NBA 2K23 Badges: Best Badges for a Center (C) to Dominate in MyCareer - Outsider Gaming (2024)

Being a center in NBA 2K23 became more difficult than in previous years. Even the easiest baskets in past editions aren’t a sure thing this year.

It helps a lot when you equip a good mix of badges for a center to dominate in-game, both offensively and defensively; after all, the center serves as the defensive anchor. There’s a good chance you’ll be the next great center by having a mix of strategically chosen badgs.

What are the best badges for a center in 2K23? Read below to find out and employ the mix that best suits your style.

What are the best finishing badges for a center in NBA 2K23?

Bully

Badge Requirements:Strength – 74 (Bronze), 82 (Silver),89 (Gold), 95 (Hall of Fame)

The term “bully ball” has been put into badge form with the Bully badge. You can impose your will to the basket regardless of the size of the defender with this badge.

Bully improves your ability to initiate contact on attempts at the rim. It’s best used when posting up and forcing your opponent deep into the zone. Even high posts get easier once this badge activates.

As a Tier 3 badge, Bully requires ten badge points across Tiers 1 and 2 in finishing to unlock.

Backdown Punisher

Badge Requirements:Post Control – 55 (Bronze), 72 (Silver), 80 (Gold), 87 (Hall of Fame)OR
Strength – 65 (Bronze), 76 (Silver), 86 (Gold), 94 (Hall of Fame)

While the Bully badge does you one better, the Backdown Punisher is still necessary. These two badges work hand -in-hand as it helps you get a clear vision of the basket.

What this badge does more is it drains the energy off your defender for every bump. Officially, the game states that you’ll have more success when backing down on the post up. It becomes harder for the defender to extend their hand for a block when it happens and raises your chances of making a close shot.

Masher

Badge Requirements:Close Shot – 63 (Bronze), 73 (Silver), 82 (Gold), 95 (Hall of Fame)

What the Bully and Backdown punisher does for defenders your own size the Masher badge does every time there is a mismatch.Masher improves your ability to finish at and around the rim, particularly over smaller defenders. Depending on your build, most non-centers will be shorter than you.

The Masher badge makes you confident giving screens to a teammate and call for a pass whenever the smaller defender switches on you.This could be an easy way to nab some highlight plays with dunks.

Masher is a Tier 3 badge.

Rise Up

Badge Requirements:Standing Dunk– 67 (Bronze), 80 (Silver), 90 (Gold), 98 (Hall of Fame)

What makes the Rise Up badge so good is the fact that it makes dunking easier for a center. The chance of getting blocked is higher in 2K23, but at least this badge increases your likelihood to dunk when under the rim.

Rise Up increases the success of dunking or posterizing a defender if you’re in the paint. Some rely on this badge when left open under the rim, but it can also be utilized during second chance opportunities, which you should find plenty of as a five.

Rise Up is a Tier 3 badge.

Fearless Finisher

Badge Requirements:Driving Layup – 67 (Bronze), 77 (Silver), 87 (Gold), 96 (Hall of Fame)OR
Close Shot – 65 (Bronze), 75 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 93 (Hall of Fame)

The Fearless Finisher badge is still the most important finishing badge in 2K23. This badge should be your top priority in terms of leveling each one equipped.The badge has two functions, which already makes it valuable. First, it increases your ability to absorb contact and finish, crucial for a big playing down low. Second, it reduces your energy depletions from contact layups.

It’s harder to score points in 2K23 and the Fearless Finisher badge helps a lot, especially when defenses are dogging you all the time.

What are the best shooting badges for a center in NBA 2K23?

Deadeye

Badge Requirements:Three-Point Shot– 71 (Bronze), 82 (Silver), 89 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)

While shooting is just a bonus if you are a center, the Deadeye badge is one you could use shall you opt for a pick-and-pop. It lessens the shot penalty of an incoming defender so you can shoot with ease.

This badge is crucial if your build as any outside scoring prioritized. Even if you don’t, unlocking and equipping this badge could help you create some space and hit some mid-range jumpers when your post game is being denied. However, it is a Tier 3 badge.

Space Creator

Badge Requirements:Mid-Range Shot – 52 (Bronze), (64 Silver), 73 (Gold), 80 (Hall of Fame)OR
Three-Point Shot – 53 (Bronze), 65 (Silver), 74 (Gold), 83 (Hall of Fame)

Having the Space Creator badge as a center will depend on who you ask. Some prefer to combine this with the Quick First Step playmaking badge instead of the Dropstepper.How you pair it is your choice, but you should still equip this badge even if your more of a dunker than a shooter. It increases your chances of hitting a shot after creating space away from your defender, on cross ups, and on step-backs.

Creating that space as a big is a shrewd move, especially if you’re an agile big man who is guarded by a bulky traditional center. It works best with the mid-range and three-point game, but the space created can give you more options for offense, including opening a lane for a drive.

What are the best playmaking badges for a center in NBA 2K23?

Quick First Step

Badge Requirements:Post Control– 80 (Bronze), 87 (Silver), 94 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)OR
Ball Handle– 70 (Bronze), 77 (Silver), 85 (Gold), 89 (Hall of Fame)OR
Speed With Ball– 66 (Bronze), 76 (Silver), 84 (Gold), 88 (Hall of Fame)

Having the Quick First Step badge beats the Dropstepper badge easily as it’s a more effective tool to get past your opponent. The key here is timing and execution.You’ll receive quicker and more effective launches out of the triple threat or size-up.

