When playing NBA 2K25, even novice players manage to score as well as Steph Curry, at least when it comes to the three-point shot. This is true regardless of the build, experience, or abilities of the players they are using.
This is a problem within the game that many have noticed, tried to address, and made fun of. Over time, the players have learned to live with this, and they’ve started building their teams, their strategies, and their approach to the game around it.
The Rise of the Three-Point Meta in 2K25
Thanks to the abundance of badges for high-percentage shooting (such as Limitless Range, Catch & Shoot, and Deadeye), almost every player can score a three across the court. Some of this is the game trying to keep up with the stats in the actual NBA games, and yes, NBA players score more three-pointers than ever.
The ability to score so many three-pointers happens throughout all the modes of the game - MyCareer, MyTeam, Park, or Pro-Am. The teams are, therefore, doing all they can to create three-point chances, as they are so easy to take. It has also affected online gambling on NBA 2K25 games.
A Stake review showcases the site as one that offers the greatest variety of bets, and when it comes to over/under bets on NBA 2K25, the only good bet is to expect a lot of three-pointers.
Balance Matters
NBA 2K25 is a game of skill on its face, but among the professional e-sport players, almost everyone has similar skill levels. At that point, the game becomes more about strategy. That’s why a balance of potential ways to achieve a win is so important. Such balance is skewed, and the game is less fair than it should be.
The same goes for building a team within a game. The whole team can’t be based on three-pointers, and different players should cultivate different skills. For instance, players who focus on footwork, finesse, and physicality are somewhat obsolete in 2K25.
What has NBA 2K25 Done to Address the Problem?
To be fair, NBA 2K25 is aware of the problem and has made an effort to address it. This included canceling some of the badges in earlier versions, adding stamina losses for shooters, and making defense contests more formidable. However, these changes aren’t enough, and especially so for experienced players.
The community has also tried to do its part, and it created custom sliders and rosters that encourage a more grounded style of play. However, these options don’t work on online games and the games that go into online ranking.
How to Permanently Fix the Issue
There are ways for NBA 2K25 to fix the issue permanently, but they would require seriously changing the game under the hood. The developers behind NBA 2K25 can do it, but there’s no chatter so far showing that they are working on it.
Adjusting Shot Contest Mechanics
The best way to address the issue is actually to change the mechanics of the three-point shooters. Most players agree that the problem with the three-shooter point is that the defense means very little against those who make it. By increasing the effectiveness of the perimeter defense, the problem can be solved.
Fine-Tuning Badge Scalability
Developers can also make the badges used to increase accuracy more scalable. This doesn’t mean that they will eliminate badges, as they are a part of the game, just to make them fairer. For instance, one of the solutions could be to limit how badges interact with one another.
Stamina-based Penalties
Another way to go is to make changes focusing on the player’s stamina. An additional benefit of this approach is that it adds a layer of realism to the game. The improvement would decrease the player’s accuracy after a few possessions without rest. That would, in effect, constitute stamina.
Rewarding Balanced Play
Some have also suggested that the game should reward the play that provides a balanced approach to strategy. MyTeam or My Park players could get the extra bonuses for scoring in the paint or posting assists. It will take a while for players to adjust, but if there’s a reward for it, they will.
Conclusion
NBA 2K25 has had a three-pointer problem for a while now, and it’s that a three-point shot is too easy to make in the game. This somewhat reflects the state in real NBA games, but it’s partly due to the game mechanics. The players have caught up to it, and they are taking advantage of it. It’s also noticeable when betting on these games, as bets on a lot of three-pointers are a sure thing.
There are many ways the game can deal with this problem and address it directly, but all of them require big changes in the game mechanics.