Why Do I Keep Laying It Up Instead of Dunking in NBA 2K23?

As an aspiring virtual baller trying to show out on the sticks in 2K23‘s Play Now or MyCareer modes, few things are more frustrating than driving to the rack for a vicious jam only to have your player opt for a weak, boring layup. I don‘t know about you, but I want to be detonating on fools, not floating it up softly over them!

So why do our vicious dunk attempts turn to lame layup tries over and over? From extensive personal experience and research into 2K‘s mechanics, I have the answers.

Weak Attribute Ratings Restrict Dunk Packages

The #1 cause of layups over dunks is simply not having high enough ratings to equip elite jam packages. Just having great timing with the pro stick isn‘t enough this year. To unlock various tiers of contact dunk animations, you need to have solid driving dunk and vertical ratings:

• Pro Contact Dunks: 84+ Driving Dunk, 70+ Vertical
• Elite Contact Dunks: 92+ Driving Dunk, 80+ Vertical

Additionally, to access baseline reverse dunks, you need:

• Baseline Reverses: 65+ Driving Dunk

I constantly see players with driving dunk ratings in the 70s or low 80s wondering why they only get basic one-handers. Your ratings dictate the packages and ultimate success rate on contact jams.

Comparing Top Build Dunk Ratings

Here are the max driving dunk ratings for some of 2K23‘s most popular build archetypes:

As you can see, only well-rounded builds like the Playmaking Slasher and Shot Creator or specialized dunkers like the 2-Way Slasher get the high requisite ratings for elite contact dunk animations.

So if you went more shooter-focused with a shorter Play Shot or Lock, you‘ve cursed yourself to weak layup animations on drives rather than violent jams. Gotta make decisions!

Forcing Layups with Bad Stickwork

If you do meet rating requirements for purchased dunk packages equipped to your player, the next culprit foiling your dunk dreams is poor stick skills.

The basic instict when driving to the rack is to just hold the shot button down, likely from last-gen 2K muscle memory. But in 2K23, you HAVE to use the pro stick to dunk! Those simple shot button layups and floaters ain‘t gonna cut it!

To trigger contact dunk attempts, you need to slash towards the rim and quickly flick the right stick down. This overrides any automatic layup tries and commands your player to aggressively attack the rim.

Now, stick timing is key here. To optimize dunk success:

• Hold turbo driving to the basket
• As you reach the painted area, quickly flick the right stick directly down
• Release the stick to time the dunk meter window

It takes real practice, but that pro stick is EVERYTHING this year when it comes to dunking rather than laying. Always keep that in mind!

Optimal Basketball IQ Means More Layups

An underrated factor in why your attacks end in layups is 2K‘s improved basketball IQ. The AI is smarter this year when it comes to shot selection and efficiency.

What does this mean? If you try to drive headfirst into a pack of defenders or attacking bigs in the restricted area, the game will often override the risky highlight-reel dunk in favor of a quick layup or floater with a higher success rate.

The AI realizes a heavy contact jam likely won‘t go down against multiple defenders. So it switches to a ponsy layup. Annoying for sure, but technically it‘s making the optimal basketball play!

Takeover Boosts Dunk Likelihood

Interestingly, another factor dictating dunk frequency vs. layups is your takeover status. Activating that fiery takeover zone juiced your player‘s dunking success rates substantially.

I can‘t tell you how often I get swatted or forced into double-pump layups early in games before takeover, only to rack up bodies on posters once that orange inferno logo lights up!

So if you‘re attempting to dunk more and layup less, do everything you can to fill up that takeover meter with good shots, assists from kickouts, forced misses on D, etc. You unlock a whole other level of elite jam packages and tendency to use them once takeover is burning. Just beware of that inevitable faceplant against the stanchion!

In Summary…

To stop your vicious drives ending in Infuriating blooping layups rather than earth-shattering rim-rocking jams in NBA 2K23, remember:

• Ensure your ratings allow for elite contact dunk packages before attempting them
• Use the right stick NOT buttons to trigger strong dunk animations
• Pick smart opportunities against packed paints or shot blockers
• Activate takeover for special dunk boosts

Trust me, I‘ve dealt with too many lame floating finishes. But by optimizing your build, honing stick skills, playing smart, and igniting takeover, you‘ll be skying for posters on the regular in no time!

Let me know if this helps solve your layup woes or if you have any other questions arising about optimizing your aerial assaults to the basket in NBA 2K23. Always happy to help my fellow wanna-be virtual ballers!