If you are an agile big, most of your direct opponents won’t be able to keep up with your speed. You could face up, hit a jab step to get them one way, then drive the other way for a bucket and foul opportunity.

Vice Grip

Badge Requirements:Post Control – 45 (Bronze), 57 (Silver), 77 (Gold), 91 (Hall of Fame)OR
Ball Handle – 50 (Bronze), 60 (Silver), 75 (Gold), 90 (Hall of Fame)

The Vice Grip badge works best for big men as drives to the basket or on post ups won’t easily be stripped.Vice Grip increases your ball security against steal attempts. This applies to gaining possession after a rebound, a pass, or a loose ball.

Even the worst defender in the league can get an easy steal when you hit turbo. Having a vice grip on the ball will secure it better and prevent those pesky teammate grade losses for turnovers.

Post Playmaker

Badge Requirements:Pass Accuracy – 45 (Bronze), 59 (Silver), 73 (Gold), 83 (Hall of Fame)

Since the category is playmaking, the Post Playmaker badge will work well with big men in the mold of Nikola Jokić. What this does for a center is that it makes for effective passing as teammates find an open spot while you post up.Specifically, the badge gives your teammates a shot boost when you pass to them out of the post.

Having a better defender over you can sometimes be inevitable so it’s best to use this badge as a bail out policy.If you’re the offensive focus, this is a good badge to have for when you pass out of a double or triple team.

What are the best defensive badges for a center in NBA 2K23?

Anchor

Badge Requirements:Block – 70 (Bronze), 87 (Silver), 93 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)

The Anchor badge is now the top defensive badge in 2K23. It’s what dictates how good you are with blocking shots. It should be easier this year as vertical defenses are stronger. This badge will enhance the success rate of each jump.

Anchor increases your success in blocking sh*ts and protecting the rim. Think of Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid as your models for a defensive anchor.

This is a Tier 3 badge.

Pogo Stick

Badge Requirements:Block – 67 (Bronze), 83 (Silver), 92 (Gold), 98 (Hall of Fame)OR
Offensive Rebound – 69 (Bronze), 84 (Silver), 92 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)OR
Defensive Rebound – 69 (Bronze), 84 (Silver), 92 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)

Since you are already given a better chance of blocking shots with the Anchor badge, there will still be times that your eagerness to block will lead you to bite on a pump fake.

The Pogo Stick badge will make you a better blocker with a quick second jump to swat any shot after the fake.Specifically, Pogo Stick quickens your recovery from a jump so you can attempt another block, rebound, or shot. This is also a Tier 3 badge.

Post Lockdown

Badge Requirements:Interior Defense – 68 (Bronze), 80 (Silver), 88 (Gold), 93 (Hall of Fame)

The Post Lockdown badge is still necessary because most centers will be better than you in the beginning. You need a bit of leverage to score defensive stops.

Having this badge will make sure you stop the offensive man to the best of your current capability.Post Lockdown increases your defense in the post while also upping your chances of stripping the ball in the post. Since centers usually don’t possess the best ball handling, going for a timely swipe on their backdown could lead to an easy steal.

Boxout Beast

Badge Requirements:Offensive Rebound – 48 (Bronze), 67 (Silver), 82 (Gold), 94 (Hall of Fame)OR
Defensive Rebound – 48 (Bronze), 67 (Silver), 82 (Gold), 94 (Hall of Fame)OR
Strength – 60 (Bronze), 70(Silver), 83 (Gold), 91 (Hall of Fame)

Having the Boxout Beast badge helps a lot especially when faced with a better rebounder. It’s all about positioning and this badge aids landing a rebound.Since rebounds will be one of your main ways of accumulating stats as a center, this badge will help you have big rebounding games.

Boxout Beast gives you better ability to boxout and fight for better positioning. Dennis Rodman is always pointed out as a fantastic rebounder who wasn’t tall because of his ability to find great positioning and boxout. Reggie Evans is another example of the now forgotten archetype.

Rebound Chaser

Badge Requirements:Offensive Rebound – 70 (Bronze), 85 (Silver), 93 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)OR
Defensive Rebound – 70 (Bronze), 85 (Silver), 93 (Gold), 99 (Hall of Fame)

While boxing out your opponent will help with rebounds, the Rebound Chaser badge helps secure loose boards. This badge is pretty self-explanatory so it’s best to make this one of your top priorities on the defensive end and pair it with Boxout Beast.

Specifically, this badge improves your ability to track down rebounds from longer distances. Your long arms will help reach long rebounds while your height and wingspan will nab them over smaller players.

This is a Tier 3 badge.

What to expect when using the best badges for a center in NBA 2K23

While it’s harder to score in NBA 2K23, it’s easier for a center to dominate. You can already score points and grab rebounds in the paint with good positioning. Having these badges only mean there’s no reason not to dominate as you progress.

Try mixing things up a bit when it comes to your badge game and you’re definitely going to dominate MyCareer as a center.

For more info on badges, here is our list of the best badges for a 2-way playshot.