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Best Playmaking Badges for Every Position

The playmaking requirements differ for each position, and this guide breaks down the best playmaking badges for each position based on the different tiers:

Jump to: Guards | Swings | Bigs

Guards

Guards are usually required to dribble and pass the most, and generally handle the majority of the playmaking. The following badges maximize these abilites:

Tier 3

  • Killer Combos: This badge improves a ball handler’s effectiveness on size-up moves. It’s a great badge in that you get some crazy animations that help break down defenders.
  • Handles for Days: With dribbling getting a huge revamp this year, stamina is more important than ever. This badge allows you to dribble more without losing more stamina.
  • Clamp Breaker: Chances are, you are going to have a ton of defenders trying to bump you. This badge will help you win more of these situations and keep your dribble.

Tier 2

  • Quick First Step: It’s crazy that this is Tier 2 badge, but Quick First Step is a required badge for all ball handlers. It helps you get better speed boosts out of a size-up.
  • Hyperdrive: Another dribbling badge that helps you dribble quicker. This will help you break down your defender and get past them for easy buckets.

Tier 1

  • Dimer: When you’re dishing to teammates, this badge will give your teammates a bit of a shooting boost. It’s a cheap badge and works well, so there’s no point in not having it at some level.
  • Needle Threader: Another effective passing badge that is going to be cheap. Helps more of your passes reach the intended target without getting stolen.

Swings

6’6″ to 6’9″ players typically do a bit of dribbling and passing, although few playmaking opportunities fall on their lap. Nonetheless, these badges will help them in the playmaking department:

Tier 3

  • Clamp Breaker: You’ll get bumped a ton, but this badge is going to help you win more of those bumps and keep dribbling.
  • Handles for Days: You won’t dribble a ton, but this badge will ensure that you can at least dribble a bit when needed, without losing a ton of stamina.
  • Killer Combos: Another dribbling badge that you might not use a lot, but works well when needed.

Tier 2

  • Quick First Step: You won’t do a ton of lateral dribbling, but this badge will help you dribble downhill. You’ll get past more defenders with this badge, and there’s no reason your player shouldn’t have it.
  • Needle Threader: You’ll likely be swinging the ball a lot, and this badge will ensure that you don’t throw careless turnovers.

Tier 1

  • Dimer: Another passing badge that will give your teammates a boost when you pass it to them.
  • Special Delivery: I don’t expect you to throw many alley-oops, but this tier is quite dry for swings. In the odd chance that you throw an oop, this badge will be very useful.

Big Men

Big men do very little playmaking, with the majority of their focus towards passing the ball when they’re not open. Nonetheless, these are the best badges in this category for centers:

Tier 3

  • Break Starter: When you’re throwing outlet passes, this badge will make sure few of them are errant. It’s not super necessary, though it does help a lot.
  • Needle Threader: Another passing badge that will help you avoid turnovers.

Tier 2

  • Vice Grip: One of the more necessary playmaking badges for big men, as it limits the amount of times defenders strip you after getting a rebound. It doesn’t work great, but any boost is better than none.
  • Bail Out: When you find yourself taking a bad shot and want to pass out of the shot, this badge will help you throw a more accurate pass. Extremely useful.

Tier 1

  • Floor General: Tier 1 is extremely thin for big men, but Floor General is probably the most useful. It gives a rating boost to any teammates on the floor with you.

Best Finishing Badges for Every Position in NBA 2K23

With shooting requiring more grinding and skill this year, finishing has become an integral part of the game for the first time in a few years. In this article we break down the best finishing badges for every position and tier:

Jump to: Guards | Swings | Big Men

Guards

Guards are focused on rim-running and finishing among big men, and these picks reflect these particular skills:

Tier 3

  1. Posterizer: Dunking over people is one of the most important parts of finishing this year, and this badge will help you get more poster dunks.
  2. Limitless Takeoff: Dunking from further out is one of the most important skills, especially if someone is paint-sitting or help defense. This badge will help you get more dunks in general, as well.
  3. Slithery: Sometimes contact dunks aren’t the best move, and this badge will help you avoid contact with bigger defenders. It works well as it’s job, although it requires more finesse than going for a poster.

Tier 2

  1. Pro Touch: If you have layup timing on, this badge is seriously going to increase the number of layups, dunks, and alley-oops you make. Just time these moves OK and this badge will take care of the rest.
  2. Fearless Finisher: Whereas Posterizer helps with contact dunks, Fearless Finisher helps with contact layups. You don’t always need a contact dunk, and this badge will ensure you still get some points.

Tier 1

  1. Giant Slayer: Finishing around bigger players is tough any year, but this badge is going to help you get some points on the board when bigger defenders come to contest your layups.
  2. Aerial Wizard: You probably won’t have too many opportunities for alley-oops, but this badge will help whether you get the chance or there are special events around alley-oops.

