Crafting a high-quality player in NBA 2K23 requires even more concentration and understanding of the badge system than ever before. Unlike previous iterations of the basketball simulator, NBA 2K23 adjusted MyCareer builds to make it more difficult to have multiple 99-maxed attributes. But you can make up for it by equipping the right badges.

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Four specialized categories make up a player’s build: Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, and Defense/Rebounding. Whether you’re a backcourt or frontcourt player, being able to score at the rim is essential to having success on the hardwood. These are the best badges to equip to increase your ability to score around the rim in NBA 2K23.

Updated April 22, 2023, by Avery Feyrer: Several badges in NBA 2K23 impact your ability to score near the rim and we've updated this post to highlight a few more suitable ones. While all of these badges will impact your finishing attributes, some badges might be more beneficial depending on the position.

13 Post-Spin Technician

joel embiid nba 2k23 backing down nets defender

Driving toward the basket puts a lot of pressure on the defense, but what good is it if you’re out of control? You need to have nuance operating in the paint, and that’s why Post-Spin Technician is important to have as a finishing player.

Equipping and upgrading the Post-Spin Technician badge improves your ability to execute spin moves in the paint. When you have a defender draped over you, you’ll need to use spin moves to shake them off and get a good shot attempt.

12 Aerial Wizard

lebron james nba 2k23 dunking on ally hoop from d'angelo russell

Dunks and ally-oops might be the most exciting plays to perform on a basketball court, so of course you’d want to have a badge that improves that ability. The Aerial Wizard badge increases the ability to finish lobs and putbacks at the rim.

Not only is this vital for players who can slam it home on a lob, but it’s also important for offensive putbacks. Securing offensive rebounds and racking up second-chance points can be the difference maker in a game, making Aerial Wizard even more important to have for finishing players.

11 Posterizer

giannis antetokounmpo nba 2k23 dunking on bam adebayo

While some players will try to maneuver through the air to avoid contact when they drive to the basket, others are more willing to go through someone. The Posterizer badge increases your ability to posterize an opponent.

Getting dunked on is already an embarrassment for players but sometimes a posterized dunk could also result in a foul by the defender. At the very least, attempting to posterize someone will put pressure on the defense and force them to possibly commit a foul to stop you from dunking.

10 Backdown Punisher

joel embiid in the post

Establishing a solid post presence on offense might seem a bit mundane compared to making it rain from outside, but it’s extremely important in an NBA offense. A consistent post presence will eventually force defenses to crash a bit harder to the basket, which can open up teammates on the outside for a quick pass.

Backdown Punisher will increase the chances of you successfully backing down your opponent in the post and painted area. Sometimes, superior defenders will halt your progress and keep you standing still when trying to back them down, which could invoke a three-second violation if you’re in the painted area. Equipping this badge should reduce that level of resistance and allow you to pound the ball inside.

9 Dream Shake

bam adebayo juking miles plumlee

Normal post players have a simple move of trying to score in the painted area: back the defender as much as possible until you’re a foot from the basket and lay it in. In some cases, that’s more than enough to score up close, but sometimes, you need a little more pizzazz.

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Having the Dream Shake badge boosts the chances of a defender biting on any fake-out moves performed in the post while simultaneously increasing the shot ability of the offensive player. Dream Shake is arguably the best badge for a post-dominant offensive player by affecting both the defender and initiator.

8 Limitless Takeoff

ja morant dunking

High-flying dunkers have been a staple in the NBA for as long as we can remember. You can see for yourself with the multitude of historic teams and players, or by simply playing as His Airness in the Jordan Challenges, being able to liftoff and slam it home is one of the most exciting plays in sports.

If you ever wanted to throw it down from the free throw line like Michael Jordan, now you can with the Limitless Takeoff badge. Equipping this badge will have your player launching for a dunk from a further take-off range than normal, almost guaranteeing a converted bucket. This badge can be utilized by any positional player, as we see point guard Ja Morant quickly establish himself as one of the NBA’s best dunkers.

