NBA 2K21 is here, so it's time for players to make sure they fully understand all their options with the many controls.
Here's our complete controls guide for 2K's newest basketball sim.
Latest News - Shooting Hotfix
For some players, no matter which way they shot in NBA 2K21, not enough baskets were going down (and greening was much too difficult).
SLIGHTLY OFF: It's quite hard to nail a shot in NBA 2K21, most often ending in slightly early or slightly late - but this has changed in the shooting hotfix
In response, 2K Games pushed out a shooting hotfix less than a week after NBA 2K21 launched, which eases up the new shot meter on players playing in lower difficulties, and playing anywhere outside of The Neighborhood.
You can read over what all has come in the NBA 2K21 shooting hotfix update here.
Offense Controls
Here is everything you need to know for when you have the ball in hand!
On-Ball Offense
There are two key areas within offence that you will have to master the NBA 2K21 controls.
The first is on-ball. This is used in modes where you are in control of the full team such as MyTEAM or Play Now.
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Pass | X | A |
Bounce Pass | O | B |
Lob Pass | ▲ | Y |
Shoot | ■ or Right Analogue Stick | X or Right Analogue Stick |
Move Player | Left Analogue Stick | Left Analogue Stick |
Pro Stick | Right Analogue Stick | Right Analogue Stick |
On The Fly Coaching | D-Pad | D-Pad |
Call Play | L1 | LB |
Post Up | L2 | LT |
Call Timeout / Coaches Challenge | Touch Pad | Back Button |
Off-Ball Offense
For modes where you control just one player - such as MyCAREER or BlackTop - there is a different set of NBA 2K21 controls for you to learn.
Here are the basics:
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Call For Pass | X | A |
Quick Screen | O | B |
Call For Alley-oop | ▲ | Y |
Tell Teammate To Shoot | ■ | X |
Move Player | Left Analogue Stick | Left Analogue Stick |
Pro Stick | Right Analogue Stick | Right Analogue Stick |
Sprint | R2 | RT |
Call Timeout / Coach's Challenge | Touch Pad | Back Button |
Call for Screen | L1 | LB |
Post Up | L2 | LT |
READ MORE: 5 Reasons to Buy NBA 2K21: New Gameplay Features, MyTEAM, MyCAREER & more
Defense
Like with offense, there are two areas of defense for you to master.
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Player Swap | X | A |
Take Charge | O | B |
Block/Rebound | ▲ | Y |
Steal | ■ | X |
Move Player | Left Analogue Stick | Left Analogue Stick |
Hands Up | Right Analogue Stick | Right Analogue Stick |
Sprint | R2 | RT |
Icon Swap | R1 | RB |
Intentional Foul | Touch Pad | Back Button |
Intense Defense | L2 | LT |
Off-Ball Defense
The off-ball defense controls are very similar to the standard defense controls.
READ MORE: NBA 2K21 Countdown: Download Now! – Features, Price, Editions & more
Here are the main things to know:
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Player Swap | X | A |
Take Charge | O | B |
Block/Rebound | ▲ | Y |
Steal | ■ | X |
Move Player | Left Analogue Stick | Left Analogue Stick |
Onball Steal | Right Analogue Stick | Right Analogue Stick |
Sprint | R2 | RT |
Icon Swap | R1 | RB |
Intentional Foul | Touch Pad | Back Button |
Intense Defense | L2 | LT |
READ MORE: NBA 2K21 Buyer’s Guide: Breaking Down Each Edition
Shooting
We have covered the basics in terms of offense and defense, but now it's time to jump into the more complex NBA 2K21 controls.
We'll start with shooting.
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Jump Shot | Press and hold ■ then release. | Press and hold Y then release |
Free Throw | Press and hold ■ then release. | Press and hold Y then release |
Layup | Move and hold right analogue stick up whilst driving | Move and hold right analogue stick up whilst driving |
Runner / Floater | Move and hold right analogue stick down whilst driving | Move and hold right analogue stick down whilst driving |
Reverse Layup | Move and hold right analogue stick right whilst driving along the baseline. | Move and hold right analogue stick right whilst driving along the baseline. |
Euro Step Layup | Double tap ■ whilst driving whilst holding the left analogue stick towards the off hand | Double tap Y whilst driving whilst holding the left analogue stick towards the off hand |
Cradle Layup | Double tap ■ whilst driving whilst holding the left analogue stick towards the ball hand | Double tap Y whilst driving whilst holding the left analogue stick towards the ball hand |
Two-Hand Dunk | R2 + move and hold right analogue stick up whilst driving in close range. | RT + move and hold right analogue stick up whilst driving in close range. |
Dominant or Off-Hand Dunk | R2 + move and hold right analogue stick up, left or right in close range. | RT + move and hold right analogue stick up, left or right in close range. |
Flashy Dunk | R2 + move and hold right analogue stick down whilst driving in close range, release to finish dunk. | RT + move and hold right analogue stick down whilst driving in close range, release to finish dunk. |
READ MORE: Absolutely everything you need to know about NBA 2K21
Dribbling
You'll spend a lot of time with the ball in hand. Knowing how to dribble effectively with NBA 2K21 controls will help to throw off your opponent.
Here's how.
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Sprint | Hold R2 and move | Hold RT and move |
Signature Size-up | Move and hold right analogue stick up from a standing dribble. | Move and hold right analogue stick up from a standing dribble. |
Signature Park Size-up | Repeatedly tap L2 from a stand dribble. | Repeatedly tap LT from a stand dribble. |
In and Out | Move right analogue stick up right then quickly release whilst dribbling with right hand. | Move right analogue stick up right then quickly release whilst dribbling with right hand. |
Hesitation | Move right analogue stick right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | Move right analogue stick right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand |
Momentum Hesitation | R2 + move right analogue stick right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | RT + move right analogue stick right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand |
Hesitation Escape | Move and hold right analogue stick right when dribbling with right hand | Move and hold right analogue stick right when dribbling with right hand |
Crossover | Move right analogue stick up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand. | Move right analogue stick up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand. |
Momentum Crossover | R2 + move right analogue stick up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand. | R2 + move right analogue stick up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand. |
Crossover Escape | Move and hold right analogue stick up left when dribbling with right hand | Move and hold right analogue stick up left when dribbling with right hand |
READ MORE: NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition
Passing
The final area of the big three NBA 2K21 controls you need to master is passing.
Action | PS4 Controls | Xbox One Controls |
|---|---|---|
Normal Pass | Press X | Press A |
Bounce Pass | Press O | Press B |
Lob Pass | Press ▲ | Press Y |
Skip Pass | Hold X to target a receiver further away | Hold A to target a receiver further away |
Fake Pass | ▲ + O whilst standing or driving to the hoop | B + Y whilst standing or driving to the hoop |
Jump Pass | ■ + X whilst standing or driving to the hoop | A + X whilst standing or driving to the hoop |
Icon Pass | Press R1 then press the action button of the desired receiver | Press RB then press the action button of the desired receiver |
Flashy Pass | Double tap O | Double tap B to pass |
Alley-oop | Double tap ▲ | Double tap Y |
Alley-oop to Self | Double tap ▲ + move left analogue stick to the hoop. | Double tap Y + move left analogue stick to the hoop. |
READ MORE: NBA 2K21: Is cross platform coming to 2K?