Swings

6’6″ to 6’9″ players should be focused on finishing dunks and layups off the catch in transition or on a cut, and the following badges help you maximize these situations:

Tier 3

  1. Posterizer: You’re bigger, stronger, and probably have a higher dunk rating than guards. This badge is going to help you finish dunks more often and get some pretty cool animations.
  2. Limitless Takeoff: Another badge that helps your dunking ability, this time by increasing the distance you dunk from.
  3. Bully: This badge helps you get through the paint to the basket more effectively, especially against smaller defenders. Not necessary, but great if you have the extra badge points.

Tier 2

  1. Fearless Finisher: You might not be finishing a lot of layups as a swing, but this badge is going to help you finish contact layups in the event that you do not trigger a contact dunk.
  2. Aerial Wizard: Catching alley-oops off the cut or in transition are some of the most electrifying plays in NBA 2K23, and this badge is going to boost your chances of making these oops.

Tier 1

  1. Pro Touch: This badge will help your timing on layups, dunks, and alley-oops. For very few badge points, this badge is awesome.
  2. Rise Up: If you ever find yourself under the basket with the ball, this badge will help you get much safer dunks, rather than layups that either miss or get blocked at a higher rate.

Big Men

Big Men are focused on interior finishing and dunking on smaller players. These are the best finishing badges to do so:

Tier 3

  1. Bully: This is such an apt name for what a big man should be doing, as this badge boosts your ability to steamroll through the paint towards the basket.
  2. Masher: Another great badge for big men that allows them to finish over smaller players. Not necessarily a must-have, but a great badge if you find yourself in mismatches frequently.
  3. Rise Up: Another big man-focused badge that allows you to complete more standing dunks. Best complemented with a high standing dunk rating, but otherwise not very useful.

Tier 2

  1. Posterzier: Whether it’s a standing dunk over a smaller player or a driving dunk, Posterizer will allow you to dunk over opponents.
  2. Backdown Punisher: There aren’t a ton of back-to-basket centers in the game, but this badge helps all big men back down opponents to either score in the paint, or dish the ball from the post.

Tier 1

  1. Pro Touch: Again, a necessary badge to help with timing alley-oops, dunks, and layups. All you need is decent timing, and this badge will boost the chances you make the shot.
  2. Fearless Finisher: This goes along well with Masher, in that it will help you finish contact layups in the paint. It’s cheap and effective, so we recommend using it.

Check out our other guides on the best badges for the other badge categories:

NBA 2K23 Takeover Options

In NBA 2K23, you will have 25 total Takeover options to choose from, with eight main categories that are then broken into three subcategories. You can see the complete list and descriptions below.

Slashers: Slashers receive extra boosts to finishing at the rim in traffic and more effective gathers to get past the defense.

  • Advanced Gathers: Unlocks more effective spin, euro, hop step, and cradle gathers
  • Finishing Moves: Able to absorb contact and finish at the rim more effectively.
  • Easy Blowbys: Enhances abilities for slashers to beat defenders off the dribble.

Shot Creator: Shot Creators become more effective at shooting off the dribble and can shake off defenders consistently using stepback and spin gathers.

  • Pull-Up Precision: Boosts well-timed/aimed shots off the dribble.
  • Anklebreaking Shots: More anklebreakers off of spin and stepback jumpers.
  • Negative Impact: Reduces defensive impact against pull-ups and other skill shots.

Spot Up Shooter: Shop Up Shooters get a marked improvement to hit from deep, especially in catch and shoot situations.

  • Limitless Range: Extend your shooting range out to the logos.
  • Spot-up Precision: Boosts well timed/aimed stationary jump shots.

Playmaker: Playmakers can freeze defenders more often with augmented ball handling abilities and can enhance their teammates’ shot making off assists.

  • Team Ratings Boost: Playmakers boost their teammates’ offensive ratings
  • Team Takeover Boost: Boost your teammates’ takeover meter progress.
  • Team Badge Boost: Boosts your teammates’ badges up a tier.

Lockdown Defender: Lockdown Defenders receive boosts to steals and shot contests, allowing them to clamp down even the best scorers in the game.

  • Extreme Clamps: More Stone wall and lost dribble body-up resolutions for locks
  • Perimeter Badge Drop: Knocks shooting badges down a tier when you get close
  • Enhanced Jump Shot Contests: Boosts your ability to contest jumpers.

Rim Protector: Rim Protectors get strong shot contest boosts and an arsenal of exclusive blocks that allow them to anchor the defense.

  • Stuff Blocks: Unlocks more swat, backboard pins, and grab blocks
  • Paint Intimidation: Boosts your ability to affect shots around the rim.
  • Interior Badge Drop: Drops opposition’s scoring badges down a tier

Glass Cleaner: Glass Cleaners receive the ability to read missed shots, win more box out battlers, secure more boards, and finish putbacks more consistently.

  • Boxout Wall: Improves ability to seal off opponents for easy boards.
  • See the Future: Shows where missed shots are going to end up.
  • Glass Clearing Dimes: After rebounds, kick out passes boost your teammate’s shooting.

Post Scorer: Post Scorers become more dominant in the paint with stronger backdowns and enhanced moves and shots.

