Getting open off the dribble is one of the most valuable skills in NBA 2K23. And while stick skills are still super important to master dribbling, having the right animations is the first thing you need to master.
In this post we break down the best dribble moves in NBA 2K23, with a main focus on primary ball handlers and a slight focus on players with lower ball handling:
Note: Different Dribble Moves are locked behind certain ball handle or speed with ball ratings in 2K23. We will list the required ratings for each dribble move we recommend.
Dribble Style: Michael Jordan (75+ Speed with Ball). The best dribble style that creates great animations.
Signature Size-Up: DeAaron Fox (80+ Ball Handle). A quick move that is a great way to start your dribble chain from a standstill.
Size-Up Escape: Kevin Durant (75+ Ball Handle). Gives you great space on either side when you use it
Moving Crossover: James Harden (80+ Ball Handle). A quick move that can help create some space when you’re moving towards the basket.
Moving Behind the Back: Zach Lavine (75+ Ball Handle). A quick move that can get you some lateral space when moving downhill.
Moving Spin: Basic. The best for many years at this point, although many people do not use this move often.
Moving Hesitation: Normal. Another move infrequently used.
Moving Stepback: Luka Doncic (80+ Ball Handle). The double step to the side animations is a killer move in isolation that can get you space and help you get past defenders with ease.
Triple Threat Style: Normal. There’s no need to fuss about this too much, as the Triple Threat still isn’t a great move to use to get open.
Passing Style: Lebron James (75+ Pass Accuracy). The perfect balance between flash and effectiveness.
Finishing at the rim is one of the most animation-driven features in 2K, meaning you better hope you get the right animation or you’re missing an open layup.
Therefore, you’re going to need the right Layup package for your player. We’ve compiled the best ones in 2K23, all based on the type of player you have.
Long Athlete: Allows your player to starts layups outside the key, get nice hop step animations, and finish through contact. You’ll need an 88 layup to equip it, but it is well worth it.
Default Swing: The best for lower-rated finishers who can’t unlock the above three layup packages. Default Swing is also surprisingly good for all players, as the animations are really good this year.
Stephen Curry: Nice, usually unblockable lay-in animations that allow you to finish among bigger defenders, but not great at finishing through contact.
Dominant Big: The best layup package for big men that gives you decent standing layup animations and allows you to play like Shaq in the paint.
One of the best shots in the game for guards is the Dribble Pull-Up, whether that means shooting a fade or simply shooting off the dribble. But like Jumpshots, not all Dribble Pull-Up Animations are built the same. Here are the best dribble pullups in the game right now:
Stephen Curry: The quickest and easiest-to-time dribble pull-up animation set. Works for guards, wings, and bigs, and is by far the best for your player.
Pro 2: An athletic package that is a bit slower than the Curry package but gets more space on pull-ups. Good set of animations too, whether closer to the basket or further away.
Normal: Not as good as Normal 4 in past games, but the closest thing to it. Gets you decent enough space and gives you some extra time to green the shot.
One of the toughest things to do in NBA 2K is to find the best jumpshot. You can spend hours looking for the best one and still come up empty, or find one you like and it simply fails to perform.
In this post we break down the best jumpshots we’ve found from many hours of gameplay, broken down into the best jumpshots for guards, swings, and big men:
Jumpshot Ratings
For the first time, each individual jumpshot release and base has their own set of ratings to determine their strengths and weaknesses. They are the following:
Shot Speed – How quick the shot is.
Release Height – How high the arc of the shot is released.
Defensive Immunity – How effective the shot is against defensive contests
Timing Impact – Adjusts shot windows.
Of course, you want a higher letter grade on each. But lower-rated shooters will only get shots with lower Timing Impacts, which is fine considering you only get a small boost from a higher Timing Impact rating.
