Top 18 Best NBA 2K23 Players

You will need BEST Builds and players in NBA 2K23 to be highly competitive in NBA 2K23. Different things set a player apart from the rest, so you need to set benchmarks. Having Shooting Badges and the ability to do Dribble Moves are the things that truly make these players the Best. The game has introduced a lot of new variety. Therefore, the players cannot be classified based solely on their stats. There are the best dunkers, three-point shooters, rookies, and overall great players.

Our YouTube Video Guide on Best NBA 2k23 Players:

BEST Dunkers 

In NBA 2K23, the dunk packages have varied a lot. They are suited to forwards, guards, and centers. The dunking ability mainly depends on a player’s height, position, wingspan, and weight. Not only will a successful dunk give you more points, but it will also make your opponent overestimate you.

Here’s a quick look at the comparison between the Best Dunkers:

5. Anthony Edwards

The young twenty-one years old player is a United States International currently playing for Minnesota Timberwolves. He is 6’4” with an archetype of a Slasher. In the 2020 NBA Draft, he was the first overall pick. He has a total of seventeen badges which ranks him at thirty-two out of 840 NBA players.

4. Zion Williamson

He is another United States National with only twenty-two years of age and is playing for Orleans Pelicans. He is 6’6” with three years of experience in the NBA. In the 2019 NBA Draft, he was the first overall pick. With Slashing Playmaker Build, he has an overall rating of 87, currently ranking 25 out of 840 NBA players.

3. Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine is a Chicago Bulls player with United States Nationality. The 6’5” has eight years of experience in the NBA, before which he was at UCLA. This experience is the reason that he ranks at twenty-three with a total of twenty-two badges. With a Versatile Offensive Force Build, he has an Overall Rating of 88.

2. Ja Morant

The United States National, with a height of 6’3”, is currently part of the Memphis Grizzlies Team. With only three years of experience in the NBA, he is already ranked tenth out of eight-forty NBA players. He has a two-way Playshot Build and holds thirty badges, among which two are Hall of Fame level.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

He is a Greece national playing for Milwaukee Bucks. With nine years of experience in the NBA, he is an extraordinary 2-Way Slashing Playmaker. He holds a total of forty-one badges, and they include two Hall of Fame level badges as well.

BEST 3-Point Shooters

The 3-Point Shoot is simple to understand. If a player scores a shot from anywhere outside of the three-point arc, then it is a 3-Pointer. The shot results in three points, as the name suggests. Trying 3-Point Shooters is excellent when the opponents are more aggressive, and you want to focus more on defending. The following are the best 3-Point Shooters in NBA 2K23:

1. Stephen Curry

He is an American International, currently thirty-four years old, and playing for Golden State Warriors. With 6’2” height, he has an archetype of a Versatile Offensive Force Build. He has thirteen years of experience in the NBA, before which he was in Davidson. Due to a total of thirty-six badges, he currently ranks fifth among NBA players with a 96 Overall Rating.

2. Kevin Durant

The thirty-three years old American professional is currently playing for Brooklyn Nets. The 6’10” player has an archetype of an All-Around Threat Build and ranks third out of 840 NBA Players. With fifteen years in the NBA, he has a total of thirty badges along with a 96 Overall Rating.

3. Luka Doncic

The young twenty-three years old Slovenia International is currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks team. He is 6’7” tall with the archetype of a Versatile Offensive Force build. Luka Doncic has four years of experience in the NBA, before which he was a part of Slovenia. Within four years, he has climbed the ranking ladder to seventh, having thirty-nine badges and a 95 Overall Rating.

4. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is a United States International, currently playing for Golden State Warriors. The thirty-two years old player has eleven years of experience in t   NBA before which he was a part of Washington State. His archetype is a two-way Sharpshooter build, and his rank is fifty-seven with a total of twenty-one badges.

5. Desmond Bane

The twenty-seven years old player is currently part of the Memphis Grizzlies Team. The 6’5” has two years of experience in the NBA, before which he was in Texas Christian. With a total of eleven badges and an 83 Overall Rating, his rank is 63 out of 840 NBA Players. Moreover, his archetype is of Sharpshooter build.

BEST Rookies 

The Rookies in NBA 2K23 are always fun to play with. Since they have no previous history, it makes the game more interesting. Another exciting thing about these players is that they are young, and some carry colossal potential. In NBA 2K23, the following are the best rookies:

1. Paolo Banchero

Paolo is an American and Italian International player who plays for the Orlando Magic Team. The 6’10” player is only nineteen years old and has a ranking of 137 out of 840 players in the NBA. He only has three badges for now, but they are good too. His archetype is Slashing Playmaker Build. His Overall Rating is 78 with 85 Driving Dunk.

2. Jabari Smith Jr.

The American International plays for the Houston Rockets team. He is nineteen years old with 6’10” in height, having the archetype of Three Level Scorer Build. With a 78 Overall Rating, he has 81 Three Point Shot and 85 Driving Dunk. In the ranking table, he is at 136, with zero badges.

3. Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder player is an American International who plays at the Power Forward or Center Position. The twenty years old player has a height of 7’0”, which makes his archetype Defensive Armor Build. He possesses two badges with a 77 Overall Rating. His Three Point Shot is 75, and so is his Driving Dunk.

4. Keegan Murray

Keegan Murray is an American International playing for the Sacramento Kings team. The twenty-two years old is 6’8” in height with an archetype of Three Level Scorer Build. His current Overall Rating is 76 with 77 Three Point Shot and 80 Driving Dunks.

5. Jaden Ivey

Jaden Ivey is a United States National and a part of the Detroit Pistons Team. He is only twenty years old and 6’4” in height. His archetype is Two Way Slashing Combo Guard. Although his overall rating is 76, his Driving Dunk is 85 with 75 Three Point Shot.

NBA 2K23 BEST Overall Players

So far, we have mentioned the best players in a specific domain. However, there is always a more comprehensive and complete picture. That is where the overall best players fit in. Therefore, these players have the most badges and the best overall rating and are exceptional in many things.

Here’s a summarized comparison between the Top 5 players of NBA 2K23:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

We mentioned Giannis in detail earlier; please refer to that.

2. LeBron James

It is hard to find anyone who has not heard the name, LeBron James. The American International is a part of the Los Angeles Lakers Team and ranks second on the NBA Players list. With nineteen years of experience in the NBA, he has earned forty-five badges, among which two belong to the Hall of Fame.

3. Kevin Durant

The player of the Brooklyn Nets team and an American International has an archetype of All Around Threat Build with 6’10” height. With fifteen years of experience in the NBA, Kevin has earned thirty badges, among which three belong to the Hall of Fame. In the NBA’s ranking list, he comes third compared to other 839 players.

4. Joel Embiid

The Cameroon International is a part of the Philadelphia 76ers team. With 7’0”, he has an archetype of 2 Way 3 Level Scorer. With eight years of experience and twenty-eight badges in total, Joel has an overall rating of 96. His Overall Attributes include 88 Outside Scoring, 92 Inside Scoring, 76 Defending, 80 Athleticism, 61 Playmaking, and 82 Rebounding. What sets him apart is the 98 rating for Shot IQ, Offensive Consistency, and Hands.

5. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry has been mentioned earlier due to his insane 99 Three-Point Shooter ability; please refer to that.

Final Words

All in all, these are the best NBA 2K23 players that you will find in the game. If you want to keep players for a longer term at a cheaper cost, then go for the rookies, as they have higher potential growth. However, in the short term, it is always a pleasure to play with the best of the best players.