Category: NBA 2K23 News

NBA 2K23 Badges

Below are all of the resources available on the badges in NBA 2K23, broken into the four categories: Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, and Defense.

Finishing Badges

The Complete Guide to the NBA 2K23 Finishing Badges: The complete list of finishing badges in NBA 2K23 with descriptions and recommendations for each badge.
The Best Finishing Badges: A ranking of the best finishing badges to equip on your player to slash better in the paint.
The Best Tier 1 Finishing Badges (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best finishing badges in Tier 1.
The Best Tier 2 Finishing Badges (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best finishing badges in Tier 2.
The Best Tier 3 Finishing Badges (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best finishing badges in Tier 3.

Shooting Badges

The Complete Guide to Shooting Badges in NBA 2K23: The complete guide to the shooting badges in NBA 2K23, with descriptions and recommendations for each badge.
The Best Shooting Badges: A ranking of the best shooting badges to equip on your player to shoot better in every game mode.
The Top Shooting Badges in Tier 3 (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best shooting badges in Tier 1 to equip on your player.
The Top Shooting Badges in Tier 2 (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best shooting badges in Tier 2.
The Top Shooting Badges in Tier 3 (Coming Soon): A ranking of the best shooting badges in Tier 3.

Playmaking Badges

Ankle Breaker
Bail Out
Break Starter
Bullet Passer
Dimer
Downhil
Floor General
Glue Hands
Handles for Days
Hyperdrive
Needle Threader
Post Playmaker
Quick Chain
Quick First Step
Space Creator
Special Delivery
Stop & Go
Tight Handles
Triple Threat Juke
Unpluckable

Check out the Full guide to Playmaking badges here.

Defensive Badges

Ankle Braces
Ball Stripper
Box
Brick Wall
Chase Down Artist
Clamps
Defensive Leader
Heart Crusher
Hustler
Interceptor
Intimidator
Menace
Off-Ball Pest
Pick Dodger
Pick Pocket
Pogo Stick
Post Lockdown
Rebound Chaser
Rim Protector
Tireless Defender
Worm

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.

How to Quick Stop in NBA 2K22

The quick stop is one of the best ways for ball handlers to get open shots in NBA 2K22, as it allows a ball handler to stop on a dime without a bad load-up animation.

What you’ll need: In NBA 2K22, the quick stop requires either the Quick or Shifty dribble style. Other dribble styles make it extremely difficult to do the move effectively.

How to do it: To quick stop, you will need to flick your stick directly to the left or right at a 90 degree angle, depending on the direction you’re going. If you are off, you will get a weird animation.

You’ll need to practice this move to perfect it, as getting the perfect angle is tough at first. But with the necessary practice in the MyCourt or Gatorade gym, you will be shooting greens off the quick stop in no time.

How to maximize the Quick Stop: Equipping Blinders will stop defenders from contesting you from the side coming off the screen. Deadeye can also help when help defenders jump at you.

In addition, a quick jumpshot (like 98 on current gen, or Jumpshot 3/Ray Allen on next-gen) is necessary to avoid contests from the defense. You’ll need to practice this jumpshot off the quick stop, as the timing is a bit different.

Best Defensive Badges for Every Position

“Defense wins Championships” rings true in NBA 2K23. If your player clamps up your opponent, chances are you’re going to win most games in NBA 2K23.

And to play your best defense in the newest game, you’re going to need the help of the Best Defensive Badges for Guards in the game this year. We broke them into positions and tiers to best fit your player(s):

Skip to: Guards | Swings | Big Men

Guards

Guards are typically focused on perimeter defense, and these badge selections reflect this focus:

Tier 3

Clamps: Guarding opposing guards is tougher with overpowered blowbys off stepbacks, but Clamps is going to be your best bet to stop opposing scorers.
Challenger: Chances are, you’ll be guarding a lot of 3-point shots. Challenger is going to help amplify your contests and slow down opposing shooters.
Glove: Some really like this badge, but on-ball steals are still pretty inconsistent in 2K23. If you have extra badge points, this may be worth throwing a few on.

Tier 2

Pick Dodger: Screens are still extremely effective, and Pick Dodger is still underpowered. Nonetheless, you’re going to need this badge if you want to have any hope of getting around picks.
Menace: This badge has not been great these past few years, but there aren’t too many great options in this tier.