Best Jumpshots for Guards
Guards under 6’5″ are spoiled when it comes to jumpshots this year, as they have the quickest and smoothest available to them. Here are the best jumpshot bases we’ve found that maximize the four shooting categories:
Guards with a High 3pt Rating (89+)
Base: Seth Curry
Upper Releases: Oscar Robertson (80%), Trae Young 20%
Note: An insane release for any guards with a higher rating, as it has killer ratings across the board. If you have a super high rating, Steph Curry’s base is going to be even better.
Guards with an Average 3pt Rating (81+)
Base: Markelle Fultz
Upper Releases: Oscar Robertson (80%), Trae Young (20%)
Note: This jumpshot is insane for such a low required rating, with its only downfall being a low timing impact rating. You won’t get anything better at this level, though.
Guards with a Low 3pt Rating (76+)
Base: Saben Lee
Upper Releases: Oscar Robertson (80%), Trae Young (20%)
Note: You’re really pushing it with this rating, but this jumpshot is extremely good. A-or-greater rating on everything but Timing Impact, and it’s smooth, too.
Best Jumpshots for Swing Players
Swing players in NBA 2K23 are defined as any player 6’5″-6’9″, and have their own set of jumpshots to equip. Here are the best we’ve found so far that maximize speed and effectiveness:
For Swings with a High 3pt Rating (90+)
Base: Kevin Durant
Upper Releases: Klay Thompson (52%), Oscar Robertson (48%)
Note: A super smooth, elite jumpshot with great stats across the board. Only shooters with top ratings will be able to get it, but this jumpshot is so deadly that this is a good thing.
For Swings with a Mid 3pt Rating (81+)
Base: Caris Levert
Upper Releases: Klay Thompson (52%), Oscar Robertson (48%)
Note: Shooters with mid ratings don’t have a lot of great choices, but something that is A+ across the board besides Timing Impact is insanely good.
Swings with a Low 3pt Rating (72+)
Base: Devontae Cacok
Upper Releases: Klay Thompson (52%), Oscar Robertson (48%)
Note: At this point you’re probably grinding or have a defensive-focused player, so you don’t have a ton of great choices. But this is the best at this spot, and it’s pretty darn good.
Best Jumpshots for Big Men
Big Men have a tough time picking good jumpers this year, as there are only a bunch of wacky ones with a few good ones mixed in. Here are the best jumpshots we’ve found for big men in NBA 2K23:
For players with a high 3-ball (86+):
Base: Chris Bosh
Upper Releases: Tim Duncan (87%),Dirk Nowitzki (13%)
Note: Just an amazing jumpshot for big men. Smooth, quick, great release height and timing impact.
For players with an average 3-Ball (78+)
Base: Oshae Brissett
Upper Releases: Tim Duncan (87%),Dirk Nowitzki (13%)
Note: Timing Impact kind of stinks, but at this 3pt rating, you can’t get much better while still having a quick release speed.
For Big Men with a Low 3-Ball (<75)
Base: Montrezl Harrell
Upper Releases: Tim Duncan (87%),Dirk Nowitzki (13%)
Note: Timing Impact is pitiful, but beggars can’t be choosers. A really good jumpshot regardless of rating.
Best Jumpshot Settings
There are several new settings that affect your jumpshot in NBA 2K23, most of which are focused on giving you a personalized shooting experience. Here are our best recommendations for these settings:
Shot Meter: Off. We haven’t used the shot meter in years, and you shouldn’t either. Online, it’s delayed, and you only need a few hundred shots in the Practice Facility to learn no-meter shooting.
Shot Timing: Shots and layups. If you play online, you’ll at least have to put on shot timing. We like layup timing because it’s actually pretty easy, and you get crazy boosts with it, too.
Shot Timing Release Time: Late. This is personal, but guard would probably do better on early or very early, whereas big men would probably benefit from late. Either way, none actually result in a faster jumpshot, just the amount of time you have to time the shot.
Free Throw Timing: User Timing. Free Throws are pretty easy to shoot this year (given you have a 70+ rating), so learning to time them is easy.
