The best NBA players of the 80s and 90s were arguable playing at the shooting guard (SG) position. From Clyde Drexler to Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, they set the pace all the way into the Aughts (2000s). 6’6″ used to be the benchmark for shooting guards, but nowadays, taller players have started to slide down while some point guards move up closer to the wing.
It’s going to be a long grind as a shooting guard in NBA 2K23 as you’re going to need a lot of badges to become legendary in-game. Read below for the best badges for SG per the four main categories: Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, and Rebounding and Defense.
What are the best Finishing badges for a shooting guard in NBA 2K23?
Finishing badges will greatly increase your success of hitting layups, dunks, and close shots. If you’re struggling with your shot timing, then driving to the bucket will become imperative for your player to score points. In NBA 2K, Finishing is the blue category.
Fearless Finisher
Badge Requirements: Driving Layup – 67 (Bronze), 77 (Silver), 87 (Gold), 96 (Hall of Fame) OR
Close Shot – 65 (Bronze), 75 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 93 (Hall of Fame)
It’s almost non-negotiable that if you want to score points in NBA 2K, you’ll need to start with the Fearless Finisher badge. You’ll need this one more than ever, especially as you’re going to be in competition with the likes of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Fearless finisher strengthens your ability to absorb contact while finishing at the bucket. It also reduces energy lost from contact layups. This will not only increase your chances of scoring even against the best interior defenders, but also ensures your stamina doesn’t deplete as quickly as you search for and one opportunities. It is easy to see why this will be regarded as one of the best badges for SG especially as regards finishing.
Acrobat
Badge Requirements: Driving Layup – 69 (Bronze), 79 (Silver), 89 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame) OR
Driving Dunk 70 (Bronze), 84 (Silver), 92 (Gold), 98 (Hall of Fame)
The Acrobat badge will help you be a bit shifty as it allows you to hit difficult layups where normal players won’t convert. It’s a good option to mix things up when you can’t shoot.
Specifically, this badge grants a boost to layups from the spin, hop step, euro-step, cradle, reverse, and change shot. It also increases your ability to beat defenders with gathers. Specifically, the euro-step can be deadly in 2K. So, mastering that and upgrading Acrobat can be an easy way to score two possession after possession.
Pro Touch
Badge Requirements: Close Shot – 49 (Bronze), 55 (Silver), 69 (Gold), 80 (Hall of Fame) OR
Driving Layup 45 (Bronze), 55 (Silver), 67 (Gold), 78 (Hall of Fame)
The Pro Touch badge is the partner of the Acrobat badge if you’re a two. It allows you to convert when your layup is poorly timed due to being a beginner or your shot being contested.
Pro Touch gives a boost for slightly early, slightly late, or excellent timing on layups. However, layup timing must be on for this badge to take effect.
Limitless Takeoff
Badge Requirements: Driving Dunk – 65 (Bronze), 79 (Silver), 86 (Gold), 96 (Hall of Fame)
It pays to have a lengthy takeoff, especially if you’re a shooting guard. It’s the secret to Zach LaVine’s acrobatics as it helps set your footing from afar when attempting layups or dunks. Specifically, this badge will help you start your dunk attempt farther from the basket than most players.
Posterizer
Badge Requirements: Driving Dunk – 72 (Bronze), 85 (Silver), 93 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)
Should you have the Limitless Takeoff badge, the Posterizer will be your tag team partner on your way to the rim. It’s what’s going to break defenses as it allows your player to dunk over them.
Posterizer increases your chance of dunking on an opponent. This means you’ll have a higher likelihood to dunk through contact and sometimes, over the defender.
Slithery
Badge Requirements: Driving Layup – 69 (Bronze), 79 (Silver), 89 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame) OR
Driving Dunk – 70 (Bronze), (84 Silver), 92 (Gold), 98 (Hall of Fame)
If you’re more into drives to the basket, you’ll need to be smooth with your movement as you avoid traffic when finishing. That’s what the Slithery badge does for a shooting guard.
This badge increases your ability to slip through traffic, protect the ball, and avoid contact during gathers and finishes. Particularly if you’re a smaller guard, this badge will prove crucial to your success at the rim.
What are the best Shooting badges for a shooting guard in NBA 2K23?
Shooting badges, as the name suggests, increase your ability to both shoot and hit jumpers. Some badges will increase your success of shooting off-dribble while others will reward you for taking set jump shots. There are more, such as decreasing the likelihood of a bad shot with defenders closing on you. Shooting is the green category.
