NBA 2K23 Dunking Guide: How to Dunk, Contact Dunks, Tips & Tricks - Outsider Gaming (2024)

Dunks have always been a source of highlights and posters in NBA 2K23. Dunk packages are more diverse than ever, being suited to guards, forwards, and centers. Different players can make different dunks depending on their position, height, weight, and wingspan.

Learning how to dunk and when to use them is a key skill to have in your arsenal, enabling you to earn more points and have a psychological edge over your opponent. There is nothing like riling up your opponent and getting on a run to win the game because of a monster jam over their center.

Here is a dunking guide so that you can learn the basics, controls, and tips to finishing with authority in the paint in NBA 2K23.

How to dunk in NBA 2K23

There are two ways to dunk in NBA 2K23: pressing the shoot button or pointing the right stick towards the rim – both while holding the sprint trigger.

Depending on the console that you use, holding down the square button for PS5 or X button for Xbox users while holding the R2 or RT trigger, respectively, will let your player go for a dunk.

Alternatively, you can also point the right stick towards the hoop while holding down the R2 or RT trigger to execute a dunk if you opt for that option.

How to use the 2K23 dunk meter

The dunk meter in NBA 2K23 returns again this year. This is similar to the shot meter as you need to time your dunk or layup in the green box of a player. Timing is key for dunks in NBA 2K23 as all finishes require the shot meter regardless of layup, dunk, or alley-oop.

The size of the green box will vary. The higher dunk rating and position of a player will result in a higher chance of completing the move. If an opponent is guarding the paint, it will most likely lead to a more difficult finish.

Traits and specialties like Lob City Finisher or Fearless Finisher give players a special boost when trying to finish dunks near the rim.

What contact dunk requirements do you need to dunk in 2K23

To perform contact dunks in 2K23, you must meet the following requirements:

• Pro Contact Dunks: 84+ Driving Dunk and 70+ Vertical
• Pro Alley-Oop: 70+ Driving Dunk and 60+ Vertical
• Elite Contact Dunks: 92+ Driving Dunk and 80+ Vertical
• Elite Alley-Oop: 85+ Driving Dunk and 60+ Vertical
• Pro Bigman Contact Dunks: 80+ Standing Dunk, 65+ Vertical and at least 6’10”
• Elite Bigman Standing Contact Dunks: 90+ Standing Dunk, 75+ Vertical and at least 6’10”
• Small Contact Dunks: 86+ Driving Dunk, 85+ Vertical and under 6’5″

Equipping the best dunking badges can improve your chances of a contact dunk.

Elite finishers have a higher chance to finish contact dunks over defenders. Players that have the pro or elite packages can unlock contact dunks, but the difficulty to finish increases over defenders with high paint defense and blocks.

How to do a two-hand dunk

You need to press the R2 or RT trigger and hold the right stick towards the hoop while running to execute a two-hand dunk or you can flick up on the right stick. The two-hand dunk is one of the easiest dunks to pull off in NBA 2K23.

The move is best unleashed in the fast break or when the paint is clear of defenders. It is recommended to use a player with a higher dunk rating and vertical, such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant, for this dunk.

How to do a flashy dunk

The flashy dunk can be done by holding down R2 or RT while running towards the basket and flicking up-up on the right stick for a one handed flashy dunk or down-up on the right stick for a two handed flashy dunk. A flashy dunk can be performed by any player that has the pro or elite dunk packages with the corresponding dunk rating and vertical.

The type of flashy dunk that the player will do depends on the height, rating, and position on the court when performing the move. A player running from the baseline will lead to a sideline dunk, while a player running from the wings will perform a one-handed hammer.

How to do a dominant strong hand or off-hand dunk

The dominant strong hand or off-hand dunk is performed by pressing down R2 or RT and then flicking the right stick either to the left or right while the player is running to the paint. The hand that the player will use to dunk will depend on the direction that you flick the right stick when performing the move.

Flicking the right stick left, when using the weaker hand of the player, will result in a weak hand dunk.

The impact and gravity of the dunk will not matter whether it is their dominant hand or off-hand when finishing. As long as the player completes the move, you’ll get two points with flair.

How to do a putback dunk in 2K23

The putback dunk is performed by holding down the shoot button – either square or X – when the ball is about to come off the paint. The putback dunk in NBA 2K23 is done when another player misses a shot and your player is near the vicinity of the paint to put back the miss in a flashy way.

