Older games · Badge unlocks
Old NBA 2K Badge Unlock Requirements
Before 2K21, badges were earned by playing, not by hitting an attribute rating. These are the unlock requirements for NBA 2K15 through 2K20, the games before attribute-rating badges. They cover how many corner threes, contact dunks and assists it took, plus the streaks, discipline levels and connections behind the personality badges. 2K20 switched to badge points with no published counts, and 2K13 and 2K14 had Signature Skills rather than badges (listed at the bottom of this page), and 2K12 and earlier had neither.
NBA 2K20 badge unlocks
2K20 ended the count-based unlocks. After each game you earned badge points, attribute points and VC, and spent badge points to add or upgrade badges through Bronze, Silver, Gold and Hall of Fame. You could add, remove or lower badges at will with no regrinding. Slots grew with your overall (an 80 overall had about 5), and archetypes got more badges, and higher tiers, in their main skill, with weaker areas capped below Hall of Fame. There are no published point costs or attribute thresholds, so this section lists the 75 badges and what each does. NBA2KW, Sports Gamers Online's official list and SegmentNext all name the same badges; 2K said close to 80 badges in total, with some exclusive to Neighborhood and Playground.
Finishing
| Acrobat | What it does: boosts difficult layups (spin, half-spin, hop-step, euro-step, cradle, reverse, change-shot) |
| Backdown Punisher | What it does: improves backing down a defender in the paint |
| Consistent Finisher | What it does: cuts the penalty for poorly released layups |
| Contact Finisher | What it does: converts contact layups and dunks in traffic more often |
| Cross-Key Scorer | What it does: boosts layups and close shots when moving across the paint |
| Deep Hooks | What it does: reduces the distance penalty on post hooks |
| Dropstepper | What it does: makes post drop-steps and hop-steps work better and protects the ball |
| Fancy Footwork | What it does: helps you beat defenders with euro, cradle, hop-step and spin gathers |
| Fastbreak Finisher | What it does: extra Takeover meter for dunking on a fast break |
| Giant Slayer | What it does: better layups over taller defenders, fewer blocks |
| Lob City Finisher | What it does: better alley-oop finishes |
| Pick & Roller | What it does: shot boost as the roller shortly after the catch |
| Pro Touch | What it does: extra boost for good layup timing, even slightly early or late |
| Putback Boss | What it does: boosts putbacks right after an offensive rebound |
| Relentless Finisher | What it does: less energy lost finishing through contact |
| Showtime | What it does: Takeover boost for you and teammates after an and-1 or flashy dunk |
| Slithery Finisher | What it does: slide through traffic and avoid contact at the rim |
| Tear Dropper | What it does: better floaters and runners |
Shooting
| Catch & Shoot | What it does: shooting boost right after catching a pass |
| Clutch Shooter | What it does: boost on shots late in the 4th quarter and overtime |
| Corner Specialist | What it does: boost on shots near the corner |
| Deadeye | What it does: less penalty from a closing-out defender (Deep and Mid-Range Deadeye were merged) |
| Deep Fades | What it does: less distance penalty on post fadeaways |
| Difficult Shots | What it does: boost on hop-step, spin, step-back and pull-up jumpers |
| Flexible Release | What it does: smaller penalty for early or late jump shot releases |
| Green Machine | What it does: bigger bonus for consecutive excellent releases |
| Hot Start | What it does: shooting bonus from the first make until your first miss |
| Hot Zone Hunter | What it does: boost on shots from your favorite spots |
| Ice In Veins | What it does: better free throws in close second halves and overtime, with a wider timing window |
| Pick & Popper | What it does: boost on shots after setting a screen |
| Pump Fake Maestro | What it does: less penalty for shooting after pump fakes |
| Quick Draw | What it does: faster jump shot release |
| Range Extender | What it does: adds distance to your effective shot range |
| Slippery Off-Ball | What it does: get open off screens more effectively |
| Steady Shooter | What it does: smaller penalty on contested shots, smaller bonus on open ones |
| Tireless Shooter | What it does: smaller fatigue penalty on jump shots |
| Volume Shooter | What it does: bigger boost as your shot attempts pile up |
Playmaking
| Ankle Breaker | What it does: defenders stumble or fall more often on your dribble moves |
| Bail Out | What it does: more accurate passes out of mid-air |
| Break Starter | What it does: more accurate outlet passes after a defensive rebound |
| Dimer | What it does: boosts open teammates' jump shots after your pass |
| Downhill | What it does: faster speed with the ball in transition |
| Dream Shake | What it does: post fakes fool defenders more and shots after fakes get a boost |
| Flashy Passer | What it does: extra Takeover meter on flashy-pass assists |
| Floor General | What it does: offensive boosts for teammates, and at Hall of Fame you can see their shot percentages |
| Handles for Days | What it does: less energy lost on dribble moves |
| Lob City Passer | What it does: more accurate alley-oop passes |
| Needle Threader | What it does: tough passes get through tight windows more often |
| Pass Fake Maestro | What it does: quicker, tighter pass fakes |
| Post Spin Technician | What it does: post spins and drives work better with less risk of a strip |
| Quick First Step | What it does: more explosive first steps out of triple threat and size-ups |
| Space Creator | What it does: more separation on step-back moves and shots |
| Stop & Go | What it does: start and stop with the ball quickly using exclusive launches |
| Tight Handles | What it does: better ball handling in size-ups |
| Unpluckable | What it does: harder for defenders to strip you on dribble moves |
Defense and rebounding
| Box | What it does: stronger box-outs |
| Brick Wall | What it does: more effective screens that drain energy from opponents on contact |
| Chase Down Artist | What it does: speed and leaping boost when chasing down a player for a block |
| Clamps | What it does: stay in front of ball handlers with quicker cut-offs and better bumps |
| Defensive Leader | What it does: defensive boosts for teammates, and at Hall of Fame you can see opponents' shot percentages |
| Heart Crusher | What it does: drains the opponent's Takeover meter after a block or steal |
| Interceptor | What it does: more steals in passing lanes |
| Intimidator | What it does: shooters miss more often when you contest and your shot defense improves |
| Lightning Reflexes | What it does: earlier Read and React cue on defense |
| Moving Truck | What it does: push opponents out of the post more easily |
| Off-Ball Pest | What it does: harder to get past off the ball, fewer ankle breakers |
| Pick Dodger | What it does: navigate screens better on defense |
| Pick Pocket | What it does: more steals and fewer fouls on strip attempts |
| Pogo Stick | What it does: go back up quickly for repeat block attempts |
| Post Move Lockdown | What it does: prevents more offensive post moves |
| Rebound Chaser | What it does: track down rebounds from farther away |
| Rim Protector | What it does: better shot blocking, special block animations and Takeover boosts |
| Tireless Defender | What it does: lose less energy playing aggressive defense |
| Trapper | What it does: forces more pick-ups and turnovers when trapping |
| Worm | What it does: swim or spin around box-outs more easily |
NBA 2K19 badge unlocks
Badges had Bronze, Silver, Gold, Hall of Fame and Grand levels. Counts below are what Twinfinite and RealSport101 list; where they differ, it is noted.