7 Pro Touch

james harden attempting layup

Timing is everything in NBA 2K23. Whether operating the shooting meter or knowing when to make that last-second pass, you must be as precise as possible in the game. The same goes for driving to the basket and attempting a layup. An ill-timed layup attempt will most likely get blocked or roll around the rim and fall out.

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While we can’t guarantee a perfect layup with any badges, Pro Touch will get you as close as possible. This badge provides an extra boost for having good layup timing, which can be the difference between converting the attempt or missing completely. Even if you don’t convert the layup, this badge also puts you in a position where the defense might foul you and send you to the free-throw line, giving you another opportunity to put points on the board.

6 Acrobat

kyrie irving attempting layup

NBA players are among the most gifted athletes on the planet. They’re exceptionally tall, can shoot a ball into a cylinder up to 30 feet away, and can leap far distances. While this sounds like a rough description of Superman, calling players by that name wouldn’t be all that wrong.

Controlling your body when driving to the basket is vital in scoring, especially when attempting harder layups. Equipping Acrobat will give you a boost in converting highly difficult layups. These could be reverse layups, up-and-under scoops, or teardrops.

5 Masher

zion williamson layup

Offensive players trying to switch defenders is common in the NBA. Opposing teams will try to match their players in the hopes of limiting the offense, but through picks and constant movement, it’s highly likely to be possessions with various players out of position.

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When using a bigger player, like a forward or center, it’s important to be active in the pick-and-roll game. Setting a screen for your teammate and rolling to the basket will likely have you switched to a smaller defender. Equipping Masher will improve your ability to finish around the rim, especially when guarded by smaller defenders.

4 Giant Slayer

jamal murray layup

When bringing the ball up the court, point guards are always looking for various mismatches. Whether it’s smaller players guarding taller ones or vice versa, any sort of mismatch will more than likely favor the offense.

In most cases, pick-and-rolls will shift taller defenders on the smaller guards and smaller defenders on bigger forwards and centers. Smaller guards who attack the basket need to have the Giant Slayer badge to improve the effectiveness of converting layups against taller defenders. This is a key badge to own for backcourt builds who attack the rim.

3 Bully

giannis antetokounmpo layup

Regardless of your position, being able to attack the rim is key to having a well-rounded offense. Driving relentlessly toward the rim will keep pressure on the defense and should result in many high-percentage shot attempts and opportunities to reach the free-throw line.

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Boost your ability to get to the rim by equipping the Bully badge. Think of Giannis Antetokounmpo barreling his way down the lane toward the basket. That’ll be you with the help of the Bully badge, knocking defenders out of your path like bowling pins.

2 Slithery

luka doncic weaving in the lane

Driving in the lane can be a dangerous task for a player. With bodies crashing around, several hands are trying to poke the ball out. Having the ability to safely weave your way through the lane to score at the rim is key to a successful offense.

The Slithery badge is perfect for boosting a player’s ability to avoid being bothered by defenders as they attack the basket. You can’t just put your head down and barrel your way toward the hoop without a high chance of losing the ball. Slithery will have you moving gracefully among defenders to finishing at the rim.

1 Fearless Finisher

lebron james backwards dunk

Other than defensive breakdowns and fastbreak opportunities, the majority of layup attempts will be met by some form of resistance. Knowing how to absorb that contact and still convert on layups can open up the offense and possibly get the opposing team in foul trouble.

Equipping the Fearless Finisher badge is the best thing you can do for a Finishing-specific player build. This badge improves your ability to convert contact layups, which will put immense pressure on the defense. Fearless Finisher can also be the difference maker in scoring layups while being fouled, giving you a three-point opportunity. No matter how you slice it, Fearless Finisher is essential for a player’s build and the most important in the Finishing category in NBA 2K23.

Next: NBA 2K23: Beginner’s Guide To MyCareer