NBA 2K23: Best Animations and Jumpshots

Looking for the best animations and jumpshots in NBA 2K23? Finding the Best Builds is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to conquering the court with your MyPlayer in MyCareer: you'll also want to select and equip the best animations that will give you an advantage over your opponents. There are hundreds of options to choose from, many of which cost VC, so on this page we're going to include some suggestions.

NBA 2K23: Best Animations and Jumpshots

Much like the best Badges, there's no definitive answer to the best animations and jumpshots in NBA 2K23, but we'll share some suggestions as part of our NBA 2K23 guide. It should be noted that the Attributes of your MyPlayer build — including their height, weight, and wingspan — will factor in to which animations you can purchase and equip. We've tried to take as much of this into account as possible in our Best Builds guide, but if you want to equip a specific animation, we'd recommend you pay attention to the requirements before settling on your build, so you can ensure that you'll meet the compatibility requirements.

In order to change your animations and jumpshots, press the Options to button in MyCareer to bring up the menu, then navigate to MyPlayer > Animations. Here you'll be able to select your animations for Scoring Moves, Playmaking Moves, and In-Game Celebrations. You'll also be able to select from a variety of Showoff Animations, and access the Animations Store, where animations can be purchased with VC.

Best Jumpshots

There are thousands of different jumpshots to choose from in NBA 2K23, the vast majority of which don't cost any VC. If you want, you can simply choose the jumpshot of a real-world NBA player you like playing as, and stick with that. However, you'll get the best results if you use the Jumpshot Creator, which lets you mix and match different animations to create a unique and original outcome.

Jumpshots are graded on four different factors, with A+ being the best and F being the worst. It stands to reason you'll want all four attributes ranked as highly as possible:

Release Height

Reflects the height at which you release the ball.

Release Speed

Illustrates the speed at which the ball reaches its ideal release point.

Defensive Immunity

Demonstrates the effectiveness of the shot against defensive contests.

Timing Impact

Rewards good timing but penalises poor timing.

Height Under 6'5"

With these kind of height parameters, this jumpshot will likely be suited to a build in the Point Guard position.

Height Between 6'5" and 6'10"

With these kind of height parameters, this jumpshot will likely be suited to a build in the Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, or Power Forward position.

Height At Least 6'10"

With these kind of height parameters, this jumpshot will likely be suited to a build in the Small Forward, Power Forward, or Center position.

Best Dribbling Animations

With thousands of dribbling animations to pick from, selecting the best for your build can be an overwhelming endeavour. Generally, you're looking for dribble animations that complement each other well and work with your build, but you also want to pay attention to how quickly the animations play out. Slow and turgid animations are not going to help you blast through defenses.

You should also consider equipping some of the Best Badges for Playmaking, including Handles for Days, Hyperdrive, and Quick First Step. Obviously, it's going to depend on your build as to how many Badge Points you have available, but try to equip these Badges on a high level if you possibly can, as they're all going to help you to speed boost. Killer Combos is another Badge you may want to consider if you're looking to become an elite dribbler.

Dribble Style

Signature Size-Up

Size-Up Escape Package

Moving Crossovers

Moving Behind the Backs

Moving Spins

Moving Hesitations

Moving Stepback

Best Dunk Style Animations

Few moves in basketball, and subsequently NBA 2K23, are more satisfying than dunks. Therefore, you'll want to select a good dunk style package for your MyPlayer build. As with other categories, you'll be looking animations that are quick to trigger and difficult to block. While you can select packages inspired by real-world players, we'd recommend you use the Dunk Style Creator to enjoy more flexibility over the animations you select.

We've included some suggestions for each category below, but do obviously keep in mind that your Attributes will determine what you can equip. The one piece of advice we would share is to always go for Elite Contact Dunks if you can afford them, and this is something you should probably have in mind before settling on your build.

Two Foot Moving Dunks

One Foot Moving Dunks

Standing Dunks

Alley-Oops

What do you think are the best jumpshots and animations in NBA 2K23? Drain a dozen greens in the comments section below, and be sure to check out our NBA 2K23 guide for more information.