Inside scoring
| Relentless FinisherTakes physical punishment on contact shots near the rim without severely impacting his energy. | Attempt 75 contact layups and/or dunks |
| AcrobatCan attempt layups with few consequences. | Make 15 reverse layups and 5 change-shot layups in one season |
| Pick and Roller | Call for and execute 100 pick-and-rolls in a season |
| Post Spin TechnicianDominates the post with spin and drive moves. | Spin or drive out of the post 100 times in a season |
| Putback KingKnown for his ability to score baskets immediately off of offensive rebounds near the hoop. | Score a set number of putbacksNo exact number listed |
| Dream-Like Up and Under | Attempt 50 up-and-under shots in a season |
| Drop-StepperKnown for his ability to user the drop step move to his advantage in the post. | Execute 30 drop-step moves |
| Tear DropperExcels at making floaters and runners | Make 50 floaters in a season |
Outside scoring
| Deep Range DeadeyeKnocks down contested shots from deep range at a very high percentage. | Hit 100 contested deep-range shots |
| Mid-Range DeadeyeKnocks down the contested shots from medium-range at very high percentage. | Score 150 contested shots from the elbow |
| Pick & PopperExcels as a pick & pop receiver. | Score 200 times as the pick-and-pop man |
| Limitless RangeCan knock down very deep threes better than most. | Hit 50 long-range shots from before the hashmark |
| Corner SpecialistKnown for his ability to knock down threes from the corner. | Make 25 corner threes |
| Difficult ShotsKnown for making tough shots off the dribble. | Make 100 contested pull-up and hop shotsOne guide says 100 to 200 |
| Catch & ShootHits stand-still shots off the catch at a high percentage. | Score 100 times off a catch-and-shootOnly one guide lists this |
| Tireless ScorerA player who can spend a good deal of energy without losing effectiveness when attempting to score. | Attempt 200 shots while your energy bar is redOnly one guide lists this |
Playmaking
| Ankle BreakerCan cause his defender to stumble or fall with his dribble moves. | Get a double move that leads to a score 200 times |
| Break StarterStarts fast breaks with accurate outlet passes. | Make successful outlet passes in transition after a defensive reboundOne guide says 50; the other gives no number |
| Pick & Roll MaestroThrows accurate passes and hits shots off screens at a high percentage while orchestrating a pick & roll. | Call for 150 screens in a season |
| Lob City PasserCompletes alley-oop passes at a high rate. | Perform 50 alley-oops in a season |
| Flashy PasserKnown for throwing on-point flashy passes to his receivers. | Complete 50 flashy passes in a season |
| DimerAn elite passer known for hitting teammates in the correct position to score. | Get 300 assists |
Athleticism
| BruiserThe physical nature of this player drains energy from his match-up. | Get physical with opponents a set number of timesNo exact number listed |
| Lob City FinisherCatches and finishes alley-oops better than others. | Finish 15 lobs, layups or dunks |
| Brick WallSets extremely effective screens and drains energy from opponents on pick collisions. | Successfully execute 100 screens |
| PosterizerWill succeed at dunking on opposing defenders more often than others. | Make 15 contact dunks |
| One Man Fast BreakExcels at taking the ball coast to coast on a fast break. | Score 100 times on the fast break |
Rebounding
| Hustle RebounderAn elite rebounder known for chasing rebounds out of his area. | Get 70 offensive and 250 defensive rebounds |
Defense
| Charge CardAdept at placing himself in position to win charge calls. | Take 7 chargesOne guide says 7; the other just says repeatedly |
| Pick DodgerA slithery player who can get around screens easily. | Use turbo to get through screens multiple times |
| Defensive StopperWhile playing on-ball defense, this badge drops various offensive skills of similarly positioned match-ups. | Earn multiple good-shot-defense, good-transition-defense and stop-fastbreak teammate grades |
| Rim ProtectorAn elite shot-blocker who intimidates those around the rim, causing interior shots to be less effective. | Constant rim defenseNo exact number listed |
| Chase Down ArtistTerrific transition shot-blocker. | Stop fast breaks with chase-down playsNo exact number listed |
| Pick PocketKnown for his ability to strip the ball from a ball-handler. | Cause 50 loose ballsOnly one guide lists this |
NBA 2K18 badge unlocks
2K18 added a badge progress bar and point system, let you earn badges in any mode (MyCAREER, Pro-Am, Park, practice drills and workouts), and dropped Grand badges, leaving Bronze, Silver, Gold and Hall of Fame. Counts stayed close to 2K17's. Hall of Fame is believed to need roughly 3 to 4 times the Bronze requirement (unconfirmed); one guide gives Ankle Breaker as 800 total assists and Dimer as 1,200. The guides below (Sports Gamers Online, Gosunoob and NBA2KW) differ in places, so those rows show both numbers.
