Many players improved their shooting in the NBA by adjusting their jump shot, and that’s the same method gamers can apply to their MyPlayers when firing up NBA 2K23. In this piece, we’ll talk about a few strong jump shot animation options that you can get comfortable with in MyCareer. These shot animations are based purely on size and not position. The size ranges are 6-foot-5 and under, 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-9, 6-foot-5 or higher (7-foot-3), and 6-foot-10 or higher.
However, we’re just going to keep it simple and go by guards, forwards, and centers. Jump shot animations in NBA 2K23 are graded by Release Height, Release Speed, Defensive Immunity, and Timing Impact. Some jumpers can have grades of C or B in some of these categories and still be good, so A+ isn’t necessarily everything here.
Release Height and Speed are pretty straightforward to understand here. Meanwhile, Defensive Immunity affects how a jump shot is impacted by the contest of a defender. So basically, the better the grade, the easier it is to knock down a shot when a defender is closing in like with the Sniper or Deadeye badges. Timing Impact rewards good timing of your shots. If you’re really solid at getting excellent releases or close then you’ll be rewarded handsomely here. However, shots that aren’t good releases will be heavily penalized. So it’s good to get a lot of shots up on a practice court with a certain animation so you can get comfortable with it.
There are a TON of jump shots available in NBA 2K23 so we’re going to list at least five of them for each category. And please keep in mind that shooting in NBA 2K is all about feel and timing, and it always has been. Gamers have different preferences for shot style and timing so always remember that at the end of the day — the choice is yours as to what animation you want. These are just some options to consider for your MyCareer hoops journey.
NBA 2K23: Best Jumpshots For Your MyPlayer In MyCareer
Jump Shots For Smaller Guards
Damian Lillard –Â Â You’d think one of the greatest shooters of all time would have an amazing jump shot animation in NBA 2K23, right? Well, that’s not always the case in 2K, but it is for Lillard. The Release Speed of his shot is a smooth B+ and that’s a sweet spot when it comes to timing a shot better. It’s not too fast and not too slow either. His jumper also has an A+ rating for Defensive Immunity and Timing Impact. And one of the best things about Dame’s shot is you just need an 85 three or mid-range rating to get it, which is an ideal rating.
Jordan Clarkson – A very steady player throughout his career, Clarkson has a fairly quick jumper that’s easy to time. As we mentioned, timing is super important to master shooting and it won’t take long for new players to master Jordan’s shot. And you only need a three-point or mid-range rating of 78. So if you decide to make a build and want to put some of those shooting attribute points into something else, you can do that and still snag this jump shot. Speed, Def. Immunity and Timing Impact are all a cozy B grade here.
Donovan Mitchell – One of the NBA’s more dangerous scorers, Mitchell can drive to the basket and knock down shots from behind the arc with relative ease like the aforementioned Damian Lillard. A player doesn’t drop 71 points in the game without some incredible shooting, and both Donovan and Dame accomplished that in one season. His jump shot, with a B Release Speed grade, is money, not to mention he has Def. Immunity of A and Timing of A-.
Allen Iverson –Â An NBA legend and Hall of Famer, Iverson possesses a jump shot that is an A across the board with Release Height, Def. Immunity, and Timing Impact. The weakness, however, is the Release Speed that is only a C, but it doesn’t take away from what is otherwise a very solid animation.
Penny Hardaway –Â One of the best players to ever lace them up for the Orlando Magic, Hardaway has a sneaky good jump shot in NBA 2K23. I say “sneaky” because Penny’s shot animation wasn’t always the best in 2K, but it’s very strong this time around. His jumper comes with a steady C and C+ grade for height and speed while Def. Immunity and Impact are both at a perfect A+.
Shots For Forwards And Big Guards
Scottie Pippen – Another Hall of Famer, the funny thing about Pip’s jump shot in NBA 2K is that it used to be pretty rough. It was slow and could be tricky to time correctly. But in NBA 2K23 it’s easily one of the better jump shots for forwards. The speed of it is right in that sweet spot we talked about earlier with a B+ rating. It also has an excellent A+ Release Height, which makes it easier to shoot over defenders. And on top of that, it has an excellent Def. Immunity grade of A while the Timing Impact is a B. You’ll need an 85 three/mid rating for this one, and you’ll need to have a height of either 6’5″, 6’6″, 6’7″, 6’8″, or 6’9″ specifically.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander –Â One of the NBA’s blossoming young stars, SGA’s jump shot is versatile in NBA 2K23. As long as your MyPlayer is below 6-foot-10, you can acquire this jump shot and you only need an 82 three/mid rating here. This jumper checks every box. Great height, great speed, great Def. Immunity, and great Timing Impact with all of them being a B+ across the board. And it just feels generally smooth. Overall, a strong animation choice that’s good for just about any size MyPlayer.