Timing and space are key to getting a good putback dunk. Making sure that you press the button while the ball is in the air and not having any opponents fighting for the rebound are key ways to seal a putback dunk in NBA 2K23.

How to do standing dunks in 2K23

A standing dunk is performed by holding down the shoot button (square or X) or flicking the right stick up while holding R2 or RT. Standing dunks can be executed by forwards or centers with the pro or elite dunk packages in NBA 2K23. Your player must be in a standing position without defenders around to carry out this move.

How to do an aggressive dunk

An aggressive dunk can be performed by holding the R2 or RT trigger and then flicking the right stick in any direction while sprinting. Aggressive dunks are available to any player that has the elite dunking packages, such as Ja Morant, Vince Carter, and Zion Williamson.

It’s okay if opposing defenders are near the paint when you have elite dunkers, as they have the necessary attributes to finish spectacularly over them. Having the player sprint from the backcourt and have good stamina increases your chances of finishing the move.

A contact dunk is done by holding down R2 or RT with the right stick pointed up while sprinting towards the basket in NBA 2K23. There must be a defender guarding the paint so that your player can finish a contact dunk over him.

How to do the dunk contest in 2K23

1. Start from outside the 3PT line and run toward the basket with the ball while holding R2 or RT, or tap Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox to toss the ball up.
2. While approaching the basket, move and hold right stick, press and hold Square on PlayStation or X on Xbox, or perform an advanced dunk using the right stick.
3. When the dunk meter is full, release right stick or Square to finish the dunk.

The advanced dunks you can perform during the dunk content in 2K23 are:

• Windmill Dunk: Move and hold right stick to the left or right
• Double Clutch Dunk: Move and hold right stick up
• Reverse Dunk: Move and hold right stick down
• Between the legs Dunk: Quickly move right stick right then left or left then right
• Bounce Dunk: Quickly move right stick down then up or up then down
• 360 Dunk: Twirl the right stick clockwise or counter-clockwise

Dunk contest controls are different from your regular dunks during games. Players can choose the type of dunk that they want to pull off based on the given dunks in NBA 2K23. The timing and execution matter when performing these, as the judges will look at them when scoring.

NBA 2K23 dunking tips and tricks

1. Know your players

Learning about the player’s dunk rating and vertical to understand if they can perform the pro and elite dunk packages is essential. This also helps you to gauge if you can perform a running or standing dunk for a specific guard, forward, or center.

2. Assess the paint

Dunking is a specific skill that gets not only two points but also flashy points from the crowd as well. Users need to be smart, though, to know when to pull off a dunk or settle for a jumper if there is an opponent in front. Dunks may look good, but the important thing is to get the points.

3. Use the right dunks in a given situation

NBA 2K23 gives users more control than ever to ensure that they can score in whatever way they think is best in the moment. Don’t attempt a dunk when there is a shot-blocker in the paint, or use an off-handed dunk when the opponent is covering your player’s dominant hand when driving.

4. Practice the moves

Going to the practice court and learning the dunks can be a simple step to stay ahead of the competition in NBA 2K23. Learning the moves during the game may be difficult to pull off consistently – hence getting it right first in practice is key to having long-term success.

5. Take advantage of the dunks in NBA 2K23

There are a wide variety of dunks to choose from in NBA 2K23. Feel free to experiment and have fun while winning games. Explore and celebrate, especially when you perform a flashy dunk in-game that gives you a psychological boost over your opponent afterward.

How to hang on the rim after a dunk

To hang on to the rim after you have performed a dunk, flick down-down on the right stick and use the left stick to change momentum. You can use the right stick to pull yourself up to rim.

NBA 2K23 how to dunk instead of a layup

To have a higher chance of dunking the ball rather than playing a layup, ensure that you are using the right stick to execute the moves; this should stop the computer from making your player go for a layup.

In NBA 2K23, you’ll notice that the computer-controlled elements lean towards executing a layup or dunk depending on different variables, such as the player, opponent, and angle of attacking the paint. The game wants the offensive player to get the best shot possible in the given circ*mstances.

How to turn off the dunk meter in NBA 2K23

To turn off the dunk meter in NBA 2K23:

• Pause the game, head to Settings, and select the Controller Settings
• Switch the Shot Timing option to Shots Only, without the dunks and layups, and save the settings.

Who is the best dunker in 2K23?

Zion Williamson is the best dunker in NBA 2K23 with a 97 standing dunk rating.

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