Inside scoring
| AcrobatCan attempt layups with few consequences. | Do 15 reverse layups and 5 change-shot layups in one season |
| Tear DropperExcels at making floaters and runners | Make 50 floaters in a season |
| Putback KingKnown for his ability to score baskets immediately off of offensive rebounds near the hoop. | Score 50 times after offensive rebounds |
| Pick and Roller | Execute 100 pick-and-rolls (or score 100 times as the roller) |
| Relentless FinisherTakes physical punishment on contact shots near the rim without severely impacting his energy. | Attempt 75 contact layups |
| Post Spin TechnicianDominates the post with spin and drive moves. | Perform 100 post spins or drives in a season |
| Drop-StepperKnown for his ability to user the drop step move to his advantage in the post. | Attempt 30 drop steps in a season |
| Dream-Like Up and Under | Attempt 50 up-and-under shots out of the post in a season |
Outside scoring
| Corner SpecialistKnown for his ability to knock down threes from the corner. | Hit 25 three-pointers from the corner |
| Mid-Range DeadeyeKnocks down the contested shots from medium-range at very high percentage. | Score 200 heavily contested mid-range shots |
| Deep Range DeadeyeKnocks down contested shots from deep range at a very high percentage. | Score 100 heavily contested deep-range shots |
| Limitless RangeCan knock down very deep threes better than most. | Hit 50 threes from before the hashmark |
| Difficult ShotsKnown for making tough shots off the dribble. | Hit contested pull-ups, hop shots, step-backs and leanersSGO: 100 to 200 pull and hop shots; Gosunoob: 150 combined |
| Pick & PopperExcels as a pick & pop receiver. | Score 200 times as the pick-and-pop man |
| Tireless ScorerA player who can spend a good deal of energy without losing effectiveness when attempting to score. | Attempt 200 shots while exhausted (energy bar red) |
| Catch & ShootHits stand-still shots off the catch at a high percentage. | Take 100 shots off the catch in a seasonSGO and NBA2KW count scores; Gosunoob counts attempts |
| Free Throw Ace | Shoot and make a lot of free throwsNo exact number listed |
Playmaking
| Ankle BreakerCan cause his defender to stumble or fall with his dribble moves. | Land a double move leading to a score (or a dribble combo followed by an assist) 200 timesHall of Fame: 800 total assists, per NBA2KW |
| DimerAn elite passer known for hitting teammates in the correct position to score. | Get 300 assists in a seasonNBA2KW: 100 to 300 in a season, with Hall of Fame at 1,200 total assists |
| Glue Hands | Make difficult catches by winning 50/50 playsNo exact number listed |
| Flashy PasserKnown for throwing on-point flashy passes to his receivers. | Throw 50 flashy passes in a season |
| Break StarterStarts fast breaks with accurate outlet passes. | Throw 50 outlet passes after a defensive rebound |
| Lob City PasserCompletes alley-oop passes at a high rate. | Do 50 alley-oops in a season |
| Pick & Roll MaestroThrows accurate passes and hits shots off screens at a high percentage while orchestrating a pick & roll. | Call for 150 screens with the pick-and-roll mechanic in a season |
Athleticism
| Lob City FinisherCatches and finishes alley-oops better than others. | Finish 15 alley-oops in a season |
| PosterizerWill succeed at dunking on opposing defenders more often than others. | Attempt or make 15 contact dunks in a season |
| Brick WallSets extremely effective screens and drains energy from opponents on pick collisions. | Set 100 good screens in a season |
| One Man Fast BreakExcels at taking the ball coast to coast on a fast break. | Score on the fast break 75 times in a single seasonGosunoob and NBA2KW say 75; one SGO list says 100 |
| Quick Reflexes | Get deflections and interceptions in games, and/or do the reaction drill at the training facilityNo exact number listed |
| BruiserThe physical nature of this player drains energy from his match-up. | Set pick-and-rolls and make the defender push youNo exact number listed |
Rebounding
| Hustle RebounderAn elite rebounder known for chasing rebounds out of his area. | Grab a large number of reboundsNBA2KW: 150 offensive + about 600 defensive; Gosunoob: 600 total with 150 offensive; SGO: 70 offensive + 250 defensive |
Defense
| Charge CardAdept at placing himself in position to win charge calls. | Take 7 charges in a season |
| Pick PocketKnown for his ability to strip the ball from a ball-handler. | Poke the ball loose 50 times in a season |
| Rim ProtectorAn elite shot-blocker who intimidates those around the rim, causing interior shots to be less effective. | Block 80 shots in a seasonGosunoob and NBA2KW; SGO gives no number |
| Chase Down ArtistTerrific transition shot-blocker. | Perform chase-down blocksNBA2KW: 25; Gosunoob: 7 in a season; SGO gives no number |
| Defensive StopperWhile playing on-ball defense, this badge drops various offensive skills of similarly positioned match-ups. | Get 150 shot contests plus 25 to 50 good fast-break defense stops in one seasonNBA2KW: 50; Gosunoob: 25 |
| Pick DodgerA slithery player who can get around screens easily. | Use turbo to run through screens |
Personality
| Alpha DogTeam leader who takes it upon himself to lead his team to victory. | Be the highest rated player in 20 consecutive games |
| Clutch PerformerSteps his game up in big games and big moments. | Shoot over 40% in the final minutes of a game |
| Spark PlugComes off the bench or comes out of timeouts making big plays that can energize his teammates. | Average 7 points per game off the bench over 6 straight games |
| EnforcerCan wreak havoc on the floor with tough and physical play. | Make 10 hard, non-flagrant fouls in a season |
| Floor GeneralAn offensive leader who can help his teammates play better on offense while he's on the floor | Reach Playmaker discipline 18 and average 5 assists over 30 or more games |
| HardenedWill play through fatigue and injury without experiencing a severe drop in skill. | Average 80% of the team's minutes over 20 straight gamesGosunoob adds Stamina and Durability 90 |
| Defensive AnchorDefensive leader who helps his teammates perform better defensively. | Reach Defender discipline 18 and play at least 30 games |
| Championship DNACan quickly see where double teams are coming from. Also steps up his game in playoff moments. | Win an NBA championship |
| MicrowaveA player who heats up quicker than most. | Make your player hot (two red rings) in 7 to 10 straight gamesSGO: 7 games; Gosunoob: 10 |
| All-Time GreatStrives to be known as an all-time great. | FGA well above assists (4:1 to 8:1 depending on position) over 15 consecutive games |
| Low Ego | FGA less than about 2:1 versus assists over 15 consecutive games |
| ExpressiveHas no problems expressing his feelings. | Celebrate every time the prompt appears |
| Legendary Work EthicFirst one to the gym, last one to leave and the hardest worker at all times. | Accept the offer to shoot more before a game |
| Pat My Back | Improve your performance in the five games after a motivational speech |
| Unpredictable | Earn Laid Back or Expressive first, then answer in the opposite tone |
| Wildcard | Be as inconsistent as possible with your stats |
NBA 2K17 badge unlocks
Badges had Bronze, Silver, Gold, Hall of Fame and Grand levels, and your archetype started you with a few. You earned Bronze by hitting the count below, then bought Silver and Gold with VC. Hall of Fame could not be bought: once a badge was Gold you had to earn it again by repeating the requirement at a much higher count (Sports Gamers Online's example: Dimer was 300 assists for Bronze, then 1,200 for Hall of Fame). Hall of Fame only existed on the badges your archetype could upgrade, and each archetype had one Grand badge. Counts are from Sports Gamers Online and Gosunoob; differences between them are noted.
