NBA 2K23 badges

NBA 2K23 has unveiled a wide-sweeping set of gameplay changes that it is planning to implement. But, one of the biggest changes comes in the form of the selection of NBA 2K23 badges.

These badges within MyCareer and MyTeam are seeing some fairly big changes with a number of alterations to existing badges. And, on top of that, around a dozen badges have actually been removed from NBA 2K23 entirely, as they didn’t fit the new gameplay outline 2K is aiming for with this year’s game. Before you worry about those precious NBA 2K23 locker codes being removed too, then don’t panic, it’s just the badges getting this treatment.

So, if you want a brief overview of the NBA 2K23 badges before you step onto the court in MyPlayer or build a team in MyTeam, this article is where you want to be as we will cover each one.

A number of big badge changes have been made in NBA 2k23. But, you can find all the NBA 2K23 badges in the game below:

Finishing Badges

These finishing badges are:

Aerial Wizard – Increases the ability to finish an alley-oop from a teammate, or a putback finish off an offensive rebound. (Tier 1)
Backdown Punisher – Allows players to have more success than normal when backing down a defender while posting up. (Tier 1)
Dream Shake – Post move fakes have a higher chance of stunning a defender. Also, shot attempts following pcs: fakes, shimmies, and shot fakes have an increased shot percentage. (Tier 1)
Dropstepper – Allows for more success when attempting post dropsteps and hop steps, in addition to protecting the ball better, while performing these moves in the post. (Tier 1)
Giant Slayer – Boosts the shot percentage for a layup attempt when mismatched against a taller defender and reduces the possibility of getting blocked. (Tier 1)
Masher – Improves a player’s ability to finish well around the rim, especially over smaller defenders. (Tier 1)
Post-Spin Technician – Attempting to do post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and less of a chance to be stripped. (Tier 1)
Acrobat – Spin, hop step, euro-step, cradle, reverse, and change shot layup attempts receive a boost. Additionally, the ability to beat defenders with gathers is improved. (Tier 2)
Fast Twitch – Speeds up the ability to get standing layups or dunks off before the defense has time to contest. (Tier 2)
Fearless Finisher – Strengthens a player’s ability to absorb contact and still finish. Also reduces the amount of energy lost from contact layups. (Tier 2)
Pro Touch – Gives an extra shot boost for having slightly early, slightly late, or excellent shot timing on layups. Layup timing must be turned on. (Tier 2)
Limitless Takeoff – When attacking the basket, a player with the badge will start their dunk attempt from farther out than others. (Tier 3)
Slithery – Increases a player’s ability to slide through traffic, protect the ball from being stolen, and avoid contact during gathers and finishes at the rim. (Tier 3)

Shooting Badges

The shooting badges are:

Claymore – Increases the ability to knock down perimeter shots when spotting up patiently. (Tier 1)
Clutch Shooter – Snot attempts that occur during the final moments of the fourth quarter, or in any overtime period, receive a large boost. (Tier 1)
Comeback Kid – Boosts shooter’s mid-range and three-point abilities when trailing in a game. (Tier 1)
Corner Specialist – Deep range shots taken along the baseline of the court receive a boost, whether it is off the dribble or off a catch. (Tier 1)
Guard Up – Increases the ability to make jump shots when defenders fail to properly contest. (Tier 1)
Middy Magician – Boosts the effectiveness of pullups, spin shots, and fadeaway from the mid-range area. (Tier 1)
Slippery Off-Ball – When attempting to get open off screens, the player more effectively navigates through traffic. (Tier 1)
Volume Shooter – After a player has taken a small handful of shots, an additional boost to shot attributes is given for every subsequent shot, whether it is a make or a miss. (Tier 1)
Amped – Reduces the penalty that fatigue has on a player and their ability to make shots. (Tier 2)
Catch & Shoot – For a short time after receiving a pass, the receiver’s ability to knock down threes gets a significant boost. (Tier 2)
Green Machine – Gives an additional shot boost when consecutively achieving excellent releases on jump shots. (Tier 2)
Space Creator – Increases a player’s ability to both hit shots after creating space from the defender, as well as cross up an opponent on step-back moves. (Tier 2)
Blinders – Jump shots taken with a defender closing out in their peripheral vision will suffer a lower penalty. (Tier 3)

Playmaking Badges

Playmaking badges are back and they are:

Ankle Breaker – When performing stepbacks and other certain moves, the defender stumbles or falls more frequently when biting the wrong way. (Tier 1)
Break Starter – After grabbing a defensive board, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate. Passes must be made quickly following the defensive rebound. (Tier 1)
Dimer – When in the half-court, passes by Dimers to open shooters yield a shot percentage boost. (Tier 1)
Floor General – Teammates receive a boost to their offensive attributes when this player is in the game. (Tier 1)
Needle Threader – When passing through a tight window between defenders, a boost is given to the player’s passing ability. (Tier 1)
Post Playmaker – When passing out of the post or after an offensive rebound, receivers are given a shot boost. (Tier 1)
Special Delivery – Increases alley-oop throw success and shot chance for receivers after a flashy pass. Additionally, it enables the ability to throw alley-oops off the backboard. (Tier 1)
Vice Grip – Increases a player’s ability to secure the ball against steal attempts after obtaining possession from a rebound, catch, or loose call. (Tier 1)
Bail Out – Passing out of a jump shot or layup yields fewer errant passes than normal. Additionally, helps passing out of double teams. (Tier 2)
Hyperdrive – Increases the speed at which a player can perform moving dribble moves as they attack down the court. (Tier 2)
Quick First Step – When driving out of a triple threat or after a size-up, ball handlers have access to quicker, and more effective, launches. (Tier 2)
Unpluckable – Defenders have a tougher time poking the ball free with their steal attempts. (Tier 2)
Clamp Breaker – Improves a player’s ability to fight off contact, protect the ball, and drive by opponents as the ball-handler. (Tier 3)
Handles For Days – A player takes less of an energy hit when performing consecutive dribble moves, allowing them to chain together combos quicker and for longer periods of time. (Tier 3)
Killer Combos – Improves a player’s ability to chain together efficient dribble moves when sizing up their opponent (Tier 3)
Mismatch Expert – Improves the player’s ability to beat taller defenders off the dribble in one-on-one situations when they’re switched onto them. (Tier 3)

Defense/Rebounding Badges

Here are all the defense and rebounding badges in NBA 2K23:

Boxout Beast – Improves a player’s ability to box out and fight for good rebounding position. (Tier 1)
Chase Down Artist – Boosts the speed and leaping ability of a player when chasing down an offensive player in anticipation of a block attempt. (Tier 1)
Off-Ball Pest – Makes players more difficult to get past when playing off-ball, as they can grab and hold their matchup and don’t get their ankles broken as often. (Tier 1)
Pogo Stick – Allows players to quickly recover and go back up for another jump upon landing. This could be after a rebound, block attempt, or even jumpshot. (Tier 1)
Post Lockdown – Strengthens a player’s ability to effectively defend moves in the post, with an increased chance at stripping the opponent. (Tier 1)
Rebound Chaser – Improves a player’s ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal. (Tier 1)
Work House – Increases a player’s speed and ability to get loose balls over the opponent. (Tier 2)

That covers what we know about the NBA 2K23 badges that will appear in MyPlayer. Stay tuned for more guides as we approach the game’s launch and check out current predictions for the NBA 2K23 ratings and the NBA 2K23 Jordan Challenges which are back for this year’s games.