B+
Tyrese Haliburton	82	D-	C	A+	A+
RJ Hampton	80	B+	C+	A-	B+
Penny Hardaway	83	C	C+	A+	A+
James Harden	84	C+	A+	A-	A-
Gary Harris	74	C-	D+	B+	A-
Killian Hayes	68	B+	D+	B-	C-
Tyler Herro	81	C+	C+	A	A-
Buddy Hield	83	D+	A-	A-	A
Haywood Highsmith	71	A+	D	B-	C
George Hill	76	D+	C+	B+	B+
Aaron Holiday	79	D-	B	A-	A
Jrue Holiday	83	D-	A-	A+	A+
Talen Horton Tucker	73	C	B-	B	C+
Nashon Hyland	81	C+	B	A-	B+
Kyrie Irving	84	B-	C	A+	A+
Allen Iverson	84	A	C	A+	A-
Jaden Ivey	76	D+	B-	B	B
Frank Jackson	80	C	B+	A-	B+
Reggie Jackson	76	C	B	B-	B
Ty Jerome	74	A	D+	A	C
Isaiah Joe	78	A	B-	B	B
Keon Johnson	73	C+	C-	B-	B
Tyler Johnson	81	D+	A-	A-	A-
Tre Jones	73	B+	C	B-	C
Tyus Jones	80	B-	C-	A	A-
Cory Joseph	74	C+	D	B+	A-
Steve Kerr	87	A-	B+	A+	A
Jason Kidd	84	B-	B+	A-	A
Zach Lavine	81	C+	C+	A-	A
Damion Lee	73	C-	C+	B	B-
Saben Lee	64	B	C	C+	D-
Kira Lewis	60	A-	D-	B-	D-
Damian Lillard	85	C-	B+	A+	A+
Kyle Lowry	80	C+	B	A	B-
Theo Maledon	73	A-	C-	B	C+
Terance Mann	78	A-	A+	B	C-
Tre Mann	76	D+	C-	B+	A
Wesley Matthews	76	D+	A-	B-	B-
Tyrese Maxey	80	A-	C-	A	A-
Skylar Mays	76	B-	D	A-	A
Miles Mcbride	73	B+	D	B	B
CJ McCollum	85	C-	B+	A	A+
TJ McConnell	78	B-	B+	B	B-
Jordan McLaughlin	72	A	C-	B+	C-
Ben McLemore	78	B	C-	A+	B
De'Anthony Melton	70	A-	C	B-	D+
Patrick Mills	78	A-	C-	B+	B+
Shake Milton	76	C-	B	B-	B
Davion Mitchell	76	C-	B	B+	B
Donovan Mitchell	84	B	B	A	A-
Malik Monk	78	C-	B	B+	B+
Ja Morant	82	C-	A	A	B+
Monte Morris	81	C	D+	A+	A
Mychal Mulder	73	C+	A-	B	D+
Dejounte Murray	81	B+	C+	A-	A-
Jamal Murray	76	B-	D-	A+	B+
Steve Nash	85	B	C-	A+	A+
Raul Neto	74	C	F	A+	A+
Jaylen Nowell	75	C+	D	A	B+
Frank Ntilikina	78	C	D	A-	A+
Kendrick Nunn	86	C-	A+	A	B+
Josh Okogie	69	B-	D	B	C
Victor Oladipo	76	D+	C+	A-	B+
Chris Paul	82	A	C-	A	A-
Cameron Payne	77	A+	D-	A+	A-
Elfrid Payton	73	C-	C+	B	B-
Gary Payton II	75	C	C	B	B+
Jordan Poole	80	D	B-	A	A
Kevin Porter Jr	76	B-	A	B+	C-
Norman Powell	79	A	D-	A+	A-
Jason Preston	71	A-	D	B	C+
Joshua Primo	76	B+	A-	B	C-
Payton Pritchard	78	B+	D	A	A
Immanuel Quickley	76	C-	A	B	C
Jahmi'us Ramsey	73	B-	C-	B	C+
Austin Rivers	67	C	C-	A-	D
Oscar Robertson	88	B+	B-	A+	A+
Nate Robinson	65	B	D-	B	C-
Rajon Rondo	78	D+	B	B+	B+
Derrick Rose	77	B	B	B	C+
Terry Rozier	82	A	C+	A	B+
D'Angelo Russell	77	B-	D+	A-	A-
Tomas Satoransky	81	B+	A-	B+	B
Dennis Schroder	74	C+	D-	B+	A
Collin Sexton	71	B+	F	A	B
Landry Shamet	78	A-	C+	B+	B-
Anfernee Simons	83	B	C+	A-	A+
Marcus Smart	74	A-	C+	B	C
Dennis Smith Jr	72	B+	C-	B+	C
Ish Smith	83	A	C	A	A-
Jaden Springer	79	A-	B+	B-	B-
John Stockton	86	C	B-	A+	A
Jae'Sean Tate	73	C-	A	B	C-
Tyrell Terry	77	B	C-	A-	B
Cam Thomas	75	A	D+	A	C
Isaiah Thomas	79	A+	C	B+	B
Matt Thomas	81	A+	D	A	A-
Fred VanVleet	82	C	B-	A	A
Gabe Vincent	79	C+	C	A-	A-
Dwyane Wade	82	B	C-	A+	A
Lonnie Walker IV	74	B+	D+	B	B
John Wall	74	A	B+	B-	D+
TyTy Washington	76	D+	C-	A	B+
Quinndary Washington	75	A-	C	B	B-
Blake Wesley	73	C	C-	B	B
Jerry West	89	C+	B+	A+	A+
Russell Westbrook	70	A	C-	B	D
Coby White	82	C-	A	A-	B+
Derrick White	73	C	C	B+	C
Jason Williams	79	D+	C+	A-	A
Louis Williams	79	B	B	B+	B-
Mark Williams	43	D+	C-	F	F
Cassius Winston	78	C+	C	B	A
Delon Wright	76	C	c+	B-	A-
Trae Young	87	D	A-	A+	A+
J. Cole	78	C+	C	B+	A
Dan Rue	77	A-	D+	B+	A-