Inside scoring
| AcrobatCan attempt layups with few consequences. | Perform reverse layups and change-shot layups in a seasonOne guide: 15 reverse + 5 change-shot layups; the other: 15 reverse layups or euro steps |
| Tear DropperExcels at making floaters and runners | Make 50 floaters in a season |
| Putback KingKnown for his ability to score baskets immediately off of offensive rebounds near the hoop. | Score 50 times after offensive rebounds |
| Pick & RollerExcels as the roller in the pick & roll game. | Score as the roller 100 timesOne guide says 100 to 200 |
| Relentless FinisherTakes physical punishment on contact shots near the rim without severely impacting his energy. | Attempt 75 contact layups/dunks in a season |
| Post Spin TechnicianDominates the post with spin and drive moves. | Spin or drive out of the post 100 times in a season |
| Drop-StepperKnown for his ability to user the drop step move to his advantage in the post. | Do 30 drop-step moves in a season |
| Dream-Like Up and Under | Attempt 50 up-and-under shots out of the post in a season |
Outside scoring
| Corner SpecialistKnown for his ability to knock down threes from the corner. | Make 25 corner threes |
| Mid-Range DeadeyeKnocks down the contested shots from medium-range at very high percentage. | Hit contested shots from the elbow inside the paintOne guide: 150 to 200; the other: 200 |
| Deep Range DeadeyeKnocks down contested shots from deep range at a very high percentage. | Hit 100 heavily contested deep-range shots |
| Limitless RangeCan knock down very deep threes better than most. | Hit 50 threes from beyond the line |
| Difficult ShotsKnown for making tough shots off the dribble. | Hit contested pull-ups and hop shotsOne guide: 100 to 200; the other: 150, counting step-backs and leaners too |
| Pick & PopperExcels as a pick & pop receiver. | Score 200 times as the pick-and-pop man |
| Tireless ScorerA player who can spend a good deal of energy without losing effectiveness when attempting to score. | Attempt 200 shots while exhausted |
| Catch & ShootHits stand-still shots off the catch at a high percentage. | Take 100 shots off the catch in a seasonOne guide counts scores, the other attempts |
Playmaking
| Ankle BreakerCan cause his defender to stumble or fall with his dribble moves. | Get a double move leading to a score 200 timesOne guide says the dribble combo must be followed by an assist. Hall of Fame needed 800 total assists (NBA2KW) |
| Flashy PasserKnown for throwing on-point flashy passes to his receivers. | Throw 50 flashy passes in a season |
| Break StarterStarts fast breaks with accurate outlet passes. | Throw 50 outlet passes after a defensive rebound |
| Pick & Roll MaestroThrows accurate passes and hits shots off screens at a high percentage while orchestrating a pick & roll. | Call for 150 screens using the pick-and-roll mechanic in a season |
| Lob City PasserCompletes alley-oop passes at a high rate. | Throw 50 alley-oops in a season |
| DimerAn elite passer known for hitting teammates in the correct position to score. | Get 300 assistsOne guide says in a 30-game span; the other in a season. Hall of Fame needed 1,200 assists once the badge was Gold |
Athleticism
| Lob City FinisherCatches and finishes alley-oops better than others. | Finish 15 alley-oops in a season |
| PosterizerWill succeed at dunking on opposing defenders more often than others. | Attempt 15 contact dunks |
| Brick WallSets extremely effective screens and drains energy from opponents on pick collisions. | Set 100 screens in a season |
| One Man Fast BreakExcels at taking the ball coast to coast on a fast break. | Score 75 times on the fast break in a season |
| BruiserThe physical nature of this player drains energy from his match-up. | Play physical: set pick-and-rolls and make the defender push youNo exact number listed |
Rebounding
| Hustle RebounderAn elite rebounder known for chasing rebounds out of his area. | Get about 250 defensive and 75 offensive reboundsOne guide: 75 offensive + about 250 defensive in 30 games; the other: 600 total, 150 offensive |
Defense
| Charge CardAdept at placing himself in position to win charge calls. | Draw 7 charges in a season |
| Pick PocketKnown for his ability to strip the ball from a ball-handler. | Poke the ball loose 50 times |
| Rim ProtectorAn elite shot-blocker who intimidates those around the rim, causing interior shots to be less effective. | Block 80 shots in a season |
| Chase Down ArtistTerrific transition shot-blocker. | Perform chase-down blocksOne guide: 25; the other: 7 in a season |
| Defensive StopperWhile playing on-ball defense, this badge drops various offensive skills of similarly positioned match-ups. | Get 150 shot contests plus 25 to 50 stops of the opponent's fast break in a seasonOne guide: 50 good fast-break defense; the other: 25 |
| Pick DodgerA slithery player who can get around screens easily. | Run through or go over and under screens until it unlocksNo exact number listed |
Personality
| Alpha DogTeam leader who takes it upon himself to lead his team to victory. | Be the highest rated player in 20 consecutive games |
| Clutch PerformerSteps his game up in big games and big moments. | Shoot over 40% in the final minutes of a game |
| Spark PlugComes off the bench or comes out of timeouts making big plays that can energize his teammates. | Average 7 points per game off the bench over a 6-game window |
| EnforcerCan wreak havoc on the floor with tough and physical play. | Get 10 non-flagrant hard fouls in a season |
| HardenedWill play through fatigue and injury without experiencing a severe drop in skill. | Play 20 games in a row at 80% of the team's minutes or more |
| Championship DNACan quickly see where double teams are coming from. Also steps up his game in playoff moments. | Win an NBA championship |
| MicrowaveA player who heats up quicker than most. | Get hot on offense (two red rings) in 5 to 10 consecutive games |
| Low Ego | Have FGA less than about 2:1 versus assists across 15 consecutive games |
| All-Time GreatStrives to be known as an all-time great. | Have FGA well above assists (4:1 to 8:1 depending on position) across 15 consecutive games |
| Defensive AnchorDefensive leader who helps his teammates perform better defensively. | Reach Defender level 18 and play 30 or more games |
| Floor GeneralAn offensive leader who can help his teammates play better on offense while he's on the floor | Reach Playmaker level 18 and average 5 assists over 30 or more games |
NBA 2K16 badge unlocks
From 2K's official 2K16 badge guide. Skill badges had Bronze, Silver and Gold, which you bought with VC after earning Bronze. Stats must be earned by playing, not simming, and "in a single season" means stats do not carry into the next year. Wildcard and High Work Ethic cannot be earned.