Devin Booker –Â This next dude just so happens to be the cover athlete of NBA 2K23 and is one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers. Another 70 point dropper, Booker’s shot in 2K23 is one of the easiest to pick up and play. It’s one of those shots you can nail down very quickly, and it’s a pretty straightforward animation so it doesn’t throw you off visually. Like with Gilgeous-Alexander, you can snag Book’s animation if your MyPlayer is below 6-foot-10. However, you do need an 86 three/mid rating so keep that in mind. Release Speed is a solid B while Defensive Immunity and Timing Impact are at a perfect A+.
Kobe Bryant –Â One of the NBA’s all-time greats has a terrific jump shot in NBA 2K23. Kobe’s animation is absolute money. It just pops when you fire a shot with it. An impressive A height, B+ speed, A+ Def. Immunity, and A Timing Impact make up this iconic jumper heavily responsible for five NBA championships. You do need a three-point or mid-range rating of 88. You don’t need a really high rating to be a great shooter in 2K23 compared to past games, so we’re trying to keep the requirements on this list reasonable (hence the reason we didn’t list Stephen Curry, whose animation requires a 91 mid/three rating). This, however, is an exception and it’s still under 90 for the requirement.
Vince Carter –Â Widely regarded as the greatest dunker of all time, VC was also one of the best three-point shooters ever as well. As with Booker’s shot, the animation is pretty straightforward forward, and it won’t take long to adjust to it. Defensive Immunity for this shot is an A+ so contests from defenders won’t have a major impact on your shots. Timing Impact is also A+ so you’ll be greatly rewarded for good shot timing here.
Shots For Bigs
Robert Covington –Â Another NBA vet who’s had a steady career, Covington has a jumper that’s good for any height that’s 6-foot-5 or taller, and it’s a solid one for tall power forwards and centers. It’s fairly quick with a C+ speed grade and the timing window is comfortable enough overall. Timing Impact is a C+ so the boost you get for well timed shots isn’t as great, but neither is the penalty and that’s not a bad thing. The strongest thing about this shot is the B-graded Def. Immunity, which is rock solid. If you’re 6-foot-5 or taller, you can grab this shot. 75 is the number needed for either your mid-range or three-point rating.
Dwight Powell –Â This one right here is purely for the bigs. You need to at least be 6-foot-10 or taller to equip Powell’s animation. For MyPlayers of that size, the longtime Mavericks center has a shot that’s smooth as silk. Dwight’s Release Speed is a terrific A- that is really good for an animation dedicated to players 6-foot-10 and up. Then the Def. Immunity is a comfortable B-. Timing Impact isn’t good with a D+ grade, but it’s a pretty easy shot to get cozy with, not to mention that most shot animations that are for 6-foot-10 and up typically don’t have the greatest grades in different areas, but they can still be effective. Mid-range or three-point rating only needs to be a 73 here.
Chet Holmgren –Â The towering second-overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft developed a reputation for his versatility and three-point shooting for a player of his size. It operates similarly to your classic set shot animation, which can be good for players 7 foot or taller. Release speed is only a C but the Timing Impact is an excellent A-. As with Powell’s shot, your MyPlayer needs to be at least 6-foot-10. Like with Powell, the mid/three rating only needs to be 73.
P.J. Tucker –Â The 14-year NBA veteran has long been known for his toughness and strength at the power forward and center positions. He also built a reputation as one of the most dangerous three-point shooters from the corner. In fact, he led the league in corner threes three different times in his career. His jump shot in 2K is truly outstanding and is easily one of the best in the entire game — it’s that great. It’s fast but not too fast, it’s smooth, and it has a comfortable timing window. The height, speed, Def. Immunity, and Timing Impact for P.J.’s jumper are A, A-, B+, and B respectively. You’ll need an 83 three or mid-range rating for this one.
Lauri Markkanen – Although he was always a solid player, Markkanen really shined when he joined the Utah Jazz and changed his position from PF/C to SF. The Finnisher has a clean shot that is fitting for his 7-foot size. It’s a versatile one as well, as you can equip it with a 6-foot-5 guard or small forward like with Covington and Tucker’s shots. That said, it’s really good for power forwards and centers as well. Release Height is only a D+ but a B- Release Speed to go along with an A Def. Immunity and Timing Impact grade. 80 is the lucky number needed for your mid-range or three-point rating.
