In basketball, centers hold down the paint on both ends of the floor. On offense, they finish inside using size, power, and finesse while also crashing the glass for offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities. Defensively, they anchor the team with interior defense, protecting the rim and snagging defensive boards.
In NBA 2K, replicating these traditional big man roles with the right center build is crucial for dominating the virtual hardwood. However, with the vast array of options, finding the optimal combination of position, physicals, attributes, and badges can be daunting.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down how to create the best center builds in NBA 2K23 to lead your team to victory as a commanding force in the post.
The Archetypes – Paint Beast, Glass Cleaner, Stretch Big
When constructing a center build in 2K23, it helps to start with the archetypes that define different big man playstyles. These include:
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Paint Beast – Offensive juggernaut who overpowers defenders using strength and interior scoring. Skilled at finishing through contact. Elite rebounder. Defense and shooting more limited. Best for bully ball style.
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Glass Cleaner – Tenacious rebounder and defender who controls the paint. Excels at box outs, positioning, and timing for boards. Offense more one-dimensional. Ideal anchor for team defense.
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Stretch Big – Big man with perimeter shooting to space the floor. Creates mismatches as slower defenders struggle to close out. Rebounding and post game suffer. Unlocks 4-out offense.
Players like Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, and Brook Lopez epitomize these archetypes in the NBA. When crafting your own big man, choosing an archetype that matches your skills and style is the first step. Well rounded builds can blend strengths of multiple archetypes.
Breaking Down Vital Attributes for a Center
Creating a dominant center in 2K requires investing in the right attributes to excel in your role. Here are key categories and benchmarks to aim for:
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Interior Defense (85+) – Allows you to be an intimidating paint protector against drives with high block and shot contest ratings. Anchor team defense.
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Block (85+) – Maximizes potential for chase down blocks, alley-oop denials, help defense swats. Badges boost this further.
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Rebounding (90+) – Ensures you can clean the glass against smaller box out artists. Win more 50/50 balls.
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Close Shot (75+) – Improves ability to convert difficult attempts near the rim through contact. Better catch and finishes.
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Standing Dunk (75+/85+) – Unlocks more powerful dunk animations to finish over defenders. 75+ is viable, 85+ elite.
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Strength (80+) – Provides resistance against bruising post scorers. Hold position on box outs. Power through bumps.
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Vertical (75+) – Allows you to rise up for boards and blocks. Improves finishing at rim with more dunk packages.
Finding the right blend of these attributes can turn you into a defensive anchor and aggressive finisher modelled after the best centers in the NBA.
Physical Profile – Predicting Potential with Height, Weight, and Wingspan
Choosing your center‘s physical profile has a major influence on attribute potentials and overall playstyle. Here are key considerations:
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Height – Ideal range is 6‘10 to 7‘1. Any shorter and you lose interior presence. Any taller and mobility/speed may suffer.
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Weight – Heavier builds (260lbs+) gain strength for post play but lose athleticism. Lighter (225lbs-) better for speed and vertical at a defensive cost.
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Wingspan – Longer wingspan (7‘6+") enhances finishing, rebounding, and shot blocking ability. But can reduce shooting and ball handling potential.
While outlier physicals like 7‘3 centers can work, the ideal balance seems to be around 6‘11-7‘1, 245-260lbs and a 7‘3-7‘5 wingspan. This allows you to have size and length without sacrificing too much mobility. You can also fine tune weight and wingspan based on your desired playstyle after setting height.
Here‘s a quick reference table of height impact on key attributes:
| Height | Close Shot | Stand Dunk | Reb Off | Reb Def | Block | Interior D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6‘9 | 79 | 84 | 81 | 89 | 81 | 84 |
| 6‘10 | 80 | 86 | 82 | 90 | 82 | 85 |
| 6‘11 | 81 | 88 | 83 | 91 | 83 | 86 |
| 7‘0 | 83 | 89 | 84 | 92 | 85 | 88 |
| 7‘1 | 84 | 90 | 85 | 93 | 86 | 89 |
| 7‘2 | 84 | 90 | 85 | 93 | 86 | 89 |
| 7‘3 | 84 | 90 | 85 | 93 | 86 | 89 |
As you can see, increments of height significantly boost interior scoring, rebounding, and defense – but with diminishing returns past 7‘1. Thus optimizing height for your build depends on the tradeoffs you’re willing to make.
Badges – Unlocking Your Build‘s Full Potential
Badges allow you to take your center build‘s attributes and amplify them in gameplay. The powerful Hall of Fame upgrades should be allocated to complement your strengths:
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Finishing – Backdown Punisher, Rise Up, Fast Twitch
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Shooting – Catch and Shoot, Corner Specialist, Hot Zone Hunter
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Playmaking – Post Playmaker, Break Starter
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Defense – Rebound Chaser, Rim Protector, Intimidator, Brick Wall
Carefully planning badge upgrades over the course of the grind from 60 to 99 overall is crucial to maximize your build. Here‘s a sample progression for a balanced center build:
This loads up key finishing, defensive, and rebounding badges initially. By 95+ overall, you have several key badges on HOF to dominate.
The key is choosing the right badges to complement your attributes and shore up weaknesses. For example, a non-shooting build can invest more in Gold/HOF finishing and defensive Stopper badges to make a bigger impact.
Takeover – Tailoring Build to your Playstyle
The takeover you choose during build creation also influences which badges and attributes evolve over time. For centers, recommended options include:
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Rim Protector – Boosts blocks and interior defense to become a paint enforcer.
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Glass Cleaner – Master the boards with enhanced rebounding on both ends.
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Post Scoring – Abuse defenders via power backdowns and elite post moves.
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Spot Up Shooter – Pick and pop threat with improved perimeter scoring.
Based on your skills and center style, selecting the ideal takeover can give a nice boost. Taking dunks, snagging boards, swatting shots – all become easier with the right takeover perk activated.
Final Thoughts – Build Your Paint Beast
Creating the best center in NBA 2K23 takes skill, planning, and an understanding of how attributes, physicals, badges, and takeovers all intersect. Whether you want a back to the basket bully, athletic rim runner, or versatile two-way threat, implementing the guidance above will help you unlock your build‘s full potential.
Focus on your strengths, minimize any glaring weaknesses, and you will be anchoring the paint and controlling the glass in no time. Dominate the competition down low with surgical precision thanks to the most optimal center build based on YOUR playstyle. Just don‘t be surprised when users start dodging you once your beastly big man has been fully unleashed!