Outside scoring
| Corner SpecialistKnown for his ability to knock down threes from the corner. | Make 25 corner threes in a single seasonMust shoot 40% on the last 25 made corner threes |
| Screen OutletExcels as the screener in the pick & roll game. | Set 100 screens in a single season |
| DeadeyeCan knock down contested shots better than most. | Make 60 contested jumpers from 15 feet or further in a single season |
| Limitless RangeCan knock down three pointers from deep better than most. | Make 40 threes from outside 25 feet in a single seasonMust shoot 30% or higher on the last 30 long-distance makes |
| Bank is OpenExcels at banking in jumpers. | Make 30 banked-in jumpers in a single seasonLayups do not count |
| Tear DropperExcels at making floaters and runners | Attempt 50 runners/floaters in a single season |
| Fade AceExcels at making fadeaway jumpers. | Take 30 fadeaway jumpers in a single season |
| Shot CreatorKnown for making tough shots off the dribble after creating space to shoot. | Take 150 pull-ups, spin shots and hop-step jumpers (including step-backs) in a single season |
Inside scoring
| Lob City FinisherCatches and finished alley-oops at a higher rate than others. | Catch and finish 15 alley-oops in a single season |
| PosterizerWill succeed at dunking on opposing defenders more often than others. | Attempt 15 contact dunks in a single seasonThe contact must be real and somewhat heavy |
| Relentless FinisherA player who can take physical punishment on contact shots near the rim without severely impacting his energy. | Attempt 75 contact layups in a single seasonStrength needed: PG 45, SG 50, SF 65, PF/C 75. |
| Spin Lay-inExcels at making spin layups. | Attempt 20 spin layups in a single season |
| Hop-StepperMakes hop-step layups at a higher % than others. | Attempt 40 hop-step layups in a single season |
| King of EurosShines in his ability to make euro step layups. | Attempt 40 euro-step layups in a single season |
| AcrobatCan change his shot in air and attempt difficult shots with few consequences. | Attempt 15 reverse and 4 change-shot layups in a single season |
| Dream Like Up and UnderKnown for his ability to use the drop step move to his advantage in the post. | Attempt 50 up-and-under shots out of the post in a single season |
| Post Spin TechnicianDominates the post with his ability to beat his defender spin and drive moves. | Spin or drive out of the post 100 times in a single season |
| Drop-stepperKnown for his ability to us the drop step move to his advantage in the post. | Drop-step out of the post 30 times in a single season |
| Post HoperatorExcels at making hop-shots out of the post. | Attempt 20 hop shots out of the post in a single season |
| Post Hook SpecialistKnown for his ability to make hook shots from the post at a high percentage. | Attempt 75 hook shots out of the post in a single season |
| Post Stepback ProShines in his ability to use the post stepback move to score in the post. | Attempt 20 step-back shots out of the post in a single season |
Playmaking
| Killer CrossoverCan cause his defender to stumble or fall with crossovers. | Attempt 200 crossovers or double crossovers in a single season |
| Spin KingpinCan cause his defender to get shock with his spin moves. | Attempt 75 spin moves in a single season |
| Stepback FreezeAdept at freezing his defender with stepback moves. | Attempt 75 step-back moves in a single season |
| Behind the Back ProCan catch his defender off guard with behind the back moves | Attempt 75 behind-the-back moves in a single season |
| Hesitation StunnerUses hesitation moves to freeze his defender on the way to the basket. | Attempt 75 hesitation moves in a single season |
| Master of In and OutA ball-handler known for breaking his defender down with in and out moves. | Attempt 75 in-and-out moves in a single season |
| Pet Move Pro | Attempt 200 size-ups in a single season |
| Flashy PasserKnown for throwing accurate flashy passes. | Throw 50 flashy passes in a single season |
| Break StarterStarts fastbreaks with accurate outlet passes. | Get 250 defensive rebounds in a single seasonPassing Accuracy / Defensive Rebound needed: PG/SG 75/75, SF 70/75, PF/C 60/85 |
| Pick & Roll MaestroThrows accurate passes and knocks down shots off the screen at a high percentage. | Call for 175 screens using the pick-and-roll mechanic in a single season |
| Lob City PasserCompletes alley oop passes at a high rate. | Throw 50 alley-oops in a single season |
| DimerElite passer known for hitting teammates in position to score. | Get 200 assists within the last 25 games playedUnlike 2K15, you do not need to play 25 games first |
Athleticism
| One Man FastbreakExcels at taking the ball coast to coast on a fastbreak. | Score on a fast break 50 times in a single seasonPG/SG: Passing Accuracy 75, Ball Control 80, Steal 75. SF: 70, 67, Defensive Rebound 75. PF/C: 60, 55, Defensive Rebound 85 |
| Transition FinisherAdept at running the fastbreak and finishing at a high rate. | Score on a fast break 75 times in a single season |
| BruiserThe physical nature of this player drains energy from his match-up. | Height-to-weight ratio (metric height / lbs) of 0.905 or lower, at least 220 lbsCannot earn until 10 games in. Strength needed: PG 45, SG 50, SF 65, PF/C 75. |
| Brick WallSets extremely effective screens and drains energy on pick collisions. | Get 100 "good screen" teammate events in a single seasonStrength needed: PG 45, SG 50, SF 65, PF/C 75. |
Rebounding
| Hustle PointsAdept at making shots immediately following offensive rebounds near the basket. | Score 30 times within 2.5 seconds of an offensive rebound in a single seasonMust be the rebounder |
| ScrapperA hustle player who wins loose ball battles. | Get 4 loose ball saves in a single season |
| Offensive CrasherAn elite defensive rebounder known for chasing rebounds out of his area. | Get 150 offensive rebounds in a single season |
| Defensive CrasherAn elite offensive rebounder known for his ability to get through and around boxouts. | Get 200 defensive rebounds in a single season |
Defense