  • Power Backdowns: Easier to push defenders around when posting up.
  • Post Playmaking: Boost your teammates’ offensive abilities when passing out of post.
  • Advanced Post Moves: Easier to beat defenders with post moves.
  • Post Shot Daggers: Increased scoring ability with hooks, fades, shimmy shots, etc.

Rim Protector Takeover

Rim Protector Takeover gives players strong shot contest boosts and an arsenal of exclusive blocks that allows them to anchor the defense.

On Current Gen, it gives your player a +10 boost to the Block, Interior Defense, and Close Shot Attributes, in addition to a +5 boost to all other attributes.

On Next Gen, Rim Protector Takeover is split into a few distinct categories:

  • Stuff Blocks: Unlocks more swat, backboard pins, and grab blocks
  • Paint Intimidation: Boosts your ability to affect shots around the rim.
  • Interior Badge Drop: Drops opposition’s scoring badges down a tier

Lockdown Defender Takeover

Lockdown Defender takeover boosts a player’s steals and shot contests, allowing them to clamp down even the best scorers in the game.

On Current Gen, you get a +10 boost to your Perimeter Defender, Lateral Quickness, Steal, Speed, Acceleration, and Strength attributes, in addition to +5 bonuses to every other attribute.

On Next-Gen, Lockdown Takeover is divided into three categories:

  • Extreme Clamps: More Stone wall and lost dribble body-up resolutions for locks
  • Perimeter Badge Drop: Knocks shooting badges down a tier when you get close
  • Enhanced Jump Shot Contests: Boosts your ability to contest jumpers.

Glass Cleaner Takeover

Glass Cleaner Takeover gives rebounders the ability to read missed shots, win more box out battles, secure more boards, and finishing putbacks more consistently.

On Current Gen, Glass Cleaners get a +10 boost to Close Shot, Strength, Vertical, all Rebounding attributes, plus a +5 boost to all other attributes. You also get a visual on missed shots and a set of box out and putback animations.

On Next-Gen, Glass Cleaner takeover is broken into the following categories:

  • Boxout Wall: Improves ability to seal off opponents for easy boards.
  • See the Future: Shows where missed shots are going to end up.
  • Glass Clearing Dimes: After rebounds, kick out passes boost your teammate’s shooting.

Recommendation: True Glass Cleaners would most benefit from this, though we recommend Rim Protector Takeover for most center builds. However, the rebound indicator is nice when Takeover is activated.

Slasher Takeover

Slasher Takeover boosts finishing at the rim in traffic and gives more effective gathers to get past the defense.

When activated, this Takeover gives you a +10 to Driving Layup, Driving Dunk, Standing Dunk, Close Shot, Ball Handle, Speed with Ball, Speed, Strength, and Vertical. You also get a +5 boost to all other attributes.

On Next-Gen, Slasher takeover comprises of the following categories:/

  • Advanced Gathers: Unlocks more effective spin, euro, hop step, and cradle gathers
  • Finishing Moves: Able to absorb contact and finish at the rim more effectively.
  • Easy Blowbys: Enhances abilities for slashers to beat defenders off the dribble.

Recommendation: Slasher takeover is one of the best guard takeovers this year, so we recommend it for anyone that finishes at the rim the majority of the time or is a finishing build.

In addition, Slasher takeover is one of the best for grinding Park Rep, as Alley Oops and Dunks are easy ways to get a ton of Rep per game. We also recommend Slasher Takeover if you’re a serious Rep grinder.

Playmaker Takeover

Playmaker Takeover allows Playmakers to freeze defenders more often with augmented ball handling attributes and can enhance their teammates’ shot making off assists.

On Next-Gen, Playmaker Takeover comprises off three different categories:

  • Team Ratings Boost: Playmakers boost their teammates’ offensive ratings
  • Team Takeover Boost: Boost your teammates’ takeover meter progress.
  • Team Badge Boost: Boosts your teammates’ badges up a tier.

Playmaker takeover on current gen is a bit underwhelming, but Team Badge Boost is overpowered on Next-Gen. For ball handlers and other guards, this takeover is a good option to help your teammates.

Shot Creator Takeover

Shot Creator Takeover allows shooters to become more effective at shooting off the dribble and can shake off defenders using stepback and spin gathers.

Anyone shooting or shot creating build should equip Shot Creator Takeover, as it boosts moving shots to a point where it’s almost impossible to miss an open or lightly contested one.

However, we wouldn’t recommend Shot Creator Takeover for Sharpshooters, as it won’t help you make more three pointers or fading three points. Stick to Spot Up Shooter Takeover.

Spot Up Shooter Takover

Spot Up Shooter Takeover is a replacement for Sharpshooting Takeover, and boosts your player’s ability to hit from deep, especially in catch and shoot situations.

Spot Up Shooter takeover gives you a +10 boost to your player’s Mid-Range Shot and Three-Point Shot, in addition to a +5 boost to all other attributes.

Recommendation: Spot Up Shooter takeover is solid for three point shooters, although its affects on other stats is average. It’s still super effective nonetheless.

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