NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

Point Guard: Playmaking Shot Creator

With the new NBA2K being released last month, NBA2K fans all over the world rushed to buy the game, and began on their journey to creating the ideal archetypes for MyCareer and the neighbourhood.

With more possibilities and builds to choose from this year due to pie charts being added into the game, the decisions become harder and harder, as nobody wants to waste their hard-earned VC into a build they will find out is not good enough in a week or two.

NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

That's why you've come to this article. We list the top archetypes that you should build in NBA2K21, to become unbeatable in each position.

Point Guard: Playmaking Shot Creator

Build Creation: Skill Breakdown - Playmaking/Shooting, Physical Profile - #1, Agility

Player Creation: Height - 6'5", Weight - 178 Pounds, Wingspan - 77.0 inches

Takeover: Spot Up Shooter

Washington Wizards v Golden State Warriors

Setting Your Potential:

When setting your potential for this build, you must be careful to not overload all your attributes into one category. The best way to go about this is to not only max out your abilities, but also the number of badges you can unlock.

This build will allow you to achieve 23 playmaking, 22 shooting, 1 finishing and 9 defensive badges, making the player the perfect all-around point guard archetype in NBA2K.

To maximise your build's potential capabilities, you will want to max out:

Driving Dunk
Midrange shot, Three-point shot, Free throws
Pass Accuracy, Ball Handling
All defensive attributes maxed out, except for Interior Defence

The rest of your attributes will then be split between driving layup (71), post moves (53) and Post Fades (51).

Badges:

As is the case with a majority of player creations in this version of NBA2K, the badges are vital to the success of a build. The wrong badges can completely ruin your build, and instead of having a career similar to Steph Curry, you might be lucky to even become a starter. This build will allow you to get 55 badge upgrades, with 8 Hall of Fame badges, 5 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronze. The recommended badges are as follows:

Shooting:

Range Extender (HOF), Green Machine (HOF), Deadeye (HOF), Tireless Shooter (HOF), Volume Shooter (GOLD), Hot Zone Hunter (GOLD).

Playmaking:

Handles For Days (HOF), Dimer (HOF), Floor Genera (HOF)l, Quick First Step (HOF), Tight Handles (GOLD), Unpluckable (SILVER), Bail Out (SILVER).

Def/Reb:

Clamps (GOLD), Intimidator (GOLD), Pick Dodger (Silver), Pick Pocket (Bronze)

Finishing:

Slither Finisher (Bronze).

Shooting Guard: Playmaking Shot Creator

Los Angeles Lakers v Houston Rockets - Game Four

NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

Build Creation: Skill Breakdown - Shooting/Playmaking, Physical Profile - #1, Agility

Player Creation: Height - 6'4", Weight - 175 Pounds, Wingspan - 76.0 inches

Takeover: Shot Creating

Setting Your Potential:

Similar to the best shooting guard in the NBA right now (James Harden), if made correctly, this build will allow you to be an elite passer and shooter, while still having above-average finishing at the rim and passable defence. To do this in NBA2K21, max out:

Driving Layup, Driving Dunk
Mid Range, Three Pointer, Free Throw
Pass Accuracy, Ball Handle
Perimeter Defence, Lateral Quickness, Steal, O Rebound and D Rebound.

Once these categories are maxed out on NBA2K21, the remaining points will be used to upgrade post moves and post fades until you have 22 and 25 playmaking and shooting badges respectively.

Badges:

When this build reaches it's maximum potential on NBA2K21, it will have 56 badge unlocks, split up as 25 Shooting, 22 Playmaking, 8 Defence, and 1 Finishing. The best badges for each of these NBA2K21 sections are:

Finishing:

Sltihery Finisher (Bronze)

Shooting:

Catch and Shoot (Silver), Volume Shooter (Gold), Deadeye (HOF), Green Machine (HOF), Difficult Shots (HOF), Hot Zone Hunter (HOF), Range Extender (HOF).

Playmaking:

Ankle Breaker (Silver), Bail Out (Silver), Dimer (Silver), Floor General (HOF), Quick First Step (HOF), Unpluckable (HOF), Space Creator (HOF).

Def/Reb:

Rebound Chaser (Bronze), Interceptor (Bronze), Clamps (Gold), Intimidator (Gold).