| Perimeter Lockdown DefenderWhile playing on-ball defense, this badge drops Outside Shooting and Playmaking badges and offensive attributes of his match-up. | Raise Defense discipline to level 16 and play 30 games |
| Post Lockdown DefenderDrops offensive post attributes of direct match up while playing post defence. | SF, PF or C only: Defense discipline level 16 (PF/C) or 18 (SF), and play 30 games |
| Charge Card | Draw 7 charges in a single season |
| Pick DodgerDoesn’t get caught up on screens very easily. | PG, SG or SF with On-Ball Def IQ and Pick & Roll Def IQ at 80 or higher, and 20 games played |
| InterceptorMore adept at stealing passes than others | Get 50 "tipped pass" teammate grade events in a single season |
| Pick PocketKnown for his ability to strip the ball from a ball-handler. | Get 50 "poke ball loose" teammate grade events in a single season |
| EraserAmazing shot blocker who drops interior scoring attributes of opponents while near the rim. | Block 80 shots in a single season |
| Chase Down ArtistChases players down on fast breaks and effectively swats their shots from behind. | Block 25 shots in a single seasonSpeed / Vertical / Block needed: PG/SG 80/80/65, SF 65/75/70, PF/C 58/70/75 |
| On Court Coach | Raise Playmaking and either Inside or Outside Scoring discipline to level 20 |
Personality
| Championship DNAPlays at another level in playoff games. Can also see where double teams are coming from. | Be the highest rated player, or earn Finals MVP for a team that just won the title |
| Alpha DogSteps his game up when his teammates are performing poorly. | Be the highest rated offensive player on the team and play 60% of its minutes over a running 20-game window |
| Beta DogSteps his game up when an Alpha Dog teammate is out or is playing poorly. | Be the 2nd highest rated offensive player and play 60% of the team's minutes over a running 20-game window |
| Prime TimeElevates his play in games of great significance. | Play better in rivalry, power-team, playoff and old-team games than in regular gamesNeeds 6 such games within the last 100 |
| Cool and CollectedA player who never goes on cold streaks. | Never go frozen on offense across a running 10-game window |
| Road DogElevates his play when playing in road games. | Play better on the road than at home over a running 15-game window |
| CloserSteps his game up in the 4th quarter and overtime when the game is close | Shoot 50% or better on at least 40 field goal attempts in the final 40% of the 4th quarter and overtime, with the score within 10 |
| Fierce Competitor | Take 50 field goal attempts at 50% or better when down 10 or more, in a single season |
| Spark PlugComes off the bench or out of timeouts making big plays that can energise his team. | Average 8 points per game or more off the bench over a running 2-game window |
| Enforcer | Get 10 non-flagrant hard fouls in a single season |
| MentorGets younger players focused in on the game when they commit mistakes. | Reach Year 4 |
| Heart and SoulRallies team when things are getting out of hand. Helps team stay focused. | Reach Year 3 with the same team all three years |
| Floor GeneralAn offensive leader who can make his team better on offense by being on the court. | Raise Playmaking discipline to level 18, play 30 games and average 5 assists in your career |
| Defensive AnchorDefensive leader who can make his teammates better defensively. | Raise Defense discipline to level 18 and play 30 games |
| HardenedA tough player that will play through fatigue and inury without experiencing a sever drop in skill. | Play 20 games in a row at 80% of the team's minutes or more, with Stamina at 85 |
| All-Time GreatStrives to be known as an all-time great. | Have a higher FGA-to-assist ratio than your position's line over 15 gamesPG 4:1, SG 4.5:1, SF 5:1, PF/C 8:1. You can lose it for Low Ego |
| Low EgoValues team success more than anything. | Have a lower FGA-to-assist ratio than your position's line over 15 gamesPG 2:1, SG 2.5:1, SF 3:1, PF/C 6:1. You can lose it for All-Time Great |
| UnfazedCan maintain his hot streak throughout timeouts and breaks better than most. | Get hot for 4 straight gameplay minutes, 3 different times, within the last 15 games |
| Volume ShooterA high volume of shots can heat him up but a lack of shots can make him cold. | Take 35 or more shots 8 times in a single season |
| MicrowaveCan heat up with limited number of shots. | Get hot on offense in 5 consecutive games |
| Gym Rat | Go to practice and do the drills; each drill moves you closer |
Connections
| FriendlyOutgoing and typically well-liked player | Connection with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Bosh, Andre Drummond or Tony ParkerEither/or with Reserved |
| ReservedA quiet player that generally keeps to himself. | Connection with Chris Paul or James HardenEither/or with Friendly |
| Legendary Work EthicWorks harder than the typical NBA player. | Connection with Al Jefferson, Anthony Davis, Tim Duncan or Kawhi Leonard |
| Keep it RealResponds best to tough love | Connection with Paul George, Kevin Durant or John Wall |
| Pat My BackResponds best when coddled. | Connection with Kevin Love, Roy Hibbert or Paul Pierce |
| Laid BackGenerally pretty chill at all times. | Connection with Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gobert or Greg Monroe |
| ExpressiveHas no problem expressing his feelings | Connection with DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook or Allen Iverson |
| UnpredictableCan be erratic in his behavior. | Connection with Carmelo Anthony or Ty Lawson |
| Mind GamesCan get into opponents head while guarding him. | Connection with Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant or Gary Payton |
| SwaggerGets himself going by making big plays. | Connection with DeAndre Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal |
NBA 2K15 badge unlocks
The first game with badges (they replaced Signature Skills). Transcribed from 2K's official 2K15 badge guide, confirmed against two separate reposts of it. Stats must be earned by playing, not simming; "single season" means nothing carries over; any position can earn any badge unless noted. Skill badges were Bronze, Silver and Gold, with Silver and Gold bought using VC.
