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Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

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The NBA2K franchise is one of the most popular and highly-regarded digital sporting simulation series’ on the face of the earth. The game epitomizes the camaraderie and overall excitement of the basketball championships and exemplifies what the sport means to people the world over. This year is no different; the release of the highly-anticipated NBA 2K23 is upon us. 

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Today, we’re delving into the meat of the game ahead of its official public release. Below, we’re going to give you a concise guide to improving your skill in NBA 2K23 and hitting those all-important basket shots. 

Watch the defenders in NBA 2k23

Some sporting disciplines are relatively relaxed occasions. Basketball is not one of these disciplines. Instead, the basketball court is a place of intense speed, precision, and lightning reflexes. The same can be said for the simulated courts of NBA 2K23. Basketball, even in this digital format, is an incredibly fast-paced game.

Players, in turn, need to be quick on their feet and demonstrate quick-thinking and reaction times. You have to anticipate situations because simply responding to them as they happen will leave you in the dark and on the wrong foot. Part of this anticipation is keeping an eye on the defenders. You need to be able to see where they are, anticipate their next moves, and then execute your basket shots 

This game is all about developing your skill and honing your particular talents. The more you play, the more you’ll get to know where you need to be in anticipation of what’s happening on the court. The most important aspect of your time on the court, though, is to watch what the defenders are doing. All the rest comes with practice. 

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23

Slow your pace

We’ve just spoken about how fast basketball is, especially when you’re actually on the court, or playing the game in a digital format. However, just because the game is fast-paced, doesn’t mean that you need to act rashly or make erratic moves simply because they’re fast. This will sound a little odd, but you need to slow your pace down slightly.

Again, with time, you’ll get better at making those quick decisions and plays. However, in the beginning of your game and indeed your experience with NBA 2K23, you’ll need to start off a little slower and focus more on watching, learning, and adjusting to the fast pace of the game. 

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23

Step back

This sounds like a piece of deeply philosophical advice. While you can process ‘step back’ in that way, we literally mean you need to take a physical step backward. This is the best way to ensure that you have sufficient space to execute a basket shot. All you need to do to get this right is flick the right analog stick toward yourself. This will let your player create a little breathing room between themselves and their defender – however short-lived this space may be.

You’ll only have a few moments, but this should be just sufficient enough to get the ball back in the air and make a basket shot. If you find yourself needing a little more space, you can do this by holding down the turbo button while you flick the analog stick downward. In addition to giving you more space, it’ll also give you a little more time to execute that perfect shot. 

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23

Remember the midrange

We all know how satisfying it is to make a three-pointer or a slam dunk, but these shouldn’t be the focus of your attention on the court. While these showy shots are a good way to showcase dominance on the court, you’ll have an easier time racking up points if you use midrange shots as well.

More often than not, shooting from the midrange, a position that the opposing side won’t necessarily be anticipated, is a brilliant way to bolster your point count and thus secure a win for your team. However, like the rest of the game, midrange shots are all about timing. 

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23

Don’t forget about quick stop in NBA 2k23

Quick stop somewhat ties into slowing your game down. Essentially, you’ll hit the left trigger button while moving your player around the court. Once you’ve hit the left trigger, let go of the left analog stick. This will result in your player stopping dead at a moment’s notice, therefore giving you a better opportunity to make a more successful shot.

The reason why this can be useful is that it’s incredibly difficult to make a successful shot before you’ve stopped in your tracks. Trying to make a shot this way will leave you off-balance and likely unable to shoot effectively.

Best ways to improve your basket abilities in NBA 2K23
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

I hail from the awe-inspiring beauty of South Africa. Born and raised in Pretoria, I've always had a deep interest in local history, particularly conflicts, architecture, and our country's rich past of being a plaything for European aristocracy. 'Tis an attempt at humor. My interest in history has since translated into hours at a time researching everything from the many reasons the Titanic sank (really, it's a wonder she ever left Belfast) to why Minecraft is such a feat of human technological accomplishment. I am an avid video gamer (Sims 4 definitely counts as video gaming, I checked) and particularly enjoy playing the part of a relatively benign overlord in Minecraft. I enjoy the diverse experiences gaming offers the player. Within the space of a few hours, a player can go from having a career as an interior decorator in Sims, to training as an archer under Niruin in Skyrim. I believe video games have so much more to teach humanity about community, kindness, and loyalty, and I enjoy the opportunity to bring concepts of the like into literary pieces.

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