NBA 2K25 - Shot Timing Visual Cue Explained

Shooting is probably the most significant area that players want to improve in NBA 2K25. You might be an excellent finisher at the rim and can get buckets at will. But perhaps you’re feeling hesitant when behind the three-point line or right inside it.

Well, to improve your shooting (read more about how to change the shot meter), it’s all about getting as comfortable with your jumpshot animation as you can to the point where the timing feels natural. However, there’s more to shooting in NBA 2K25 than meets the eye and it’s something you can find in the settings menu.

Understanding The Shot Timing Visual Cue In NBA 2K25

When you enter Controller Settings, you’ll find an option called “Shot Timing Visual Cue.” This determines when your shot will be green once you release the shooting button. It replaces the “Shot Timing Release Time” setting from previous games. It’s the same thing except instead of Very Early, Early, Late, and Very Late, you instead get Jump, Set Point, Push, and Release. Here’s how each one operates.

Jump – This is the earliest option, meaning you’ll need to release the shot button very early to achieve the Excellent/Green release. As mentioned, this replaces the Very Early option from previous games.

Set Point – At Set Point, release the shot button just as the player begins letting go of the ball.This option replaces Early Release

Push – The ball should be basically on the player’s fingers when you release the shot button.This is usually the default setting in NBA 2K25, and it replaces the Late option.

Release – The best time to release is when the ball is on the player’s fingertips, just before it leaves the player’s hands completely. The Release option replaces the Very Late option from previous entries.

When deciding which option is best for you, just keep one important thing in mind: The jumpshot animation you use. Jumper animations have their own grading system, which assigns grades to factors such as Release Speed and Timing Stability.

If you’re mixing and matching your Shot Timing Visual Cue with the speed of your jumper, it’s essential to get some practice in on MyCourt if you’re in MyCareer. If you’re focusing more on Play Now or MyTEAM, experiment with different visual cues using NBA players with their unique jumpers.

Of course, if you feel very comfortable with the default setting, then leave it as it is. You can mess around and see what the other options feel like, but if you’re hitting your shots, then you’re good to go. However, this is a good setting to experiment with if you enjoy customizing your animations.

Additionally, it’s worth noting to test your shot after any updates to NBA 2K25. I say this because there may be some gameplay tweaks that require you to adjust your shot timing. However, with NBA 2K26 not too far away, we won’t see many more updates for 2K25 anyway, so you should be good to go.