Outside scoring
| Corner Specialist | Make 25 corner threes in a single seasonMust shoot 40% or better on the last 25 corner threes. A corner is where the baseline and sideline meet |
| Deadeye | Make 100 well-contested jumpers from 15 feet or further in a single seasonHarder on easier difficulty levels |
| Limitless Range | Make 30 threes from 26 feet or more in a single seasonMust shoot 30% or better |
| Bank Is Open | Make 30 jumpers off the backboard in a single seasonLayups, hooks, heaves and floaters do not count |
| Tear Dropper | Attempt 50 runners or floaters in a single season |
| Fade Ace | Take 30 fadeaway jumpers in a single seasonPost fadeaways count |
| Shot Creator | Take 200 moving shots (pull-ups, spin shots, hop-step and step-back jumpers) in a single season |
Inside scoring
| Lob City Finisher | Catch and finish 15 alley-oops in a single seasonLayup or dunk |
| Posterizer | Attempt 15 contact dunks in a single season |
| Spin Lay-in | Attempt 20 spin layups in a single season |
| Hop-Stepper | Attempt 50 hop-step layups in a single season |
| King of Euros | Attempt 50 euro-step layups in a single season |
| Acrobat | Attempt 15 reverse layups and 4 change-shot layups in a single seasonBoth are required |
| Dream-Like Up and Under | Attempt 50 up-and-under shots out of the post in a single season |
| Post Spin Technician | Do 100 post spins or drives in a single season |
| Drop-Stepper | Do 70 drop-step moves in a single season |
| Post Hoperator | Attempt 20 hop shots from the post in a single season |
| Post Stepback Pro | Attempt 30 step-back shots from the post in a single season |
Playmaking
| Killer Crossover | Do 200 driving crossovers or 100 driving double crossovers in a single seasonYou have better luck within about 25 feet of the basket |
| Spin Kingpin | Do 75 spin dribbles in a single season |
| Stepback Freeze | Do 75 step-back dribbles in a single season |
| Behind the Back Pro | Do 75 behind-the-back dribbles in a single season |
| Hesitation Stunner | Do 75 hesitation dribbles in a single season |
| Master of In and Out | Do 75 in-and-out dribbles in a single season |
| Pet Move Size-Up | Do 75 size-up dribbles in a single season |
| Flashy Passer | Throw 40 flashy passes in a single season |
| Break Starter | Grab 250 defensive rebounds in a single seasonPassing Accuracy / Defensive Rebound needed: PG/SG 75/75, SF 70/75, PF/C 60/85 |
| Pick & Roll Maestro | Call for 100 screens as the ball handler in a single season |
| Lob City Passer | Throw 60 alley-oops in a single season |
| Dimer | Get 200 assists in your last 25 games played, all in a single seasonYou cannot earn it in fewer than 25 games |
| Floor General | Raise Playmaker discipline to level 18, play 30 games and average 5 or more assists in your career |
| On Court Coach | Raise Playmaker to level 20 and either Inside Scorer or Jump Shooter to level 20 |
Athleticism and rebounding
| One Man Fast Break | Score on the fast break 50 times in a single seasonPassing Accuracy / Ball Control / Defensive Rebound or Steal needed: PG/SG 75/85/75, SF 70/75/70, PF/C 60/60 with Defensive Rebound 85 or Steal 65 |
| Transition Finisher | Score on the fast break 50 times in a single season |
| Hustle Points | Get 200 offensive rebounds in a single season |
| Scrapper | Get 4 loose ball saves in a single season |
| Tenacious Rebounder | Get 400 rebounds in a single season |
| Bruiser | Height-to-weight ratio (metric height / lbs) of 0.905 or lower, at least 220 lbs, and 10 games into the seasonStrength needed: PG 70, SG 75, SF 80. Not available to PF/C in 2K15 |
| Brick Wall | Get 100 "good screen" teammate grade events in a single seasonStrength needed: PG 70, SG 75, SF/PF/C 80 |
Defense
| Perimeter Lockdown Defender | Raise Defender discipline to level 16 and play 30 gamesPG, SG and SF only |
| Post Lockdown Defender | Raise Defender discipline to level 16 (PF/C) or 18 (SF) and play 30 gamesNot available to PG or SG |
| Charge Card | Draw 7 charges in a single season |
| Pick Dodger | On-Ball Defensive IQ and Pick & Roll Defensive IQ both 80 or higher, and 20 games playedPG, SG and SF only |
| Interceptor | Get 50 "tipped pass" teammate grade events in a single season |
| Pick Pocket | Get 50 "poke ball loose" teammate grade events in a single season |
| Eraser | Block 80 shots in a single season |
| Chase Down Artist | Block 25 shots in a single seasonSpeed / Vertical / Block needed: PG/SG 85/80/65, SF 80/75/70, PF/C 80/60/70 |
| Defensive Anchor | Raise Defender discipline to level 18 and play 30 games, in a season or your career |
Personality and milestones
| Alpha Dog | Be the highest rated offensive player on the team and play 60% of its minutes in a running 30-game windowCannot earn until 25 games are played; you lose it if you change teams or a higher rated player joins |
| Beta Dog | Be the second highest rated offensive player and play 60% of its minutes in a running 30-game windowCannot earn until 25 games are played |
| Prime Time | Play better in significant games than in regular ones, with at least 10 significant games per seasonSignificant games: rivals, power teams, playoffs, hometown visits and your former team |
| Road Dog | Play better on the road than at home in a running 20-game windowNeeds at least 20 games |
| Closer | Shoot 50% or better in the final 40% of the 4th quarter and all overtime with the game within 10 pointsNeeds at least 40 field goal attempts in that stretch |
| Fierce Competitor | Shoot 50% or better on 50 or more attempts when your team is down 10 or more |
| Spark Plug | Average 7 or more points per game coming off the bench in a running 6-game window |
| Volume Shooter | Take 25 or more field goal attempts in 8 or more games in a single season |
| Cool and Collected | Never reach Frozen (two blue rings) in a running 10-game window |
| Unfazed | Stay hot (two red rings) for 4 straight minutes, 3 different times, within the last 15 games |
| Microwave | Get hot on offense in 5 consecutive games |
| Enforcer | Get 10 non-flagrant hard fouls in a single season |
| Hardened | Play 20 consecutive games at 80% or more of the team's minutesStamina and Durability needed: PG/SG/SF 90/90, PF/C 85/90 |
| All-Time Great | Have a higher FGA-to-assist ratio than your position's line over the last 15 gamesPG 4:1, SG 4.5:1, SF 5:1, PF/C 8:1. You can lose it to Low Ego |
| Low Ego | Have a lower FGA-to-assist ratio than your position's line over the last 15 gamesPG 2:1, SG 2.5:1, SF 3:1, PF/C 6:1. You can lose it to All-Time Great |
| Mentor | Reach Year 4 |
| Heart and Soul | Reach Year 4 with the same team all four years |
| Swagger | Use the ambient button in MyPark 50 timesThe only badge you can earn in MyPark or the Jordan Rec Center |
Scene-based personality badges
| Friendly | Give positive, excited responses in scenesEither/or with Reserved |
| Reserved | Give careful, unsupportive responses in scenesEither/or with Friendly |
| Laid Back | Give mellow, humble responses in scenesEither/or with Expressive |
| Expressive | Give excited, arrogant responses in scenesEither/or with Laid Back |
| Unpredictable | Earn Laid Back or Expressive first, then shift to the opposite style of response |
| Mind Games | Give extreme, over-the-top responses in trash-talk or team-joining scenes |
| Legendary Work Ethic | Agree to shoot around extra before games |
| Pat My Back | Improve your stats over the next 5 games after a motivational speech |
| Keep It Real | Play worse over the next 5 games after a motivational speech |
Before badges: Signature Skills (2K13 and 2K14)
Badges replaced Signature Skills in NBA 2K15. 2K13 had 31 skills and a player could have up to five; 2K14 added six more. Skills fired automatically in the right situation and there were no unlock counts in this era. Acrobat was later removed from 2K13 after an exploit with Euro Step three-pointers.