Agent 3
Badge Requirements: Three-Point Shot 68 (Bronze), 83 (Silver), 89 (Gold), 96 (Hall of Fame)
The Agent 3 badge, one of the est badges for SG allows you to hit difficult three-point shots off the dribble. It’s what you need if you want to shoot three-pointers as smooth as Paul George.
Specifically, pull-up or spin shot threes receive an increase of being made with Agent 3. If your player is a supreme ball handler, then this badge will prove useful as you rain down points from beyond the arc.
Deadeye
Badge Requirements: Three-Point Shot – 71 (Bronze), 82 (Silver), 89 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)
The Deadeye badge is like the Fearless Finisher badge, but for shooting. It reduces shot penalties when defenders are closing in on you. You’ll need it when it counts and you need to take more outside shots.
As a Tier 3 badge, you need ten badge points between Tiers 1 and 2 in Shooting to unlock Deadeye.
Amped
Badge Requirements: Mid-Range Shot – 59 (Bronze), 70 (Silver), 78 (Gold), 85 (Hall of Fame) OR
Three Point Shot – 70 (Bronze), 75 (Silver), 82 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame)
The Amped badge is pretty self-explanatory. Ratings drop as you fatigue and this badge lessens those instances. Specifically, Amped reduces the penalty from fatigue on shots. Sustainable rhythm is what this badge provides.
Guard Up
Badge Requirements: Mid-Range Shot – 55 (Bronze), 69 (Silver), 77 (Gold), 86 (Hall of Fame) OR
Three-Point Shot – 60 (Bronze), 73 (Silver), 83 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame)
The Guard Up badge is what you need once you shake off defenders. It increases a player’s ability to make jump shots when defenders fail to properly contest. It’s an effective tool against a Pick Dodger.
Catch & Shoot
Badge Requirements: Three-Point Shot 60 (Bronze), 72 (Silver), 81 (Gold), 93 (Hall of Fame)
The Catch & Shoot badge, a major contender in the best badges for SG, is another self-explanatory badge that will come in handy when you find an open spot. It will also justify the use of the Deadeye badge.
Catch & Shoot provides a significant boost to three-point shot for a short time after receiving a pass. This can be ideal if you like coming off of screens and calling for a pass beyond the arc.
Catch & Shoot is a Tier 3 badge.
Green Machine
Badge Requirements: Mid-Range Shot – 60 (Bronze), 71 (Silver), 80 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame) OR
Three-Point Shot – 60 (Bronze), 73 (Silver), 82 (Gold), 91 (Hall of Fame)
Like the Amped badge, the Green Machine helps with sustainability. It allows for better shooting once you start a rhythm of perfectly-timed shots from mid-range and three. You have to hit consecutive excellent releases (green) for the boost to apply.
Volume Shooter
Badge Requirements: Mid-Range Shot – 55 (Bronze), 69 (Silver), 77 (Gold), 86 (Hall of Fame) OR
Three-Point Shot – 60 (Bronze), 73 (Silver), 83 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame)
Since sustainability is key when you’re a shooting guard, it’s best to have the Volume Shooter badge with you as well. It boosts all shot attributes as the number of shot attempts increase throughout the game, regardless of make or miss.
With this badge, you don’t have to worry if you start the game on a cold streak. Eventually, you’ll start hitting shots the more you shoot. Shooters shoot, right?
Clutch Shooter
Badge Requirements: Mid-Range Shot – 49 (Bronze), 59 (Silver), 69 (Gold), 79 (Hall of Fame) OR
Three-Point Shot – 49 (Bronze), 59 (Silver), 69 (Gold), 79 (Hall of Fame)
You’ll need to deliver when it counts. The Clutch Shooter badge boosts your shooting abilities during the closing moments of the game. In 2K, clutch time is considered the “closing moments” of the fourth quarter and all of any overtime periods.
What are the best playmaking badges for a SG in NBA 2K23?
Playmaking concerns your ability to handle the ball and make accurate passes. The latter may not be as vital to you if you’re a scoring two, but the former is important as shooting guards handle the ball a lot and some, like Harden, pair skilled ball handling to create space or drive to the bucket. Playmaking is the orange category.
Handles For Days
Badge Requirements: Ball Handle – 70 (Bronze), 85 (Silver), 94 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)
One thing a scoring two needs is the Handles for Days badge in isolation plays. It lessens fatigue caused by excessive dribbling of the ball. This will allow you to better chain moves together, increasing the chances of ankle breaking an opponent. Just don’t hold it too long and suffer a teammate grade deduction.
