NBA 2K23: Best Dribble Moves and Animations

Dribbling is one of the most basic skills in the game of basketball. At the same time, it is also one of the most difficult skills to master in NBA 2K23. Arguably one of the most important skills in the game, dribbling separates the mediocre players from elite ones in the game.  

If you want to bring your game to the next level, it’s certainly a skill worth developing as it will open up many doors and give you the opportunity to be a more dynamic player.

With our help, you’ll learn how to set yourself up for success and become the best possible dribbler in NBA 2K23. Here are the best 2K dribble moves.

Best 2k dribble moves under 80 ball-handle

Your player needs a minimum 80 ball-handle rating to unlock the most useful moves and animation packages.

If your player does not reach those basic requirements, here are the best dribble moves that you can equip.

• Moving Crossovers: Normal
• Moving Behind the Back: Normal
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Normal
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Luka Doncic
• Signature Size-Up: Jalen Suggs
• Dribble Style: Pro, LeBron James
• Moving Stepback: Chris Paul
• Triple Threat Styles: Normal

Best dribble moves for current-gen 

If your player has a ball-handle rating of 80 or higher, they’ll be eligible to unlock some of the best pro-dribble moves and animation packages in the game. Here are the best dribble moves that you can equip for your player on current-gen editions of NBA 2K23. 

• Moving Crossovers: Trae Young
• Moving Behind the Back: Kyrie Irving
• Moving Spin: Andrew Wiggins/Penny Hardaway
• Moving Hesitations: Zach LaVine
• Moving Stepback: Stephen Curry
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Kyrie Irving/Damian Lillard
• Signature Size-Up: Steve Francis
• Dribble Style: Gabby Williams, Steve Nash 
• Triple Threat Styles: Kobe Bryant

Best dribble moves for next-gen 

The gameplay and animations for next-gen are a little different to those on current-gen consoles. However, to unlock some of the best dribble moves and animations in the game, your player still needs a minimum ball-handle rating of 80.  

Here is a list of the best dribble moves to equip to your player on next-gen versions of NBA 2K23.  

• Moving Crossovers: Normal
• Moving Behind the Back: Stephen Curry 
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Normal
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Damian Lillard/Kyrie Irving
• Sig Size-Up: Trae Young
• Dribble Style: Michael Jordan
• Moving Stepback: Stephen Curry
• Triple Threat Styles: Kobe Bryant

Best dribble moves for a tall guard

As a tall guard, you have a defensive and rebounding advantage over your opponent but it comes at a cost this year. Your height may limit you from equipping certain animations.

Here’s the most effective moves you can use to make plays with your tall guard:

• Moving Crossovers: Donovan Mitchell
• Moving Behind the Back: Zach LaVine
• Moving Spin: Penny Hardaway 
• Moving Hesitations: Zach LaVine
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Luka Doncic/Kyrie Irving
• Sig Size-Up: De’Aaron Fox
• Dribble Style: Michael Jordan/LeBron James
• Moving Stepback: John Wall
• Triple Threat Styles: Kobe Bryant

Best dribble moves for a playmaking shot creator

As a playmaking shot creator, you are often relied upon to generate offense for your team: whether it’s to create your own shot or exploit the weakness of your opponent’s defense. 

Here is a list of the best dribble moves to equip to your player if they perform in a playmaking shot creator role. 

• Moving Crossovers: LaMelo Ball
• Moving Behind the Back: Allen Iverson
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Luka Doncic
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Kyrie Irving
• Signature Size-Up: Steve Francis
• Moving Stepback: Chris Paul
• Dribble Style: Steve Nash 
• Triple Threat Styles: Devin Booker

Best dribble moves for a stretch-four

As a stretch-four, your primary purpose is to space the floor and give your team a legitimate scoring threat at the forward position. You may not be the best ball-handler on your team, but you should have above-average shooting and offensive skills for the position.  

Here is a list of the best dribble moves to equip to your player in a stretch-four role. 

