Being a high-quality playmaker in the NBA can mean a multitude of things. It could be because you have exceptional dribbling skills to juke defenders, or you're able to find an open teammate and deliver a good pass. And in NBA 2K23, excelling in playmaking is not restricted to just the point guard position.
The AI is notorious for being passive with the ball and not shooting unless completely wide-open, but when they do have the opportunity, your teammates won't disappoint. By equipping these Playmaking badges, you'll soon be dishing out assists left and right, while also breaking a few ankles along the way.
Updated on June 25, 2023, by Avery Feyrer: There are several badges in NBA 2K23 that impact playmaking. Playmaking usually revolves around setting up other players with open opportunities for better scoring chances. We've updated this post to include a few more badges that are helpful in this category.
13 Bail Out
After breaking a few ankles with some stellar dribbling but when you pull up for the jumper, another defender attempts to contest your shot. Instead of settling for a poor shot that will most likely result in a missed shot, it might be best to pass out your shot to another player.
The Bail Out badge increases the chances of successfully completing a pass from mid-air. Players like Tyrese Haliburton are dangerous in the scoring and passing department, so even if defenses somehow catch Haliburton in a poor shot selection, he can quickly make a pass during the shot for a better opportunity.
12 Break Starter
Winning the fastbreak category is usually one effective way in winning basketball games in the NBA. Typically, the offense will push the tempo after securing the rebound and hope to catch defenses off balance. But sometimes you might see a teammate already down the court and that’s where Break Starter comes into play.
This badge improves a player’s ability to make effective outlet passes after grabbing the rebound. LeBron James was one of the quickest players out on the fast break and strong enough to barrel through anyone in his path. Now at age 38, James is the one throwing the outlet passes and watching other players with younger legs finish the fast break.
11 Hyperdrive
In today’s modern NBA, teams are looking to quickly run up the court on offense. Whether it’s off missed shots or inbounding the ball, point guards will try to up the tempo to create better opportunities for themselves or other players. The Hyperdrive badge improves the player’s dribbling skills while on the move.
Superior dribbling skills let you get the upper hand on a defender in isolated situations and will have you creating shot opportunities for yourself. Utilizing Hyperdrive toward the basket can also break down the defense as a whole and open passing lanes for your teammates.
10 Quick First Step
Point guards are typically swift and use their agility to juke defenders. You can use screens to switch your defender to a larger, slower one and take advantage of the mismatch with the Quick First Step badge.
This playmaking badge gives you a boost in your first steps when trying to maneuver out of triple threat and size-up situations. Players have De’Aaron Fox can immediately break down a defense and either finish at the basket or pass it to an open outside shooter.
9 Post Playmaker
When a big man catches the ball in the low post and begins working on the defender, the defense tends to collapse and gravitate toward the ball. Players looking to score might keep backing down and hope a contested layup goes in, while playmaking bigs will look to pass the ball back out to the perimeter.
Centers like Nikola Jokic always look for the best possible shot, even if that means making an extra pass. The Post Playmaker badge boosts the shot percentage for shooters who receive a pass from a player in the post. Big men aren't necessarily known in the NBA for racking up assists, but this badge will make it a bit easier to do so.
8 Clamp Breaker
Attempting to drive to the basket will result in a lot of congestion in the lane. Defenders will try to poke the ball out or lock you up, resulting in a turnover or a busted offensive play. Protecting the ball while dribbling under duress is essential for high-quality offensive players.
Equipping the Clamp Breaker badge improves your ability to protect the ball while dribbling and resist being held up by contact. Premium defenders with the Clamps badge can easily make an offensive player's life a living hell, but Clamp Breaker is the perfect counter and a necessary badge for any playmaker.
7 Unpluckable
Defenders in the league are becoming more and more effective in stripping the ball. Sometimes, how the referees are calling a call can impact how aggressive the defense is, but ultimately, keeping possession is of utmost importance for any ball handler.
Unlike the Clamp Breaker badge, Unpluckable impacts a defender's ability to dislodge the ball no matter the circumstance. It doesn't matter if you're driving the lane or dribbling near the three-point line; the Unpluckable badge helps you control the ball and not give it up to a pesky defender.
6 Handles For Days
Nearly every action in NBA 2K23 uses up a player's energy. Whether you're sprinting, jumping, shooting, or dribbling, energy's being used, which will hinder your performance over time. Dribbling is vital for playmakers to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates, and that's why you'll need Handles For Days.
This Playmaking badge reduces the amount of energy lost when performing dribble moves, keeping you fresh for any shot attempts or allowing you to perform even more maneuvers. Shooting without energy will result in missed shots and bad shot selections, so being able to save a bit of energy by equipping Handles For Days can help you in more ways than one.
5 Ankle Breaker
Breaking a defender's ankles and scoring on them might be one of the best feelings in sports. Not only are you demonstrating your superior offensive skills, but also embarrassing the failed defender in the process. Players like Stephen Curry have lived off juking defenders near the three-point line to create space on his jump shots.
Ankle Breaker improves your ability to freeze up a defender when performing dribbling moves, allowing you to shoot an uncontested shot. Performing dribbling moves requires energy, and the more dribbling you do, the less energy you'll have to get up a shot. This badge can help reduce the amount of dribbling you do by increasing the effectiveness, leaving you with ample energy to shoot the ball.
4 Mismatch Expert
Offensive players with high basketball IQ are always looking for mismatches to exploit. They sometimes create mismatches by calling for screens and switching onto lesser defenders. Typically, offensive players will take advantage of situations like this, but having the Mismatch Expert badge can guarantee it.
Equipping the Mismatch Expert badge will improve your ability to beat taller defenders off the dribble in one-on-one situations. Most of the time, calling for a screen will result in a center or power forward switching onto the smaller guard, so having Mismatch Expert will have you punishing bigger defenders on the switch.
3 Needle Threader
Threading the needle is a popular phrase used in many sports about completing difficult passes. In the NBA, point guards, especially, are looked upon to deliver these precise passes to teammates, regardless of the level of difficulty. This is why having the Needle Threader is essential for playmakers.
Having the Needle Threader badge will increase the likelihood that high-difficulty passes can get through a defense without getting tipped or intercepted. Even if you see a teammate open for a corner three, trying to throw a cross-court pass can most likely end up as a turnover. Equipping this badge can be the difference between a pass like that being recovered by the defense or finding its way to the open offensive player.
2 Floor General
In most cases, the top playmaker on any NBA team is also the best player. These individuals have the offense flow through them, whether finding their own shot or creating opportunities for their teammates. The Floor General badge will reinforce the idea that the team performs better with its top player on the court.
Equipping Floor General will give an offensive boost to all your teammates when your player is in the game. This badge can turn the tides in a game instantly because the boost impacts every offensive attribute among your teammates. Although the badge doesn't affect your attributes, it'll make life easier, knowing your teammates can nail shots when you pass them the ball.
1 Dimer
Despite the fact that playmaking isn't restricted to the point guard position, those players are always looked upon to command the offense and find open teammates. While some point guards might be looking to score first, the majority of these players are actively trying to get other teammates involved and rack up assists.
The Dimer badge is crucial for any playmaker whose main focus is finding opportunities for their teammates. Having this badge will boost the shot percentage for your teammates on jump shots after they catch a pass. Being a playmaker is all about setting up your teammates on offense, and boosting their jump shots with Dimer makes it the best Playmaking badge to have in the game.