Some may think that proNBA 2K23players go straight for the Dark Matter athletes, but that’s actually not the case. It takes more than one player to win a game and the experts are aware of this. As a result, the wise gamers try to fill up their squad with Pink Diamond players first.
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Even getting a couple of these athletes is big. A Dark Matter or Galaxy Opal player can take advantage of most lesser opponents but Pink Diamond athletes hold their own. There are a variety of Pink Diamond ballers to choose from inNBA 2K23, so pick a good one.
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10Antawn Jamison
Power forwards aren’t often considered when players think of positions with high offensive rankings. But Antawn Jamison breaks the stereotype in a big way, garnering a maxed-out 99 in offensive ability. Post scoring, slashing, and shooting from mid-range or the corner, Jamison is a problem that most other power forwards can’t contend with.
Most power forwards that focus on scoring lose a step on the interior, but Jamison has this covered as well with a Hall of Fame Rebound Chaser and Pogo Stick, two ofthe best defense/rebounding badges. His unpredictability is a favorite for gamers who demand versatility against stacked opponents.
9Jeremy Lin
What made Jeremy Lin a household name was his ability to do anything on offense. When he wasn’t taking the game-winning shots himself, he was throwing down slam dunks and hitting teammates in stride.
Among all of these successes, it should be noted that Lin has the Hall of Fame Floor General badge. This gives all his teammates a boost to their statistics. Every team needs at least one such player with this badge, Lin can be the answer players are looking for.
8Michael Finley
When gamers design their own characters, they often make the mistake of choosing finishing or shooting. Once opponents recognize this, they can adjust the defense to protect against one or the other, effectively taking the player out of the game unless they can do both.
Michael Finley can do both. He’s got some ofthe sweetest dunk animationsand badges to go along with his shooting stroke and badges. When it comes to the latter, he’s got all but one badge ranked at gold or better, so he can make it rain threes when he’s not performing a highlight reel dunk.
7Steve Francis
The ideal point guard strategy for most competitive players is to slash inside, then take it to the hoop when finding an alley or toss the ball outside to an open man if the defense cuts off the path. Steve Francis was built for this kind of tactic.
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His Hall of Fame badges are mostly split between finishing and playmaking. If he takes it inside, his defender will need help to stop the score. If they do get help, Francis can hit the newly-open teammate for an easy assist.
6Richard Jefferson
One of the most powerful weapons at the small forward position is speed. Many small forwards slow down to focus on other attributes. This is a mistake as speedy small forwards can then close the gap, rendering their extra attributes here and there ineffective.
Richard Jefferson has 93 speed to go along with a healthy mix of Hall of Fame shooting and finishing badges. He also has all but five defense/rebounding badges at gold or better, so no small forward build will truly be able to negate Jefferson’s abilities.
5Steve Nash
Steve Nash has some ofthe best shot animationsin the game, including the very best free throw animation. For those who get locked into statistics, motion matters just as much as attributes. A bad motion allows defenders to close the gap and ruins player timing.
More than just shooting sweet, he does have the stats to back it up. With a maximum 99 rating on offense, Nash can shoot the ball himself from range or pass it around with the best of them. He makes the whole offense better when he’s on the floor.
4Brandon Jennings
As is the case with many point guards, Brandon Jennings is all about offense. He doesn’t have a single defensive badge, hoping to compensate with his 95 speed to stay in front of the offense, which works well enough. Even with this flaw, his offense more than makes up for it.
Jennings has top-tier playmaking badges as all but one are gold or better. On top of passing, hiselite shooting badgesmake him a threat to score all on his own. He’ll either find the open man or sink the shot himself.
3Richard Hamilton
Players who have Richard Hamilton on their teams know what they want.The best three-point shooting buildis played at the shooting guard spot and that’s exactly where Hamilton shines best. He’s got a perfect 99 on offense and all 10 of his Hall of Fame badges are in the shooting category.
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He’s not a slouch in other areas. Hamilton has at least four gold badges in every category, so he’ll hold his own regardless of what players ask him to do. But his reason for being in the lineup is to give the squad an elite deep threat.
2Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is listed as a shooting guard first and a point guard second, but these roles should likely be flipped. It may surprise some that the legendary player hasbetter playmaking badgesthan finishing or shooting badges despite his shoot-first reputation.
That’s not to say that Iverson can’t score, this is a welcome addition to his passing prowess. With a 97 speed score and access to elite finishing badges, Iverson can blow by defenders immediately if they get even slightly out of position.
1Gordon Hayward
Part of the challenge when makingthe perfect small forward buildis that small forwards are tasked with doing everything. They can’t simply not be able to finish, play defense, pass, or shoot or else they’ll let the team down. This demands a highly athletic player at the spot.
Gordon Hayward fits the bill perfectly as he has about half of the available badges in the game. Many of these are Hall of Fame shooting badges, enabling him to hit from downtown as well as drive in close against slower opponents.
NBA 2K23is available now for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