• Moving Crossovers: Michael Jordan
• Moving Behind the Back: Pro
• Moving Spin: Basic 
• Moving Hesitations: Luka Doncic
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Paul George
• Signature Size-Up: Pro
• Moving Stepback: Kawhi Leonard
• Dribble Style: Zach LaVine
• Triple Threat Styles: Michael Jordan

Best dribble moves for a slasher

As a slasher, you are most effective when you push the pace and attack the basket. Consistently doing so will put constant pressure on the opposition and help to create better jump shot opportunities for your teammates. 

Here is a list of the best dribble moves to equip to your slasher build. 

• Moving Crossovers: Kevin Durant
• Moving Behind the Back: Pro
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Kevin Durant
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Luka Doncic
• Sig Size-Up: De’Aaron Fox 
• Dribble Style: Zach LaVine
• Moving Stepback: Luka Doncic
• Triple Threat Styles: Pro

Best dribble moves for scoring machines

As a scoring machine, you have the ability to put up points in many different ways. Most players in this role have skill and dribbling ability to exploit weaknesses on the other team’s defense. 

Here is a list of the best dribble moves to bolster a scoring machine build. 

• Moving Crossovers: Lonzo Ball
• Moving Behind the Back: James Harden 
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Kevin Durant
• Size-Up Escape Packages: John Wall
• Signature Size-Up: Tracy McGrady 
• Moving Stepback: Jayson Tatum
• Dribble Style: LeBron James
• Triple Threat Styles: Zion Williamson

Best dribble moves for a sharpshooter

As a sharpshooter, you’re a constant threat from beyond the arc. Most great sharpshooters can use screens, get open, and take good shots from deep. 

Here is a list of the best dribble moves for a sharpshooter in NBA 2K23. 

• Moving Crossovers: LeBron James
• Moving Behind the Back: Zach LaVine
• Moving Spin: Basic
• Moving Hesitations: Pro
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Luka Doncic
• Signature Size-Up: Devin Booker
• Moving Stepback: Vince Carter
• Dribble Style: Seimone Augustus
• Triple Threat Styles: Kobe Bryant/Joel Embiid

Equipping the optimal dribble animations will go a long way towards helping your player become the best version of themselves. However, it is important to remember that some of the suggested animations may not be the perfect fit for everybody’s style of play.

Therefore, it is recommended that you try some of these animations to figure out what’s best for your build and playstyle. 

Basic requirements needed to become a good dribbler 

To become a great dribbler in NBA 2K23, your player will need to have good ball handling: it is an essential basic requirement for all good dribblers in the game.

Without a sufficient ball handle rating, your player will not be able to Speed Boost, which is a crucial skill that’s paired with the majority of dribble animations to get past defenders. 

In 2K23, besides ball handling, your height plays a big role in ability to dribble well. To be fast and effective with your dribbling you need to find the optimal height that keeps the balance of your build intact. Additionally, your player will not be able to unlock the best dribble move animations – another key component that is required for advanced dribblers. 

Your player will need at least an 80 ball handle rating to become a good dribbler.

Generally speaking, one of the first things that you should do when analyzing your current builds is to see if your player’s ball handle rating has a minimum of 80 when fully upgraded. 

If your current build does not fulfill this basic requirement, it will not be able to excel as a dribbler in the game. Therefore, it might be worth going back to the 2K Lab to make a new build that fits this essential requirement.

Things to consider for a new build

When making a build for dribbling purposes, the best way to set your player up for success is to ensure that you choose a height that allows you to have at least 92 Ball Handling. This will help you meet the requirements for Trae Young, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard dribble animations.

Equally as important, you will have the option to equip important playmaking badges like Quick First Step, Killer Combos, and Handles for Days to the Hall of Fame tier. Compared to builds without playmaking as a primary focus, you will have a huge advantage as they won’t be able to equip all those badges in high tiers.

