The Best Positions and Builds in NBA 2K23 According to a Passionate 2K Gamer

As a passionate NBA 2K gamer with countless hours labbing builds and dominating in the virtual hardwood, the question I get asked the most when helping friends create their MyPlayer is "what position and build should I make?" That crucial decision dictates everything from your player‘s key attributes, playstyle, and viability in competitive modes like Pro-Am and MyPark.

So which position reigns supreme in 2K23? After breaking down the latest meta builds across all five traditional roles updated with this year‘s new badges and balance changes, I recommend power forward and center builds for anyone looking to dominate games in 2K23.

Now I‘ll provide more context on why big men are in such a great spot this year before breaking down the best meta PF and C builds in more detail. Then we‘ll analyze the top position builds to help find your perfect playstyle fit. Time to build your demigod!

Why Choose Power Forward or Center in 2K23?

The beauty of the PF and C positions in 2K23 is that you get the perfect marriage of sheer interior dominance on both ends mixed with unprecedented offensive versatility thanks to stretch big builds being more viable than ever this year.

Whether your game is all about abusing smaller matchups in the post, sprinting down the floor for transition dunks, grabbing every rebound in sight, swatting shots into the stands, or stepping out to consistently splash threes – there‘s a big man build custom-tailored exactly for your preferred playstyle.

Just take a look at how the PF/C meta has evolved:

With more shooting and playmaking badges catered towards bigs plus better floor spacing thanks to changes like fast breaking in transition being more responsive, towering over the competition has never been more advantageous.

Let‘s analyze why paint beasts, glass cleaning finishers, and stretch bigs are unique and viable in their own right before touching on builds for shorter positions.

Paint Beast (Pure Finishing & Defense)

If utter interior domination is your goal, this is arguably the best pure big man build in 2K23. With a name that perfectly encapsulates its game, the Paint Beast specializes in wreaking havoc through:

• Imposing physical strength to establish prime position down low
• Relentlessly bullying defenders for easy high percentage paint looks
• Vacuuming every rebound in sight on both ends
• Altering and blocking shot attempts at the rim

With a potential badge spread like this prioritizing finishing, defense, and rebounding, a properly optimized Paint Beast who properly utilizes their strength advantage is an absolute nightmare matchup for most opposing bigs.

Paired with physical attributes catered towards strength, vertical, and max wingspan, Paint Beasts don‘t stray far from the paint which is exactly how you want to dominate.

Best Physical Profile: Burly

And if you really want to impose your will? Crank that wingspan all the way up to max out your snatch blocking ability down low while shutting down driving lanes.

Playing like Giannis or prime Shaq has never been more satisfying in 2K.

Glass Cleaning Finisher

While not quite the rugged bully that Paint Beasts are, Glass Cleaning Finishers strike fear into opponents‘ hearts in their own way: by relentlessly controlling the boards and converting putback chances at a high rate after demolishing foes on the offensive glass.

The finishing aspect gives you just enough versatility to capitalize on dish offs near the rim while still allowing you to maximize your rebounding and defensive badges.

With the proper physical build and smart positioning, Glass Cleaning Finishers absolutely clean up missed shots at a staggering rate. An offensive rebound and easy putback is utterly demoralizing to the opposing team.

Best Physical Profile: Defined

The key here lies in the vertical. Time your jump properly on box outs and there‘s no denying you from soaring in for the board and immediate putback.

Playing like all-time great rebounders like Dennis Rodman or Dwight Howard is very satisfying with this archetype. Give it a try if you love imposing your will on the glass.

Stretch Five/Four

No other big man build alters a game quite like the modern-day stretch big thanks to its unprecedented inside-outside versatility. Stretch fives with shooting ability completely warp opposing defenses who aren‘t used to seeing centers with limitless range.

The beauty lies in the build‘s versatility – with properly timed pick and pops, you can play like a traditional back to the basket big man on some plays before effortlessly sliding out behind the arc and raining threes from 25+ feet out like Dirk or KD to open up driving lanes for your guards.

Truly a unicorn build for the analytically inclined fan longing for a five-out offense.

Want to punish slower traditional centers? Blow by them off the catch and dunk all over their heads. Crafty post moves with high IQ passing thrown in make this a vastly underrated build.

Best Physical Profile: Agile

An uncommon build that allows you to shapeshift your playstyle on the fly, the versatile Stretch Five is an extremely high IQ player‘s dream. Give this experimental system shocker a try if you want to laugh at the chaos you‘ll unleash! This might be my personal favorite build if you can master its intricacies.

Best Guard Builds (PGs and SGs)

While big men have emerged as more viable than ever with the new meta shifts and interior scoring badges, having an elite ball handling guard that can break defenders down and hit shots undoubtedly remains valuable too.

If you want to call the shots with the ball in your hands the majority of possessions, here are two of my favorite guard builds that fill different roles:

Playmaking Shot Creator (Playmaking Focused PG)

If running efficient offense through elite passing vision, ankle-breaking moves, and consistent midrange scoring is your style, this build offers the total package.

With Hall of Fame Dimer and Floor General combined with high level dribbling badges, you‘ll have teammates getting wide open looks for days thanks to your playmaking gravity and distribution skills.

Mix in pull up jumpers off the dribble plus crafty finishes at the rim and this build truly mirrors elite offensive engines like Chris Paul or Steve Nash. Fun for the true basketball purists out there.

Perimeter Shooting Lockdown (3 & D Focused SG Build)

The 3 and D archetype has become indispensable in the modern analytic NBA and the Perimeter Shooting Lockdown build allows you to fulfill that coveted role to perfection in 2K.

With potential Hall of Fame defensive badge upgrades like Clamps and Pick Pocket combined with elite shooting abilities like Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, and Deadeye – you‘ll make life absolute hell for whoever you‘re matched up against while punishing help defenders by sliding to the open area for automatic knockdown looks from deep.

Disrupting the offense on one end before getting CEO-level passes from your playmaker to splash corner threes with no room for error – very few things are more satisfying in 2K.

This concludes my deep dive on the best positions and builds to succeed with in NBA 2K23. Let me know which archetype you decide to roll with at @Legendary2KBuilds! I‘m always down to squad up with loyal readers. And for more meta changing 2K content, guides, and commentary – don‘t forget to subscribe! Hope this give you a competitive edge over the casuals in MyPark and Pro-Am.