Playmaking is an art in the NBA. Players have come to realize that the modern game demands passing from everybody and not just the point guard. The teams that give themselves the best shot selections tend to win the games. That was true for the champion Denver Nuggets and it’s also true inNBA 2K24.
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This is one aspect where the franchise has been ahead of the curve. Even beforeNBA 2K24the best players in the game were dribbling and passing nightmares, constantly dominating the court. To be one of the rare players who is tapped into the importance of playmaking, use the best animations for the job.
Best Playmaking Moves
Playmaking moves are sets of packages, so be sure to look at each one fully and not just the initial animation shown. Sometimes the first few passes or dribbles can look amazing but be hampered by other kinds of slow and easy-to-steal animations. The complete package should be tight.
De’Aaron Fox
Requirement(s): Pass Accuracy 79+
Thebest point guard buildshould be able to pass well and these animations will all help. LaMelo has a great blend of arm extension, quickness, and deception but players should also consider their preferences when making a choice. Jason Williams has a ton of behind-the-back passes that can really trip up opponents.
Pro
Requirement(s): Speed With Ball 70+
The biggest thing for a good dribble style is that it must be low and quick. The higher and longer a dribble takes, the larger the window to steal it is for opponents. Also, a quicker dribble allows players to pass and shoot more instantaneously. Thebest center buildmight not be as quick on paper as some but its animations can be lightning-fast with the Pro package.
Kevin Durant
Requirement(s): Ball Handle 85+
As with dribble styles, these should be low and quick to prevent steals. The best styles should also keep the opposing guessing by having each bounce be deceptive. The defender should have no idea whether a drive, pass, shot, or another dribble move is coming. If they guess wrong, nobody is going to stop thebest power forward buildfrom driving by and getting a dunk in the paint or a shooter from putting one up before the defense can react.
Requirement(s): Ball Handle 70+
Regular breakdowns are designed to get the defense on their heels. If they fall back, then the character can fire off a quick shot. Or if they lean to one side or the other, it’s possible to drive on the opposite side. Thebest three-point buildwill love what Isaiah Thomas can bring to the table as opponents will be paranoid about the drive only to see the ball go over their heads.
Aggressive breakdown combos should do exactly what regular breakdowns do. They cost more energy but the tradeoff is that they should be harder to gauge.
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Remember that if the moves aren’t convincing, it’s better to save energy and not do an aggressive breakdown at all. Stephen Curry is well worth it especially for thebest shooting guard buildas it has an excellent burst forward and then step back for a shot.
Zach LaVine
Requirement(s): Ball Handle 80+
It’s all about side-to-side action for an escape move. The design is to get open for a drive or a shot to the left or right. They need to be quick, obviously, but this move needs to be deceptive as well. If the player slowly drifts to one side or the other, it’s not all that valuable. Thebest small forward buildwill love how open they get when using Chris Paul’s lightning-quick animations.
James Harden
The advantage of a traditional combo move over some of these others is how seamlessly they transition to a drive or shot. Most animations can be used at a standstill or while diving. If it’s tricky, quick, and controlled, opponents can do nothing but watch the ball carrier fly by.
Kobe Bryant
Requirement(s): Ball Handle 88+
The concept of the crossover is simple; it’s all about how quickly a player can transition from driving and dribbling on one side of the ball to driving and dribbling toward the other. If the move is snappy, then there is no way any human defense can react to the transition. The best dunker build will want to be sure to get this animation package right so they can get past defenders and to the rim in the blink of an eye.
Chris Paul
With a solid behind the back move, opponents should be guessing whether the athlete will drive forward or pull back for a jumper. Each package contains both types of animations
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The move needs to be fast, as always, but pay close attention to the footwork and trickery as well. If it’s confusing to figure out, then it’s useful in the game. Chris Paul is one of thebest point guardsin the game and somehow his animation is available for big men, so it’s quite useful.
Penny Hardaway
Requirement(s): Ball Handle 75+
A great spin will always be a little slower than a crossover but the advantage is that it can be more sneaky. If it can lure the defender into reaching for the ball, flip around and instantly be open for a drive or a shot. Jamal Murray loses almost no speed at all on his spin and has a few different drive animations which makes him handy for most builds.
Larry Bird
Hesitations can even fool smart opponents since they feign going in one direction before actually moving that way or not. If the animation appears to make an obvious change in direction before continuing, this can trip up opponents who are trying to anticipate the next move. Kyrie Irving is one ofthe best shooting guardsand he shows it with his playmaking.
Kawhi Leonard
Stepbacks are important for most players but three-point shooters especially should make this a key focus. When observing the animations, imagine a three-point line is there. The best animations will appear to step in front and commit to a drive before taking a swift step to behind that line for a three. It should have a great forward-to-back motion. Kawhi Leonard is one of thebest small forwardsthanks to his smooth moves.
Requirement(s): None
Dribbling isn’t the only way to keep the defense guessing. When holding the ball, the character can also use their arms and non-pivot foot to try and foot the opponent. This is one of the best ways to draw a foul in an attempted steal so long as the animation is active and erratic. Zion Williamson is one of thebest power forwardswith one of the most active triple threat styles in the game.
NBA 2K24is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