Tier 1

Chasedown Artist: This badge is far underpowered compared to last year, but with the dominant playstyle being rim-running, this badge will at least give you some hope.
Anchor: This, again, is a counter to rim-running. You’re a small player, so don’t expect great results contesting in the paint, but this badge will give you a fighting chance.

Swings

Swing players, defined as 6’6″ to 6’9″, have to focus on both a bit of perimeter defense and interior defense. Here are the best defensive badges in each Tier for swings:

Tier 3

Clamps: Again, this badge is going to help you stop ball handlers. Swing players will probably be helping on ball handlers frequently, so this is still the best defensive badge.
Challenger: Whether you’re guarding an on-ball or off-ball shooter, Challenger is going to help you contest their jumpshots and stop a barrage of threes.
Interceptor: Playing passing lanes is perhaps a swing player’s biggest contribution on defense, so Interceptor is a natural fit. You can play without it, but it makes getting steals so much easier.

Tier 2

Chasedown Artist: Whether you’re playing on-ball or off-ball, this badge is going to help you guard again rim-running. Again, this badge pales to last year’s version, but still helps.
Anchor: You’re a bit bigger than guards, so this interior defense badge is going to help a bit more. Whether you are on a guard, swing, or big man, this badge will help you guard the paint.

Tier 1

Rebound Chaser: You won’t be the primary rebounder (hopefully), but having this badge on a lower level is going to allow you to help clean up the boards on long rebounds.
Pick Dodger: You won’t face a ton of screens as a swing, but this badge will help you in the chance that you do. It’s still underwhelming, but it’s one of few good badges in Tier 1.

Big Men

Big Men are entirely focused on paint defense and rebounding, and this list of badges is going to help you maximize both skills and help you lead your defense to wins:

Tier 3

Anchor: Interior defense is a bit odd this year without this badge, so big men should have it on the highest level they can afford. It’s a mix of Rim Protector and Intimidator from last year, so you can see why it’s so important.
Rebound Chaser: You can get rebounds without this badge, but you are going to be out-boarded, without fail, by centers with this badge.
Brick Wall: Screens are still an important part of 2K23, and this badge is going to help you set both stronger and more effective screens. ?It’s not necessary, but helpful after you equip the above badges.

Tier 2

Boxout Beast: Unless you want opposing big men worming around your boxouts, this badge is going to be necessary. It’s pretty cheap and effective, so it’s a definite must for all big men.
Chasedown Artist: This badge makes another appearance, and it’s just another tool for big men to guard the paint.

Tier 1

Challenger: Regardless of your defensive scheme, you are going to be switched onto shooters at some point. This cheap badge is going to help you defend against those shots.
Interceptor: Again, you’ll be playing the passing lanes at some point. This badge is going to maximize your chances of getting a steal if they throw it your way.

Check out our other guides on the best badges in each category:

The Best Centers in NBA 2K23 MyTeam

Center is one of the most important positions in basketball, and the same is true in NBA 2K23. Besides the obvious paint protection, centers play an integral part in the offense both inside and outside the 3-Point line. Here are the best center cards in NBA 2K23 MyTeam right now:

Pink Diamond David Robinson: One of the few true centers that can shoot at this point in the game. Robinson is also an elite defender, but you’ll pay a ton of MT for him.
Dark Matter George Mikan: Another shooting big, although Mikan doesn’t have the same elite defense as Robinson. Despite this, spacing the floor is such a valuable skill.
Dark Matter Yao Ming: Any 7’6″ center is going to succeed in MyTeam. Yao is, of course, going to be a great interior finisher and defender, but he’ll be able to hit from corners decently, as well.
Dark Matter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Kareem would be elite if post hooks were still dominant, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is one of the best defenders and interior finishers at his position.
Pink Diamond Shaquille O’Neal: Another non-shooting big that will terrorize anyone who dares to enter the paint. On offense, he’ll dominate the pick-and-roll, but little else.

How to Shoot Better (Get more Greens)

Shooting consistently in NBA 2K23 is no easy task, yet one of the most valuable skills to win a lot of games. Therefore, it’s important that you’re good at it, and we outline the ways in which you can shoot more greens in 2K.

Pick the Right Build: In 2K23, any build with a 60-plus 3-ball can shoot consistently. The higher the better, of course, but having a higher attribute is not necessary. Badges are more important.

