Hey, NBA 2K fans! Today we are bringing you the ultimate guide to the best value for every attribute rating in NBA 2K25. I’m excited to give you an updated version of this guide, now that we’ve had more time with the game. I’ll go over everything top to bottom—from close shot to vertical—and help you understand the best thresholds to hit for maximizing your player’s efficiency without overspending on attributes. Let’s dive right in!
Close Shot
- 73 Rating: This is the first threshold I recommend. It’s solid for hitting open close shots and avoiding those frustrating misses right under the rim. It also ties into the Paint Prodigy badge.
- 84 Rating: If you’re more of a post scorer, this is the spot for you. At 84, you get better performance on standing layups, and it works well with badges like Gold Hook Specialist.
Driving Layup
- 70 Rating: Grants access to some solid layup animations, including the Zion Williamson package.
- 80 Rating: This is the sweet spot for layup animations. You unlock packages like Lamelo Ball and Giannis Antetokounmpo. If your strength is at least 67, you also get Silver Physical Finisher, making 80 a fantastic value.
Driving Dunk
There are multiple valuable thresholds for driving dunk:
- 65 Rating: Unlocks Athletic Hangs Off One, a great budget dunk package.
- 70 Rating: Gives you access to Park Dunks. While these may seem casual, they’re actually effective for many modes.
- 80 Rating: Unlocks the Devin Booker dunk package, which is essentially Quick Drops Off One 2.0.
- 87 Rating: Provides Pro Contact Dunks Off Two.
- 89 Rating: Grants access to Pro Contact Dunks Off One. Combine this with an 80 vertical for Aerial Wizard.
Standing Dunk
- 40-45 Rating: Surprisingly good for smaller builds. You can reliably finish standing dunks without spending too much.
- 81 Rating: Unlocks Silver Rise Up and some standing contact dunk packages.
- 90 Rating: This is where you get Elite Contact Dunks and Hall of Fame Rise Up—perfect for those who want elite finishing at the rim.
Post Control
- 77 Rating: A nice budget option, giving you Silver Post-Up Poet and Bronze Unpluckable. This is great for post scorers who don’t want to heavily invest in post control.
- 87 Rating: If you want to dominate in the post, 87 gives you Gold Post-Up Poet and Silver Unpluckable.
Mid-Range and Three-Point Shooting
- 78 Rating: Grants you Silver Set Shot Specialist, which is a solid value for shooters who don’t need to go all-in.
- 89 Rating: A great spot for those who want Limitless Range on Silver.
- 95-96 Rating: If you’re serious about shooting, this is where you unlock Hall of Fame Deadeye and Limitless Range.
Free Throw
- 60 Rating: This is a solid budget rating. You can hit your free throws consistently while saving attribute points.
- If you’re a shooting build, just max it out. Free throw is the cheapest rating in the game, so don’t skimp if you can afford it.
Pass Accuracy
- 75 Rating: Great for Break Starter and several solid pass styles, such as Ja Morant.
- 89 Rating: This is the go-to for point guards or anyone who needs elite passing. It unlocks Gold Break Starter and the best pass styles.
Ball Handle
- 70 Rating: Gets you Bronze Unpluckable and Pro Dribble Animations.
- 80 Rating: Unlocks Silver Handles for Days and better dribble animations like Zach LaVine.
Speed with Ball
- 60 Rating: If you’re a wing or big, this is where you unlock the Zion Dribble Style.
- 85-86 Rating: For players 6'4" and under, this gives you the Garland Dribble Style and Gold Lightning Launch.
Interior Defense
- 60 Rating: Works for smaller guards, giving you Bronze Paint Patroller.
- 82 Rating: Unlocks Silver Post Move Lockdown, which is crucial for defending in the post.
- 88 Rating: For those looking to dominate defensively, this is a great investment. It unlocks Gold Paint Patroller.
Perimeter Defense
- 74 Rating: A solid budget option for most builds. It gives you access to Silver Challenger and Bronze On-Ball Menace.
- 85 Rating: This is the ideal spot for elite perimeter defenders, giving you Gold On-Ball Menace and Gold Challenger.
Steal
- 60 Rating: Grants Bronze Interceptor, which is good for bigger players.
- 85 Rating: Gold Interceptor is a game-changer, allowing you to dominate in passing lanes.
Block
- 78 Rating: Unlocks Bronze Paint Patroller and Silver High-Flying Den.
- 84 Rating: This is where you get Silver Paint Patroller and Gold High-Flying Den.
Rebounding
- 85 Rating: Grants Silver Rebound Chaser and Gold Box Out Beast.
- 92-96 Rating: These ratings unlock Gold Rebound Chaser and Hall of Fame Rebound Chaser, respectively.
Speed and Agility
For builds 6'7" and above:
- Max out your speed as much as possible. Speed and agility are crucial for both bigs and locks.
For guards:
- 86 Speed is enough in most cases, especially since it often aligns with your Speed with Ball.
Strength
- 85 Strength: Unlocks Gold Immovable Enforcer and Silver Post Move Lockdown.
- 91-92 Strength: Perfect for post players, giving you Gold Brick Wall and Legend Immovable Enforcer.
Vertical
- 80 Vertical: This is the sweet spot, unlocking Aerial Wizard and Gold High-Flying Den. It’s also crucial for Pro Contact Dunks and Elite Rebounding.
