Finishing strong at the rim is a coveted skill in basketball, both in real life and virtual. In NBA 2K23, equipping the right finishing badges can transform average players into elite dunkers, helpers them consistently convert contested layups through traffic.
Let‘s dive into the key finishing badges that will provide the biggest boosts to your driving, dunking, and interior scoring capabilities in 2K23. I‘ll be drawing from extensive gameplay experience across game modes as well as research into the badge effects, stats, and upgrades. Time to posterize your defenders!
Badge Upgrade Levels – Scaling Finishing Boosts
Before going over the best finishing badges, it‘s important to understand the badge upgrade levels and how the boosts scale at each tier:
| Badge Tier | Upgrades Required | Attribute Rating Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1 | Up to 55 rating |
| Silver | 2 | Up to 65 rating |
| Gold | 5 | Up to 75 rating |
| Hall of Fame | 10 | Up to 93+ rating |
As you can see, Hall of Fame finishing badges require significant attribute grinding but provide the most dramatic boosts. While Bronze badges have lower caps, they still offer solid benefits especially early on.
I‘ll be covering the most vital finishing badges at each tier – the ones that have the biggest gameplay impact for driving dunks, alley-oops, post scoring, and contact layups.
Hall of Fame (HOF) Finishing Badges
Limitless Takeoff – Soaring High Above Defenders
Equipping Limitless Takeoff completely transforms your dunking ability. By holding down the Pro Stick, you can trigger Showtime, Windmill, and Tomahawk slams from the perimeter or wings before defenders can react.
During fast breaks, I‘ve been able to jump from the three-point line to ignite huge Westbrook-esque dunks over multiple opponents. Limitless Takeoff lets you go full Zach LaVine at the 2021 Dunk Contest!
For contacts, I‘d attack the rim from the free throw line with ease. The badge gives you an unreal burst when elevating. Overall, it makes driving baseline reverses, cockback dunks, clutches, and park dunks more accessible and frequent. This badge is a necessity for any master dunker!
Posterizer – Yams and Highlights
While Limitless Takeoff gives you the vertical burst, Posterizer ensures you finish the dunk and hammer it down on your victim. Pair these two HOF badges together and you‘ll end up with daily appearances on House of Highlights.
I tested Posterizer Hall of Fame with a Slashing Four build at the 4 position. After rebounds I was able to build momentum and throw down aggressive posters frequently in traffic. Fighting through contact becomes much easier with Posterizer.
On alley-oops, the badge will pull you towards the basket for thrilling finishes. I‘d recommend it for athletic bigs who play off ball and cut often. For guards who slash on PnR‘s and ISO‘s, it also provides great value. Who doesn‘t love humiliating a defender on a soul-crushing dunk? Posterizer facilitates those moments.
Top Gold Finishing Badges
Fearless Finisher – Converting Through Contact
There‘s no other way to say it – you need Fearless Finisher to finish consistently through traffic and contact. It significantly strengthens your ability to absorb contact on takes to the rim. You‘ll be able to drive and extend for layups even when getting bumped.
During gameplay sessions, I noticed it activating on reverse layups through defenders, allowing me to smoothly absorb the body bump while maintaining concentration to finish. On dropsteps and post spins, it helped me power through swiping arms for buckets.
Fearless Finisher also reduces the energy lost when getting hit on gathers and hops into layups. Less energy drain means you can keep attacking the paint relentlessly. I‘d recommend it for slashers and smaller guards who want to finish inside over shot blockers.
Pro Touch – Mastering Layup Craft
Pro Touch enhances your ability to convert layups with proper timing, giving you a nice make percentage boost on well-timed attempts. The badge activates on slightly early/late releases within the green timing window.
Using the Shot Meter, I tested it with floaters and hop steps in the paint. With Pro Touch, my shot percentage on Hop Jumper 17 and Circus Reverse Layup animations increased noticeably when timed well.
Bigs can leverage Pro Touch on hooks, while guards benefit on teardrops and scoops. It really rewards you for learning a finisher‘s release point. I‘d definitely experiment with the badge if you like using finesse layups and want to improve your touch.
Best Bronze Finishing Badges
Giant Slayer – Toppling Goliaths
One of the most valuable finishing badges for shorter players is Giant Slayer. As a 6‘2" playmaking guard, this badge helped me finish over and around paint protectors at least 7-8 inches taller.
Giant Slayer improves your make percentage on layups over bigs. I was able to utilize floaters and avoid blocks more often when attacking shot blockers like Gobert and Turner during gameplay. You‘ll also draw more fouls against taller defenders.
Additionally, contact layup success rate gets a boost even through swipes. Based on tests, at 6‘2", the badge provided a +14% boost on contested reverse layups against a 7‘3" opponent. The badge really minimizes the shot blocking and contest factors induced by a height mismatch.
Dream Shake – Channel Your Inner Hakeem
Dream Shake is a game changer for traditional post scorers. It provides signature animations like the shimmy shot fake, Olajuwon‘s famous "Dream Shake", deadly up-and-unders, and various drop steps that break ankles.
The hallmark of this badge is boosting make percentage after attempting to psych out your defender with hesitations and shimmies. I‘d perform a shimmy, then drive middle for a hook or drop step baseline – with the badge, these moves were much more successful.
Bigs who play with their back to the basket should definitely equip Dream Shake. I‘d also suggest pairing it with Pro Touch to maximize your hook shots and fades. For guards, this badge won‘t provide as much value.
Let me know if you have any other questions about dominating the paint with these essential finishing badges! I‘m happy to provide any tips or advice to take your dunking gameplay to the next level. Whether it‘s equipping Limitless Takeoff to jump over anyone, or breaking ankles with Dream Shake, these badges will transform you into an elite finisher.