How to access and equip dribble animations for your player dribble 

To access and modify your player’s dribble animations, you will need to do the following: 

1. Go to MyPLAYER section
2. Select Animations
3. Navigate to Animations Store
4. Select the Dribble Moves that you want to purchase
5. Go back to Gameplay Animations section
6. Equip your player with the purchased Dribble Moves and animations

Types of dribble animations

Simply put, 2K23 offers you a wide array of animations. Essentially, they are organized by groups, with each one being related to the different nuances of dribbling. 

Below is all the animation categories you will be able to purchase and equip: 

1. Dribble Style
2. Moving Crossovers
3. Moving Behind the Backs
4. Moving Spins
5. Moving Hesitations 
6. Signature Size-up
7. Size up Escape Packages
8. Triple Threat Styles

2K23 gives you the opportunity to buy and equip animation styles based on the best dribblers in the NBA, including the likes of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Steph Curry, to name a few. 

Not only does this enhance your gameplay experience, but it also gives your player an advantage over other players with basic and default dribble animations. 

As most already know, there are an infinite number of build possibilities in NBA 2K23. With so many different builds and playstyles, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all style or set of animations that every player should equip.

Instead, it is recommended that you set aside some VC and test which animations fit your playstyle and position the best. 

Popular animations in NBA 2K23

To help you grab the best dribble animations for your build, here is a high-level breakdown of some of the more popular animations you can equip in NBA 2K23:

• Moving Crossovers: Normal, Donovan Mitchell
• Moving Behind the Backs: Stephen Curry, Zach LaVine
• Moving Spin: Basic, Penny Hardaway
• Moving Hesitations: Zach LaVine, Normal
• Size-Up Escape Packages: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young
• Signature Size-Up : De’Aaron Fox, Steve Francis
• Dribble Style: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Pro, Steve Nash
• Triple Threat Styles: Kobe Bryant

With the information above, you’ll be on the fast track to becoming an expert dribbler in NBA 2K23.

How to change dribble moves

Being able to modify your player’s dribble moves is one of the more unique features of NBA 2K23. This gives you the ability to customize your playstyle and perhaps even mimic some of your favorite stars in the game. 

Below is a step-by-by process of how you can change your dribble moves in NBA 2K23.

• First, enter the MyPlayer Appearance tab from your player’s options menu.
• Under MyPlayer Appearance, select My Animations.

• Within My Animations, scroll over to Dribble Moves (category two).

• To change and modify your animations, scroll down and select the dribble move category that you want to change. 

Bear in mind that your player will be given default dribble moves to start the game. So, you will need to save virtual currency to purchase more advanced animations before you can equip them.

As you upgrade your player’s ball-handle rating (to 75 or above), you will be able to unlock and purchase more advanced dribble moves to upgrade your player further. 

How do you stop fast in NBA 2K23?

Being able to stop quickly is another dominant move used by many skilled players in the game. One of the easiest ways to execute this play is by pressing L2/LT with the ball in hand.

Before shooting the ball, quickly press the L2/LT: this will quickly stop your player’s movement, giving them the option to either go up for a shot or pass to a teammate.  

What does boost do in 2K23?

Simply put, “boost” in 2K23 gives your player a competitive edge and provides a temporary lift for your player’s skills and physical attributes. 

Essentially, it makes life easier when competing against others in the community. For skills like shooting, dunks, and ball-handling, skill boosts are available for purchase at the boost stand on Beach Pkwy. 

For other attributes like stamina, speed, and acceleration, you can purchase an upgrade at the fuel station inside the Gatorade Training Facility, or do weekly workouts inside to receive a temporary boost. 

Who has the best dribble style in NBA 2K23?

Steve Nash and LeBron James are the best dribble styles you can equip in the game. However, yours should be based on your player’s build and playstyle in order to get the very best dribble style. We hope this helped you develop your own best 2K dribble moves.

Check out our MyPlayer Training guide.

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