New in NBA 2K14
| Pick & Roll Maestro | Ball handler who runs the pick and roll: a three point shooting boost right after the screen and better passes to the screener. |
| Flashy Passer | Flashy pass penalty reduced by up to 60%. |
| Pick Dodger | Does not get caught on screens easily and counters the Brick Wall skill. |
| Tenacious Rebounder | Up to a 50% better chance of winning boxouts and poking balls loose on rebounds. |
| Screen Outlet | Up to a four point shooting boost when he shoots right after setting a screen. |
| One Man Fastbreak | Speed, Quickness and Ball Handle boosted six points when he takes the ball coast to coast on a fast break. |
| LeBron Coast to Coast (pre-order exclusive) | Four point boosts to Speed, Quickness and Ball Handle on a coast-to-coast fast break and a smaller contact penalty. |
NBA 2K13 (31 skills)
| Posterizer | Looks for contact dunks in traffic. Needs a defender nearby and 80+ stamina; teammates get a temporary energy boost after the dunk. |
| Highlight Film | Picks the most spectacular dunk in the player's repertoire. Needs 80+ stamina; teammates get a temporary energy boost. |
| Finisher | Finishes contact layups and dunks at a higher rate: the contact shot penalty is cut by 30%. |
| Acrobat | Changes a shot in the air with a 40% smaller penalty, and hop, spin and euro layups get a 15% shot chance boost. Removed in a later roster update. |
| Spot Up Shooter | Better stand-still shooting 12 to 28 feet out: the early or late release penalty is cut by 30%. |
| Shot Creator | Higher percentage when he creates space off isolation moves, triple threat or drives into special shots; the defender's penalty can be reduced by up to 100% if the shot is taken within 2 seconds in the half court. |
| Deadeye | Late-arriving defenders have less impact; the release penalty can be reduced by up to 100% depending on how heavily he was guarded at the start. |
| Corner Specialist | Stand-still, fairly open corner threes taken within a couple of seconds of the catch get a 5% shot percentage bonus. |
| Post Proficiency | Defenders fall for post fakes up to 50% more often; hooks and fades from 17 feet or closer get a 5% bonus. |
| Ankle Breaker | 30% more chance of forcing ankle-breaking falls, stumbles and recoveries on isolation dribble moves. |
| Post Playmaker | Passes out of the post hit the receiver on point and give him up to a 10% bonus on twos and 4% on threes when it would be an assist. |
| Dimer | Passes (not from the post) to an open teammate give him up to a 10% bonus on twos and 4% on threes when it would be an assist. |
| Break Starter | As the defensive rebounder, an outlet pass within 3 seconds has 50% less penalty. |
| Alley-Ooper | Big boost to the passer's passing attribute on alley-oops and a small catch bonus for receivers. |
| Brick Wall | Physical screens that are harder to get through or around and can knock defenders down. |
| Lockdown Defender | Neutralizes most offensive signature skills of the player he guards (everything except Brick Wall and Floor General). |
| Charge Card | 50% better chance of drawing a charge, and teammates get a small energy boost on the call. |
| Interceptor | Boosts Steal and Vertical on passes in the air within 9 feet of him. |
| Pick Pocket | Much better strip chance on isolation dribble moves, a minor boost on long standing dribbles, and fewer fouls on on-ball steals. |
| Active Hands | Twice as likely to strip the ball from a player in a shooting motion. |
| Eraser | Emphatic blocks that boost teammates' energy and lower the blocked player's shooting attributes by up to six points for up to a minute and a half. |
| Chase Down Artist | Block, Vertical and Quickness boosts on fast breaks to swat shots from behind. |
| Bruiser | Drains about half as much energy again from opponents on contact in boxouts, backdowns and bumps. |
| Hustle Points | For three seconds after an offensive rebound, boosts Shot Inside, Shot Close and Layup. |
| Scrapper | Better loose ball dives and boxouts (up to a 50% boxout win boost) and 50% better chance to poke away a rebound. |
| Anti-Freeze | Needs twice as many misses and turnovers to go cold. |
| Microwave | Gets hot in a hurry, in fewer made shots and good plays than other players. |
| Heat Retention | Keeps hot streaks through timeouts and quarter breaks; needs twice as many bad plays to cool off. |
| Closer | In the last 40% of the fourth quarter and overtime: up to 12 attribute points, a wider free throw release window, energy boosts in timeouts and up to 5% on moving shots. |
| Floor General | Gives all teammates up to six points on offensive attributes while his team has the ball. |
| Defensive Anchor | Gives all teammates on the floor up to six points on defensive attributes while his team is on defense. |
Spot a mistake on these requirements? Tell us in the 2KFR Discord with the game, the badge and where you saw the right number. We check every correction against a second source.
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