NBA 2K24: Best Shots (2024)

Gamers who play as a shooter in NBA 2K24 may find that the game is just plain too difficult for them at first. The shot meter is almost impossible to nail and every attempt feels stifled and doomed. After pouring Virtual Currency and attribute points at the problem, this issue persists.

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The reason for this is that shooting is all about animations as much as it is statistics or player talent. NBA 2K24 gives grades on shots and when players use the default, it feels like an F on everything. Select the best shooting animations and suddenly scoring 50+ points in every game becomes a likelihood instead of an impossibility.

Best Shots

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (1)

Although grades are not listed for shots outside of jump shots, it's important to keep in release height, release speed, defensive immunity, and timing stability for every shot animation. Defensive immunity and release speed are the most important, but timing stability will make it easier to hit greens so it can't be ignored entirely.

Release height matters only in terms of getting blocked. For interior shooters, this can be a big deal but perimeter shooters will have to work hard to get their shots blocked. The metric can be a good tiebreaker but most won't notice the difference between an F or an A+ in release height unless they frequently take ill-advised shots. Even if the ball is blocked, this kind of bad decision-making won't result in many baskets anyhow.

Jump Shots

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (2)

Best Overall

Custom Jumper

Requirement(s): Varies

Best Under 6'5"

Stephen Curry

Requirement(s): Under 6'5", Mid-Range or Three-Point Shot 92+

Best Under 6'10"

Kobe Bryant

Requirement(s): Between 6'5" and 6'10", Mid-Range or Three-Point Shot 92+

Best Big Man

LaMarcus Aldridge

Requirement(s): At Least 6'10", Mid-Range or Three-Point Shot 86+

Nothing will ever compare to crafting the best custom jump shot. Especially for shooters who aren't pure from the field, a custom shot will help players find a stroke that is quick and accurate. For those who do make pure shooters, the difference between the ideal custom jumper and one of these defaults can be 10+ points per game. Make one early and get lots of practice with it.

Free Throws

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (3)

Best With Meter

Steve Nash

Requirement(s): None

Best Without Meter

Ray Allen

Requirement(s): None

Unlike most other shots, players should want the free throw to be as slow as possible with a good amount of time spent at the peak of the animation with the ball for an easy green. Some players with great free throw attributes may want to turn the meter off or allow the default AI to shoot based on statistics in which case Ray Allen is a good choice. For the rest, Steve Nash holds the ball for so long at the top of his throw that it's hard to recommend anything else. The best point guards in the game tend to be the best free throw shooters so don't be surprised to see their animations reflect this.

Layup Styles

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (4)

Best Overall

Kobe Bryant

Requirement(s): Under 6'10", Driving Layup 88+

Best Under 6'5"

Damian Lillard

Requirement(s): Under 6'5", Driving Layup 86+

Best Under 6'10"

Kobe Bryant

Requirement(s): Under 6'10", Driving Layup 88+

Best Big Man

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Requirement(s): At Least 6'10", Mid-Range or Three-Point Shot 86+

Layup styles need to focus on speed and a high point of release. Nothing in basketball gets blocked and disrupted so much as the layup, so this needs to be a careful decision for slashers.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best power forwards and it's no surprise to see he has a fast, strong, and tall layup.

Dribble Pull-Ups

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (5)

Best Overall

Jason Williams

Requirement(s): Under 6'5"

Best Under 6'5"

Jason Williams

Requirement(s): Under 6'5"

Best Under 6'10"

Klay Thompson

Requirement(s): Between 6'5" and 6'10"

Best Big Man

Dirk Nowitzki

Requirement(s): At Least 6'10"

It's all about speed for dribble pull-ups since this shot is used to execute on a brief open window or after a screen. In that short moment, the player needs to turn and fire off an accurate shot. Klay Thompson is one of the best shooting guards and trying to stop him off of the dribble is nearly impossible off of a screen.

Spin Jumpers

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (6)

Best Overall

De'Aaron Fox

Requirement(s): Under 6'5"

Best Under 6'5"

De'Aaron Fox

Requirement(s): Under 6'5"

Best Under 6'10"

Pro

Requirement(s): Under 6'10"

Best Big Man

Dirk Nowitzki

Requirement(s): At Least 6'10"

The best spin jumpers are deceptive, quick, and, most importantly, feature a nice separation move for the defender. This quick change in trajectory is solid even against tight defenses if the animation is executed quickly and efficiently.

