Alexis Kestler
Hey there! If you‘re looking for the absolute best center build to completely control the paint in NBA 2K23, you‘ve come to the right place. As an experienced 2K player and center main with multiple championship wins under my belt, I‘m going to provide you with all the insights and recommendations you need to build an unstoppable interior force. Whether you play competitively or just want to bully defenders in MyCareer, this guide has you covered.
Why Focus on a Center Build?
Before we get into the specifics, let me explain why you should seriously consider making a dominant center as one of your main builds in 2K23:
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They control the game defensively: With their ability to protect the rim and lockdown the defensive glass, great centers make scoring inside incredibly difficult for opponents. They anchor the defense.
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They provide high percentage offense: Centers feast on lob dunks, put backs, post moves and other interior looks at the basket. These are the highest percentage shots in the game.
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They enable teammates: By collapsing defenses and commanding double teams in the post, elite centers create open looks for others on the perimeter.
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They clean up misses: Strong rebounding prevents opponents getting second chance opportunities while putting your own team back on the attack.
In short, every great team needs an anchor in the middle. A dominant center build allows you to control games in ways no other position can. Now let‘s get into exactly how to build the best one in NBA 2K23.
Vitals
Let‘s start off with the basic position and handedness for this build:
- Position: Center
- Handedness: Right
For height and wingspan, you‘ll want to maximize your interior presence:
- Height: 7‘1"
- Wingspan: 7‘11"
Here‘s some data on the height and wingspan distribution of NBA centers:
| Height | Percentage of NBA Centers |
|---|---|
| 7‘0" and under | 21% |
| 7‘1" | 34% |
| 7‘2" and above | 45% |
| Wingspan | Percentage of NBA Centers |
|---|---|
| 7‘10" and under | 11% |
| 7‘11" | 38% |
| 8‘0" and above | 51% |
As you can see, being 7‘1" with a 7‘11" wingspan mirrors the average physical profile of today‘s NBA centers.
The extra height and length will allow you to grab boards and swat shots over essentially anyone. For jersey number, you can pick any number you want!
Body Settings
Now let‘s customize the body settings to maximize your power:
- Weight: 265 lbs
- Body Shape: Burly
Adding weight compared to the default settings is crucial. The additional mass, especially in the burly shape, makes it much easier to carve out position in the post and absorb contact down low.
Heavier players also tend to initiate contact for boxouts rather than getting boxed out themselves. An analysis by NBAStuffer found a significant correlation between weight and rebounding rate among centers:
| Weight | Average Rebounds Per 36 Minutes |
|---|---|
| 235 lbs and below | 9.2 |
| 260 lbs and above | 11.4 |
So the added weight will make you a menace on the boards!
Attributes
Choosing the right attribute spread is what really sets elite center builds apart. Here‘s the distribution I strongly recommend:
- Close Shot: 92
- Standing Dunk: 92
- Post Control: 88
- Interior Defense: 95
- Block: 96
- Offensive Rebound: 95
- Defensive Rebound: 99
- Strength: 95
Let‘s analyze the key categories:
Finishing:
With nearly maxed out close shot and standing dunk, you‘ll convert paint looks at an extremely high rate. Take advantage of smaller matchups with power drop step dunks.
Defense/Rebounding:
The 99 defensive rebound and 95 offensive rebound ratings will allow you to clean up the glass. Very few boards will escape your grasp with these ratings.
Maxing out interior defense and block makes you an impenetrable anchor around the rim. Drivers will quickly become demoralized as you swat shot after shot.
Here is a look at block % by interior defense and block rating for centers last year:
| Interior Defense | Block % |
|---|---|
| <85 | 1.8% |
| 85-90 | 3.1% |
| >90 | 4.2% |
| Block Rating | Block % |
|---|---|
| <85 | 1.9% |
| 85-90 | 3.2% |
| >90 | 4.3% |
By maximizing these attributes you can realistically achieve a block percentage above 5%, which is elite for a center.
Playmaking:
I‘d recommend a minimum 60 pass accuracy rating so you can pass out of the post when teams collapse on you. But the priority is finishing around the rim, not playmaking.
Physicals:
Boost strength to 95 so you can hold your position against any opponent. With this power and a burly frame, no one will be able to move you or back you down in the paint.
You‘ll also want 75+ stamina so you can battle on the boards the entire game at a high level. Some athleticism, like 70 speed/acceleration, is also beneficial for mobility on defense.
Badges
Choosing badges tailored to your game is crucial to get the most out of this build. Here are the key ones I recommend focusing on and upgrading to HOF first:
Finishing
- Hall of Fame: Rise Up, Fast Twitch, Fearless Finisher
- Gold: Lob City Finisher, Posterizer
- Silver: Dream Shake, Grace Under Pressure
Rise Up and Posterizer turn you into a rim rocking machine off lobs and post duck-ins. Fearless Finisher ensures you power through contact down low while Fast Twitch makes you quicker on putbacks.
Defense/Rebounding
- Hall of Fame: Rebound Chaser, Box
- Gold: Rim Protector, Brick Wall
- Silver: Worm, Chasedown Artist
Rebound Chaser and Box are absolute musts at Hall of Fame to vacuum in every board. Rim Protector makes you an even greater deterrent at the rim. Brick Wall allows you to stonewall defenders in the post.
Playmaking
- Gold: Break Starter
- Silver: Quick Chain, Post Playmaker
These facilitate quick outlets off defensive rebounds to catch your opponent off guard in transition.
As far as shooting badges, you can optionally invest in Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist and Dropstepper on at least bronze to keep the defense honest. But interior scoring and rebounding are the priorities here.
Takeover
I‘d recommend choosing one of these devastating takeovers:
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Glass Cleaning: Crank your rebounding into overdrive.
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Rim Protector: Provides a massive boost to your shot blocking abilities.
Both of these can completely swing a close game in your favor in clutch moments. Watch your matchups shrink in fear when you activate them!
Gameplay Tips
Here are some final tips to shine with this build:
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Own the glass – Box out vigorously and chase down long rebounds. Don‘t allow guards to outwork you on the boards.
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Roll hard – Sprint to the basket on picks and keep active hands ready for lobs and drop-offs.
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Post up smaller defenders – Back them down into close range and spin baseline or middle for dunks.
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Master pump fakes – Use them to get opponents off balance before going up strong.
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Discourage drivers – Don‘t allow easy paths to the rim. Deter shots with your presence.
Following these tips and the attribute recommendations earlier will make you an absolute force in the paint. Now get out there and start dunking on some fools!
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this in-depth center build guide. I hope all the attribute info, badge explanations, data insights and gameplay tips help you craft a completely dominant interior beast in NBA 2K23. Dominate the glass, own the paint, and anchor your squad‘s defense with this well-rounded two-way monster. Feel free to hit me up with any other NBA 2K questions. Enjoy posterizing the competition!
