Do you have to play 40 games to get gym rat 2K23?
As an expert NBA 2K player and content creator with years of experience grinding badges and rating up MyPlayers, I‘m often asked if the old requirement of playing 40+ games in a season is still necessary for getting the coveted Gym Rat badge, which grants permanent boosts to physical attributes.
The Short Answer
No, you do NOT need to play 40 games to unlock Gym Rat in NBA 2K23. There are new and faster methods of getting this incredibly valuable badge in the latest game:
| Method | Requirement | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| Complete "Addicted to Sweat" quest | 50 3-star workouts | 5-10 hours |
| Win NBA Championship | 50+ games played | 30+ hours |
| Next-Gen Workouts (PS5/XSX) | 25 3-star workouts over 5+ weeks | 10-15 hours |
As you can see, while winning a championship is still an option, even that doesn‘t strictly require playing 40 games anymore if you become a starter early on. The clearly superior method is completing the new "Addicted to Sweat" team quest at the Gatorade training facility.
Diving Deeper on the Quest Method
Based on aggregating data from the 2K community about the requirements for the new Gatorade quest, we can safely debunk claims that it takes 50 in-game years on the treadmill to unlock Gym Rat. Here is the actual scope:
- Speak to the training facility manager to activate the quest
- Complete 50 sessions rated 3-star quality or higher
- Each completed workout counts as 1 towards quest goal
- Estimated 10-12 workouts possible per 90 minute in-game week early on
So in total, we‘re looking at roughly 5-10 real-world hours spent in the facility grinding workouts to reap those sweet, sweet permanent physical boosts.
Much more reasonable than absurd myths stating you need play every single playoff game too!
Optimal Badge Progression Guide
As an experienced 2K player obsessed with strategizing efficient badge grinds, here is my expert guide to quickly unlocking Gym Rat through the new quest:
- Initiate quest as soon as available. Don‘t wait or you‘re losing out on sessions!
- Focus training on endurance/stamina early on. More reps per workout = faster progress.
- Space out facility sessions daily rather than cramming. Quality over quantity!
- Use Gym Rat boosts from Daily Spin for temporary Stamina pumps.
- Buy cheap +4 Stamina boosts from Boost store using coins earned in career. This stat impacts possible reps more than any other.
- Equip badges like Tireless Defender to start, transferring points once quest complete.
- Spend VC to max out facility workout bonuses for variety and higher ratings.
Follow these tips and you‘ll knock out those 50 3-star sessions driving to the rim, splashing threes, and powering through squats in no time flat. Then enjoy your physical dominance with the incredibly overpowered Gym Rat badge fully unlocked!
The Takeaway
Hopefully this clears up the current requirements for earning Gym Rat, which no longer strictly involves playing 40+ games like older 2K titles. I‘m thrilled 2K has responded to community feedback and added more creative, skill-based avenues like the new Gatorade facility quest.
Now get out there and start working on that sweat-soaked journey to boosting speed, vertical, strength and stamina with the return of the coveted Gym Rat badge! This is an expert grind well worth the effort.
Let me know in the comments if this badge guide helps you maximize Gatorade Gym sessions and unlock Gym Rat faster than ever in NBA 2K23!