Hop Jumpers

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (7)

Best Overall

Jimmy Butler

Requirement(s): Between 6'5" and 6'10"

Best Under 6'5"

Trey Burke

Requirement(s): Under 6'5"

Best Under 6'10"

Jimmy Butler

Requirement(s): Between 6'5" and 6'10"

Best Big Man

Zion Williamson

Requirement(s): At Least 6'5"

The way players will see the hop step used most effectively is to make a move into mid-range before hopping just back over the three-point line and taking a shot. If the defender bites on the move, this can result in an open three-point attempt.

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As one of the best small forwards, Jimmy Butler's long step is tough to beat. His initial dash forward is so convincing that both human and AI opponents will naturally be back on their heels and mistakenly give him the shot he's going for.

Post Fades

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (8)

Best Overall

Karl Malone

Requirement(s): None

Quickest

Trey Burke

Requirement(s): None

Hardest To Block

Luka Doncic

Requirement(s): None

Post fades are considered the most impossible shot to stop in the NBA but they involve a high degree of difficulty for the shooter who must shoot while momentum goes away from the basket. Karl Malone has several animations that fake left and right which can easily get opponents off of their feet to block, leading to both free throws and open shots.

Post Hooks

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (9)

Best Overall

Joel Embiid

Requirement(s): None

Quickest

Nikola Jokic

Requirement(s): None

Hardest To Block

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Requirement(s): None

The post hook is an extremely accurate shot when executed correctly as the release point will often be close to the rim. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a notable exception as he famously releases on the opposite side of his body, making his hook impossible to block without fouling.

Post Hop Shots

NBA 2K24: Best Shots (10)

Best Overall

Pro

Requirement(s): None

Quickest

Austin Rivers

Requirement(s): None

Hardest To Block

Dirk Nowitzki

Requirement(s): None

Unlike the classic hop shots, post hop shots won't be performed near the three-point line so the big stepback is not as important. It is still critical to pull this move off quickly and to minimize the time the defender has to respond. The best centers can finish in close from the post or from range with a post hop shot.

NBA 2K24 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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NBA 2K24: Best Shots (2024)

FAQs

What is the best height in 2k24? ›

The 6'6 Build Height is the best build height in NBA 2k24 for ball handlers in most situations. Generally as a ball handler, unless your job on defense is strictly to guard a corner while your teammates hide you because you are that good as a scoring PG, you should be 6'6.

Is release height important in 2K24? ›

This can be impacted by both your base and upper releases. A higher release height can help with reducing contest %. The Release Speed of a jump shot is another important factor when it comes to jumpshot success.

Is timing stability important in 2K24? ›

You'll also have a much better time shooting when you've burnt through most of your stamina. That covers it for the Timing Stability stat in NBA 2K24. I'd really encourage you to customize your own jump shot and make sure you've got a solid Timing Stability stat. It really goes a long way for making shots!

What is the fastest shot timing visual cue 2k24? ›

From fastest to slowest the cues go: Jump. Set Point. Push.

What is the best dribble style in 2K24? ›

We recommend players use the Kobe Bryant or Kyrie Irving dribble styles if they can unlock them. Magic Johnson and Zach Lavine dribble styles also have make sense on certain builds, the tier list video explains why. Kyrie Irving's dribble style is the best all around dribble style in NBA 2K24.

What is the best position in NBA 2K24? ›

Point Guards are best at this, and you really won't be able to go wrong. They will have good maneuverability on the court, good shooting and even good defense, provided you build for that. That's it for the best position to choose as a new player in NBA 2K24.

When to release Jumpshot 2k24? ›

Set Point -Times up with just as your player reaches the peak of their jump. Push – Times up with a couple frames after you start moving the ball towards the rim for your actual release. Release – Times up with somewhere between when you leave the floor to shoot and reach the apex of your jump/set point.

What is defensive immunity in 2k24 jumpshot? ›

Defensive Immunity at A- means defenders won't put us off our shot as much. Timing Stability means the speed and timing of our shot will stay relatively the same even when tired or under pressure from another player.

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