NBA 2K21: Complete Controls Guide - How to Euro Step, Alley-oop, Dunk, Rebound, Shoot, Perform Dribble Moves, Latest News & More


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).

NBA 2K21 shot meter
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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.

Offense Controls 2K21
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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
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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:

NBA 2K21 Off Ball Offense Controls
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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
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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.

Image from iOS 2
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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
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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:

Image from iOS 3
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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READ MORE: NBA 2K21: Is cross platform coming to 2K?

For more articles like this, take a look at our NBA 2K page.