Does ball handle matter in 2K23?
As a long-time NBA 2K gamer and content creator, this is one of the most common questions I get asked leading up to each new game‘s release:
"Does ball handle still matter this year?"
My unequivocal answer: yes – ball handle remains supremely important in 2K23 for any player looking to break ankles and consistently create offense.
Allow me to elaborate…
Minimum Requirements Lowered, But Maxing Out Still Critical
First, the good news: according to top 2K analysts, the ball handle requirements for unlocking high-level dribble animations have been reduced across the board in 2K23.
For example, the coveted Curry Slide now only requires 92 ball control, down from 95 last year. And many elite crossover and hesitation packages now unlock at 80 ball handle, whereas 85+ was needed previously.
However, while the minimum thresholds have been lowered, maxing out your ball handle is still hugely beneficial. Here‘s a quick overview of the impact on key moves:
Curry Slide: 92 ball control unlocks it, but having 97+ makes the slide much faster and deadlier
Momentum Crossover: Requires 92 ball handle too, with 96+ again making it quicker
Pro Stick Combos: Higher rating = longer combo chains and better ankle breaker chances
So real dribble gods should look to maximize their ball control in the 95-99 range to access the most potent packages with the fastest momentum crosses, deadliest curry slides, and nastiest combos.
Wider Range of Builds Can Hit Thresholds
Another big positive change is that more build varieties can now reach the key ball handle thresholds.
In the table below, you can see how the attribute caps have expanded across positions in 2K23:
| Position | 2K22 Max Ball Handle | 2K23 Max Ball Handle |
|---|---|---|
| PG | 92 | 99 |
| SG | 87 | 92 |
| SF | 85 | 88 |
| PF | 65 | 75 |
| C | 55 | 70 |
As you can see, guards and forwards have much more room to maximize ball handle this year. Even centers can now unlock pro dribbles with ratings in the 70s.
This will really shake up the meta, as more varied player builds across all positions can speed boost, momentum, and curry slide with ease.
Do You Still Need High Speed With Ball?
In past 2K titles, having speed with ball (SWB) in the 90s was almost mandatory to momentum dribble effectively. Not this year though!
After testing, popular YouTubers found that as long as you have 80+ ball control with Gym Rat takeover, solid speed boosting is possible even with SWB in the 60s and 70s.
This is huge, since it frees up more attribute points for finishing, shooting, defense, etc. Ball handle has essentially cannibalized SWB this year when it comes to speed glitching.
As a bonus, SWB still slightly boosts your transition speed in the open court. But for iso players, shift that allocation into more ball handle instead.
Optimizing Builds for Each Position
Given these changes, here are my recommendations for optimizing ball handle by position:
Guards: Max out ball control! Go for 99 if possible, or at least 95+. You need to speed glitch and combo like prime AI or Kyrie.
Forwards: 80+ is a good target if you can reach it. That gives you pro packages. But wings shouldn‘t need to momentum or curry slide.
Bigs: 70+ unlocks solid moves. If you can snag HOF Anchor at 75+ too, that‘s a great sweet spot for unicorns. Leave combo dribbling to the guards.
Utilize more of your potential allocation on strengths like finishing at the rim, spot up shooting, or anchoring team defense. Let your actual ball handlers put on the show with 98-99 control ratings.
Closing Recommendations
To wrap things up, I fully believe ball handle will remain one of the most decisive attributes for building players in 2K23.
Top tier combo guards need 95+ control with Gym Rat to truly morph into unguardable dribble gods. Forwards and bigs have more room to boost ball security as well for flashier moves.
Just don‘t neglect key areas like defense and physicals either. Stamina, speed, and acceleration also impact how long you can momentum and chain moves together. Find the right balance for your playstyle and position.
Hopefully this analysis gives you a detailed picture of the updated ball handle meta this year! Let me know if you have any other 2K23 attribute questions. As always, remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more content all year long!