Small Forward: Slasher

New Orleans Pelicans v Los Angeles Lakers

NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

Build Creation: Skill Breakdown - 60/40 Slashing/Shooting, Physical Profile - #1, Agility

Player Creation: Height - 6'6", Weight - 180 Pounds, Wingspan - 87.0 inches

Takeover: Slashing

Setting Your Potential:

This build will allow you to basically do everything at an above-average level in NBA2K21, thereby creating the perfect small forward for a team in the neighbourhood, NBA, or ProAm in NBA2K21. To reach this potential you will want to max out all of the following attributes.

Close Shot, Driving Layup, Driving Dunk, Standing Dunk
Mid Range, Three Pointer, Free Throw
Pass Accuracy, Ball Handle
Perimeter Defence, Lateral Quickness, Steal

The remaining upgrades will go to Defensive Rebound (63).

Badges:

The Badges that will work best with this build are as follows:

Finishing: (All HOF)

Contact Finisher, Fancy Footwork, Giant Slayer, Pro Touch.

Shooting: (All Gold)

Catch and Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Green Machine, Hot Zone Hunter, Deadeye, Range Extender.

Playmaking: (All Gold)

Quick First Step, Space Creator, Unpluckable

Def/Reb:

Clamps (Silver), Intimidator (Bronze)

Power Forward: Lob Threat

NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

Build Creation: Skill Breakdown - Finishing, Physical Profile - Balanced

Player Creation: Height - 6'8", Weight - 255 Pounds, Wingspan - 88.0 inches

Takeover: Slashing

Setting Your Potential:

To maximize this slashing big man's effectiveness in NBA2K21, the attribute upgrades you want are as follows:

Close Shot (87), Driving Layup (77), Driving Dunk (91), Standing Dunk (92)
Mid Range (Max), Three Pointer (Max), Free Throw (74), Post Fade (Max)
Interior Defence (Max), Perimeter Defence (56), Lateral Quickness (Max), Steal (64), Block (max), O Rebound (Max) and D Rebound (Max).

Badges:

The attributes for this NBA2K21 build will give you access to 23 finishing, 10 shooting, 1 playmaking and 12 Defending badge upgrades, which will be optimised when added similar to this.

Finishing:

Lob City Finisher (HOF), Slithery Finisher (HOF), Giant Slayer (HOF), Contact Finisher (HOF), Fancy Footwork (HOF), Acrobat (Gold)

Shooting:

Catch N Shoot (Gold), Corner Specialist (Gold), Range Extender (Gold). Green Machine (Bronze)

Playmaking:

Bail Out (Bronze)

Def/Reb:

Brick Wall (Gold), Intimidator (Gold), Rim Protector (Gold), Tireless Defender (Gold)

Centre: Glass Cleaner

Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks - Game Three

NBA2K21: Best Archetypes in the Game

Build Creation: Skill Breakdown - Defending/Shooting, Physical Profile - #4, Agility/Vertical

Player Creation: Height - 6'10", Weight - 242 Pounds, Wingspan - 88.0 inches

Takeover: Rim Protector

Setting Your Potential:

With this shooting centre build, you'll be a great stretch five for your NBA2K21 team, and will also be able to anchor the defensive side of the game. The attributes you want to set are as follows:

Close shot (84), Driving Dunk (57), Standing Dunk (76), Post Hook (67)
Mid Range (68), Three-Pointers (66), Free Throw (82), Post Fade (80)
Interior Defence (82), Lateral Quickness (48), Block (87), O Rebound (80) and D Rebound (88)

Badges:

The above NBA2K21 attributes will give you access to 11 finishing, 19 shooting, 1 playmaking and 20 fefending badge upgrades, which will be optimised when added similar to this.

Finishing:

Relentless Finisher (Silver), Lob City Finisher (Gold), Contact Finisher (Gold), Slithery Finisher (Gold)

Shooting:

Catch and Shoot (HOF), Green Machine (Gold), Hot Zone Hunter (HOF), Deadeye (HOF), Range Extender (HOF)

Playmaking:

Bail Out (Bronze)

Def/Reb: (All HOF)

Brick Wall, Intimidator, Rim Protector, Rebound Chaser, Post Move Lockdown