Badges are one of the most important things in NBA 2K25, as they significantly improve the quality of players in certain areas of their game, such as playmaking, shooting, defense, and dribbling.
Players can use badges to improve their MyPLAYER character, taking it to the next level. Choosing the best badges in the game is crucial for success, especially in the park, where the game is highly competitive.
Badges in NBA 2K25
There are 40 badges in NBA 2K25, and while all of them are useful and help players improve different areas of their game, some are much stronger than others.
Badges excel in different builds since point guards won't upgrade the same skills as centers, or power forwards. So while some badges might be among the best in the game, they won't be suitable for certain positions or builds.
Players evolve their badges by using them in games, so selecting badges that fit one's playstyle is important. Users can also adapt their style of play depending on the badge they want to evolve, but that can sometimes be detrimental.
Best Badges in NBA 2K25
As mentioned above, the best badges vary from position to position and even playstyle. Badges that are incredibly strong for small forwards will be useless for shooting guards and vice versa.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the best badges in NBA 2K25 for each position, and understand what makes them so strong.
Best Center Badges
Best Center Badges in NBA 2K25 |
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Brick Wall - increases the effectiveness of screens and drains energy from opponents on physical contact |
Rebound Chaser - Improves a player's ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal |
Paint Patroller - Increases a player's ability to block or contest shots at the rim. |
Post Lockdown - Strengthens a player's ability to effectively defend moves in the post, with an increased chance at stripping the opponent |
Hook Specialist - Improves a player's ability to make post hooks |
Paint Prodigy - Improves a player's ability to quickly and efficiently score while going to work in the paint. |
The job of a center in NBA 2K25, and most NBA 2K games, is to get rebounds, protect the rim, block shots, set great screens, and be a good post scorer. These badges allow players to excel in all of those areas.
Rebound chase is a must-have for every center, as it will make it easier to track and secure rebounds, creating a lot of second-chance points. Brick wall will make it very hard for defenders to get over screens, and can even knock down some opponents.
Hook specialist is perhaps the best offense badge for centers, as it makes hook shots very effective and incredibly hard to stop. Paint prodigy is also a great offense badge for centers, allowing users to score easily and quickly while under the basket.
Best Point Guard Badges
Best Point Guard Badges in NBA 2K25 |
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Ankle Assassin - Increases the ability to break down the defender or cross them up. |
Dimer - When in the half-court, passes by Dimers to open shooters yield a shot percentage boost |
Handles for Days - A player takes less of an energy hit when performing consecutive dribble moves, allowing them to chain together combos quicker and for longer periods of time |
Lightning Launch - Speeds up launches when attacking from the perimeter. |
Deadeye - Jump shots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest |
Mini Marksman - Elevates the likelihood of making shots over taller defenders. |
Limitless Range - Extends the range from which a player can shoot three-pointers effectively from deep |
Glove - Increases the ability to successfully steal from ball-handlers, or strip layup attempts |
Point Guards are field generals who need to be able to create their shot, but also generate offense for their teammates. That's why most of the badges in this list are playmaking badges.
Ankle assassin and handles for days are a must-have for every point guard build, as they help players create separation from defenders by stringing together dribble moves.
Mini marksman is the best shooting badge for smaller guards, as it significantly boosts the chances of making shots over taller defenders, such as centers. Deadeye is another great shooting badge, as it makes it easier to score while a defender is closing out, which is useful in the pack and MyCAREER.
Best Shooting Guard Badges
Best Point Guard Badges in NBA 2K25 |
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Ankle Assassin - Increases the ability to break down the defender or cross them up. |
Handles for Days - A player takes less of an energy hit when performing consecutive dribble moves, allowing them to chain together combos quicker and for longer periods of time |
Lightning Launch - Speeds up launches when attacking from the perimeter. |
Deadeye - Jump shots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest |
Mini Marksman - Elevates the likelihood of making shots over taller defenders. |
Limitless Range - Extends the range from which a player can shoot three-pointers effectively from deep |
Set Shot Specialist - Boosts chances of knocking down stand-still jump shots |
Shifty Shooter - Improves a player's ability to successfully make off-the-dribble, high-difficulty jump shots |
Layup Mixmaster - improves a player's ability to finish fancy or acrobatic layups successfully. |
While point guards run the offense, shooting guards are focused on getting the ball in the basket. They need to be able to do that in a plethora of ways, finishing at the basket, scoring from deep, or punishing opponents with the mid-range.
Mini marksman and deadeye are also very important badges for shooting guards, for the same reasons as the ones mentioned further above. Set shot specialist can be very useful for shooting guards who like to play in the corner, while layup mixmaster makes it easier to finish at the rim.
Best Small Forward Badges
Best Small Forward Badges in NBA 2K25 |
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Deadeye - Jump shots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest |
Shifty Shooter - Improves a player's ability to successfully make off-the-dribble, high-difficulty jump shots |
Layup Mixmaster - improves a player's ability to finish fancy or acrobatic layups successfully. |
Physical Finisher - Improves a player's ability to battle through contact and convert contact layups. |
On-Ball Menace - Hounds and bodies up while defending on the perimeter. |
Challenger - Improves the effectiveness of well-timed contests against perimeter shooters |
Break Starter - After grabbing a defensive board, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate. Passes must be made quickly following the defensive rebound |
Dimer - When in the half-court, passes by Dimers to open shooters yield a shot percentage boost |
Small forwards need to impact both sides of the court, which means they need both great offense and defensive badges.
On-ball menace makes defending guards on the perimeter much easier, especially fast guards who possess handles for days and can string together dribble moves. Challenger makes it harder for opponents to score from the perimeter.
On offense, physical finisher and layup finisher are crucial to have, at least for players who want a build capable of finishing at the rim. For users who prefer the mid-range or the three-point shot then limitless range and set shot specialist are better options.
Best Power Forward Badges
Best Small Forward Badges in NBA 2K25 |
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Deadeye - Jump shots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest |
Shifty Shooter - Improves a player's ability to successfully make off-the-dribble, high-difficulty jump shots |
Layup Mixmaster - improves a player's ability to finish fancy or acrobatic layups successfully. |
Physical Finisher - Improves a player's ability to battle through contact and convert contact layups. |
On-Ball Menace - Hounds and bodies up while defending on the perimeter. |
Challenger - Improves the effectiveness of well-timed contests against perimeter shooters |
Break Starter - After grabbing a defensive board, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate. Passes must be made quickly following the defensive rebound |
Dimer - When in the half-court, passes by Dimers to open shooters yield a shot percentage boost |
Immovable Enforcer - Improves a defensive player's strength when defending ball handlers and finishers |
High Flying Denier - Boosts the speed and leaping ability of a defensive player in anticipation of a block attempt. |
Similar to a small forward, a power forward needs to make its presence felt on both sides of the floor.
The immovable enforcer and on-ball menace badges will make a player a solid defender both on the perimeter and in the paint.
When it comes to offense badges, physical finisher, layup finisher, and post fade phenom are the best ones to have for inside scoring. Limitless range, set shot specialist, and shifty shooter are great badges for players who will rely more on their mid-range and three-point shots.
These are the best badges in NBA 2K25 for each position. Players should make sure the badges they get when creating their build are compatible with their playstyle.