Ankle Breaker
Badge Requirements: Ball Handle – 55 (Bronze), 65 (Silver), 71 (Gold), 81 (Hall of Fame)
Speaking of ankle breaking, the Ankle Breaker badge helps lessen excessive dribbling as it improves the likelihood of freezing or dropping a defender during dribble moves. That said, you can beat the defender off of the dribble and easily make a layup or dunk attempt with this badge. When paired with Handles for Days, another contender as one of the best badges for SG, you may find yourself faking out opponents multiple times a game.
Quick First Step
Badge Requirements: Post Control – 80 (Bronze), 87 Silver, 94 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame) OR
Ball Handle – 70 (Bronze), 77 (Silver), 85 (Gold), 89 (Hall of Fame) OR
Speed with Ball – 66 (Bronze), 76 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 88 (Hall of Fame)
The Quick First Step badge cuts through the Handles for Days and Ankle Breaker badge. It simply helps you beat your defender off of the first step of your dribble. It provides more explosion in triple threat situations.
Specifically, you’ll have access to quicker and more effective launches from the tripe threat or a size-up.
Hyperdrive
Badge Requirements: Ball Handle – 59 (Bronze), 69 (Silver), 83 (Gold), 92 (Hall of Fame) OR
Speed with Ball – 55 (Bronze), 67 (Silver), 80 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame)
Hyperdrive increases a player’s dribbling speed while on the move. It’s best to have this equipped to help with more successful drives to the basket. This badge should also help you on the fast break.
Unpluckable
Badge Requirements: Post Control – 65 (Bronze), 75 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 95 (Hall of Fame) OR
Ball Handle – 65 (Bronze), 75 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 95 (Hall of Fame)
The Unpluckable badge is what you need in the age of easy steals on a turbo move. It reduces the chances of being stripped by the defender, especially that help defense when you attempt a Hyperdrive.
Specifically, Unpluckable makes it more difficult for the ball to be poked loose. It’s also a Tier 3 badge.
What are the best Defense and Rebounding badges for a SG in NBA 2K23?
Defense and Rebounding occupy one category together. As a shooting guard, rebounding might not be a priority, but it’s imperative to have, at worst, average perimeter defense. Since many of the best players in the NBA will play the two regardless of their “traditional” position on top of the already loaded two position, your best bet to staying on the court early may be to lock down on defense. Defense and Rebounding are the red category.
Ankle Braces
Badge Requirements: Perimeter Defense – 55 (Bronze), 67 (Silver), 76 (Gold), 86 (Hall of Fame)
The Ankle Braces badge is the first step towards being a lockdown defender. It lowers the likelihood of your ankles being ankle broken by a better ballhandler. With many twos and secondary twos possessing great ball handling skills, this badge will help keep you on your feet and hopefully, in front of the ball handler.
Challenger
Badge Requirements: Perimeter Defense – 69 (Bronze), 79 (Silver), 86 (Gold), 95 (Hall of Fame)
Being a shooting guard makes defending a shooter inevitable. You can increase your success rate with the Challenger badge as it improves the effectiveness of well-timed perimeter shot contests.
Pick Dodger
Badge Requirements: Perimeter Defense – 64 (Bronze), 76 (Silver), 85 (Gold), 94 (Hall of Fame)
The Pick Dodger badge is arguably the most important defensive badge across all positions. Even the best defenders are only one screen away from disaster, so this badge will improve your ability to navigate through and around screens effectively on defense. At Hall of Fame level, you can blow up screens in the park or playing the blacktop.
Clamps
Badge Requirements: Perimeter Defense – 70 (Bronze), 86 (Silver), 92 (Gold), 97 (Hall of Fame)
The Clamps badge complements the Pick Dodger badge as it allows you to stay in front of your defender at all costs until an opposing screen comes to save them. This badge, one of the best badges for SG, works best when your opponent calls for an isolation play.
Clamps gives you quicker cut off moves and more success when hip riding or bumping a ball handler. If you want to be a pest, then Clamps is a must.
Menace
Badge Requirements: Perimeter Defense – 55 (Bronze), 68 (Silver), 77 (Gold), 87 (Hall of Fame)
Speaking of staying in front of your man on defense, the Menace badge helps with harassing your matchup while on defense. It drops the attributes of the ball handler if you stay in front of them playing good defense. Any chance at dropping the attributes of your opponents should be taken.
What to expect when using the best badges for a SG in NBA 2K23
Being a good shooting guard in NBA 2K23 will be difficult, especially as you may find yourself a tweener in the early stages of MyCareer. However, the grind eases once you start leveling your badges. It’s best to start with the Finishing badges first as you work to master perfect timing when shooting. If your shooting is already down, then focus on those first.
Now that you know the best badges for SG to prioritize, it’s now time to start your legendary rise to stardom in NBA 2K23.
For more info on badges, here is our list of the best badges for a 2-way playshot.