Pick the Right Badges: Here’s our list of Best Shooting Badges. Pick the best ones for your build and they’ll help you become a sharpshooter in no time.

Pick the Right Jumpshot: Here are the best jumpshots in 2K23. Regardless of build, you’ll find one on that list for your player. The most important part of this is that you pick a jumpshot and stick with it for a period of time.

Practice your Jumpshot: Practicing your jumpshot is one of the most important parts of shooting. You could have everything else perfect, but if you do not know your timing, you will miss a ton of shots.

How to practice: On Current Gen, go to the MyCourt and practice your jumpshot. On Next-Gen, go to the Practice Facility, choose the Corner 3’s Drill, and press Square to practice. This will allow you to get a ton of shots up.

Only Shoot Open Shots: Shooting Contested Shots will only lessen the chance you have of making a shot, so learning the contest system and shooting open shots will help you shoot better overall.

Buy Jumpshot Boosts: Boosts are an expensive addition, but are largely worth it for this year’s game. They give you a considerable boost to your shooting and are worth the 1500 VC per ten games.

Decrease Gameplay Lag: This relates to online play, as offline play is not affected by 2K’s poor servers. Ways to decrease lag are using a LAN cable or having top-notch WIFI (which can be expensive).

How to Make MT Quickly in NBA 2K22 MyTeam

Whether you’re saving up for a card, looking to buy packs, or just like having a big bank account in MyTeam, you’re going to need to have a method to make MT quickly. We’ve compiled the best ones here:

Triple Threat Online: Most boards have MT on them, and you can also earn a lot per game from just playing. I’ve earned over 10000 MT/hour playing TTO. Winning helps you maximize your earnings.
Triple Threat Offline: A non-tryhard mode where you can earn 300+ MT per sub-five minute game. This adds up, and you also get conditional win-based prizes as you climb up the ladder.
Domination: You earn a ton of MT when you win the highest difficulty level for each team (2-3K in many cases), and you also get a ton of other cool prizes for playing these 30 minute games.
Playing the Auction House: I’m not an expert at this method, but sniping and reselling is a way some people make a good amount of MT. I don’t know the best way to do it, however.
Liquidating your collection: You certainly have a gold mine of shoes, injury cards, and maybe even some players you can sell to earn quick MT. You can easily earn an extra 10k MT per week just by clearing out your shoes.
Save your MT: Seems basic, but not spending your MT will allow the balance to grow as you play the game more. This means not spending it on frivolous players, contracts in many cases, and other wasteful ways.

The Best Point Guards Builds

NBA 2K23 introduced a whole new system of badges that has upended the traditional method of making builds. Finding the perfect build now takes much more time and thought, but it’s definitely worth it.

After spending the first season trying various builds, talking to competitive point guards, and trying the builds ourselves, this is the best Point Guard build we found in NBA 2K23:

This build is certainly offense-focused, but can also play a bit of defense as well. It will never throw down thunderous dunks on opponents, but it will get you dunks in wide-open situations. It will, however, shoot the lights out and drop defenders with ease.

In the right hands, this build can be an offensive beast and put up a ton of points in any game modes. It’s got the shooting and dribbling needed out of a point guard, and will hold it’s own on defense as well.

The Best Layup Packages

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 2K24, all based on the type of player you have.

Guards

De’Aaron Fox: This package is pretty straightforward, but it is the best for attacking the rim. If you’re looking to beeline it to the hoop and get a layup, this package is best for you.

Requirements: 84+ Driving Layup

Default Swing: If you can’t get the Fox layup package, the Default swing package is effective enough to get the job done. It’s nothing fancy, but it works.

Swing Players

Michael Jordan: This package allows you to start layups further out from the paint. It can be a bit flashy at times, but has plenty of simple animations that help you make layups.

Requirements: Driving Layup 83+

Ben Simmons: An underrated package for years, Simmons’ layup package is very similar to the old Long Athlete. It has some goofy animations, which made people avoid it, but those are easy to avoid.

Requirements: Driving Layup 78+

For Big Men

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The closest package to Long Athlete of yesteryear, this layup package will allow you to start layup further from the basket and finish easily over defenders.

Requirements: Driving Layup 88+

Nikola Jokic: This gives you some slower animations that can be impossible to guard if used correctly. If you learn this package correctly, you can and will dominate in the paint.

Requirements: Driving Layup 78+

The Best Dribble Pull-Up Animations

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.

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