Learn How Badges Work in NBA 2K24 and Which are The BEST Ones! (2024)

NBA 2K24 was one of the most anticipated entries in the franchise. Fans had high expectations for this game but 2K wasn't able to meet them, with the game receiving plenty of bad reviews since launch.

However, the game still sold millions of copies with fans from all around the world buying one of the many NBA 2K24 editions.

Badges have been a key element of the NBA 2K franchise for a while. That isn't changing in NBA 2K24, meaning players need to know which badges are good, okay, and which ones they should avoid.

So, without further ado, let's find out everything about badges in NBA 2K24.

How badges work in NBA 2K24

Badges allow you to substantially improve a specific skill of your player's game. They can be used in MyTEAM and MyCAREER, and serve the same purpose. Help you upgrade your players' attributes, and allow them to reach their full potential.

There are a plethora of badges in NBA 2K24, and they are divided into five categories. These categories are finishing, shooting, defense, playmaking, and physicals.

Inside each category, there are many badges players can acquire and upgrade. To do that, they need to play games and gain points. These points can then be used to unlock badges.

Every badge has four tiers. These tiers are bronze, silver, gold, and Hall of Fame. There is also a limit on how many badges from each category a player can get. That limit depends on the players' build if we are talking about MyPLAYER or its badge slots for MyTeam.

In NBA 2K24, badges will evolve depending on how much you use them in-game. So if you want to have a Hall of Fame Limitless Range badge, you need to hit long rage three-point shoots pretty much every game. This year it's also possible to lose progress in a badge if you aren't using it in games, with the badge being able to drop as low as bronze.

Because of that, it's extremely important to know which are the best badges in the game.

Best badges in NBA 2K23

With NBA 2K4 being out for quite some time now, we already know which are the best badges in the game. This can change throughout the year, as new updates and patches go live. So, we will make sure to update this article regularly.

In NBA 2K24, the Green Machine badge is incredibly strong. This badge gives you "an additional shot boost" when you are able to achieve consecutive green releases.

However, this badge has a lot of skill involved, as you need to be very familiar with your shooting animation and have regular excellent releases to use it. This is made even harder for how inconsistent shooting is in NBA 2K24

Another great badge in NBA 2K24 is Ankle Breaker. This badge has been strong since the release of the game, and we don't expect that to change any time soon.

This badge increases the chances of players "breaking their opponents' ankles" when performing dribble moves. It's very strong since it helps you create a lot of separation from the defender and get a wide-open shot.

The Anchor badge was one of the best defensive badges in NBA 2K23, and it continues to be in this year's title. If your MyPLAYER character is a Center you need to have this badge, as it will help you "Increase your ability to block shots and protect the rim".

Because of that, protecting the rim will become much easier, meaning you will have an easier time blocking shots, gaining rebounds, and boxing out opponents. With the Anchor badge, players become a dominant force under the basket.

Post Spin is arguably the best finishing badge in NBA 2K24. If you want to finish at the rim with consistency, or post spins are a big part of your arsenal, then this badge is a must-have. It drastically improves your chances of performing post-spin moves and lowers your chance of being stripped.

Changes we want to see in NBA 2K24

There are a couple of badges that need to be changed in NBA 2K24. Some need a boost, others a nerf, while others should arguably be removed from the title, even though that is not likely to happen.

Among the badges that need a change, we have the Handles for Days one. This badge has been strong since it was introduced to the game. In NBA 2K24 every guard player needs to have this badge in the Hall of Fame tier.

If this badge is tuned down, we can see way more unselfish gameplay in The REC or Pro-am. Instead of players just spamming dribble moves, we can have some ball movement and see "real basketball" being played. So, a little nerf to the Handles for Days badge would be more than appropriate.

The Chase Down Artist badge is one badge in specific that needs to be buffed in NBA 2K24. This badge seemed almost useless in NBA 2K23, and it didn't change much in NBA 2K24. It isn't worth having this badge in the majority of builds, as the percentage of success is too low, and it's also quite hard to upgrade it.

Another badge that also needs a significant buff or a major change is the Unpluckable badge. This badge is almost impossible to upgrade, and even if you manage to upgrade it to gold or above, you will still get stripped of the ball just as easily as when you had it on bronze. Furthermore, with the steals mechanic in NBA 2K24 being completely broken, this badge is useless.

We hope this guide helped you understand which are the best badges in NBA 2K24, and which ones you should avoid. Hopefully, you will now have an easier time selecting your MyPLAYER badges. For more guides and all the latest news about NBA 2K24, check out Realsport101.