Ever since he was dropping dizzying highlights as a teenager at Chino Hills High, basketball fans knew LaMelo Ball was a special talent. Now with back-to-back triple doubles in his first NBA playoffs, the 21-year-old Charlotte Hornets guard has proven he‘s already an elite NBA superstar.
Thanks to his flashy handles, skying alley-oops, pull up dagger threes and court vision well beyond his years, Ball is one of the most unique and exciting young players that NBA 2K fans are eager to emulate.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to create the ultimate LaMelo Ball build in NBA 2K23‘s MyPlayer mode.
Who is LaMelo Ball?
Before we dig into the build, let‘s start with an overview of Ball‘s background and eye-popping accomplishments leading up to his NBA stardom:
High School Phenom at Chino Hills
Playing alongside older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo under the coaching of his outspoken father LaVar, LaMelo first captured the basketball world‘s attention while starring for Chino Hills High School in California.
He averaged over 27 points per game his sophomore season, wowing fans with his unlimited shooting range and flashy no-look passes. As a junior in 2016-17, LaMelo led Chino Hills to a perfect 35–0 record and state championship while averaging over 27 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists per game.
Youngest Professional United States Player Ever
Seeking better competition, the Ball family then decided to have the 16-year old LaMelo turn pro and play internationally. He signed with Lithuanian team Prienai Vytautas, becoming the youngest American ever to sign a professional basketball contract.
Illawarra Hawks in Australian NBL
For the 2019-20 season, LaMelo joined the Illawarra Hawks of Australia‘s NBL. The 6‘7" point guard averaged 17 points, 6.8 assists and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 37% from three, winning NBL Rookie of the Year honors.
Third Overall 2020 NBA Draft Pick
After proving himself against professional competition abroad, LaMelo declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. The Charlotte Hornets selected him third overall, hoping his flashy game could help revive the franchise.
2021 NBA Rookie of the Year
LaMelo made an immediate impact for the Hornets, averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game on an efficient 45/35/75 shooting split. He led all rookies in assists and triples on the way to winning 2021 Rookie of the Year unanimously.
Okay, now that you know LaMelo‘s backstory, let‘s get into the step-by-step specifics on exactly how to build him in NBA 2K23!
Creating LaMelo‘s Body Frame
The first step in constructing any custom MyPlayer build is selecting your physical profile. For LaMelo, we want to match his exact dimensions from his NBA combine measurements:
- Height: 6‘7"
- Weight: 182 lbs
- Wingspan: 6‘10"
- Body Shape: Solid
LaMelo has a lean, defined frame at 6‘7" with very broad shoulders, so the ‘Solid‘ body shape gives us an accurate template.
Maxing out that 6‘10" wingspan is also crucial – those long lanky arms are a big reason LaMelo excels at steals, blocks and disruptive defense despite being a guard.
Badge Point Distribution
Each MyPlayer build starts with the same number of overall badge points to spread between Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, Defense and Rebounding categories.
For LaMelo, we recommend the following distribution based on his actual NBA skillset:
- Finishing: 10
- Shooting: 18
- Playmaking: 28
- Defense: 9
- Rebounding: 6
Let‘s break down why this setup aligns so well with LaMelo‘s game:
- Ample Playmaking points to max out elite passing and ball handling ratings
- High Shooting for mimicking his unlimited shooting range
- Solid Finishing for explosive attacks when driving to the rim
- Enough Defense/Rebounding to leverage his 6‘10" wingspan on that end
- Balanced setup allows some boosts across the board to mirror his versatile skillset
Now let‘s dive into the individual attribute ratings and badge upgrades.
Detailed Attribute Ratings
Based on LaMelo‘s actual NBA 2K23 base attributes, we recommend the following setup:
Finishing
- Close Shot: 48
- Driving Layup: 68
- Driving Dunk: 88
- Standing Dunk: 38
- Post Control: –
Shooting
- Mid-Range Shot: 74
- Three-Point Shot: 89
- Free Throw: 80
Playmaking
- Pass Accuracy: 84
- Ball Handle: 85
- Speed with Ball: 85
Defense/Rebounding
- Interior Defense: 71
- Perimeter Defense: 87
- Steal: 78
- Block: 78
- Offensive Rebound: –
- Defensive Rebound: 47
Physical Profile
- Speed: 84
- Acceleration: 83
- Strength: 55
- Vertical: 70
- Stamina: 94
Let‘s analyze the key ratings that make this attribute spread so lethal:
- 89 3-point shot – With HOF shooting badges, unlocks that unlimited range from 30+ feet
- 88 driving dunk – Explosive attacks and elite alley-oop finisher
- 85 ball handle/SWB – Break ankles and drive past defenders with ease
- 84 pass accuracy – Dime up teammates with either hand like a true PG
- 87 perimeter D – His huge wingspan makes him a disruptive force on defense
This well-rounded distribution allows you to truly experience LaMelo‘s unique skillset as a giant playmaker who can shoot from anywhere, drive and finish with power, facilitate at an elite level, and make an impact on defense.
Takeovers
Takeovers provide temporary boosts once you fill up the meter during gameplay. For LaMelo, these two perfectly match his playing style:
- Primary Takeover: Easy Blowbys
- Improved handles and more ankle-breaking moves
- Secondary Takeover: Limitless Range
- Extend shooting range for unlimited pull-up threes
This combo encapsulates LaMelo‘s most dangerous scoring abilities. Now let‘s get to the badges that bring everything together…
Badges
Badges are unlocked by upgrading attributes and allow you to enhance key elements of your MyPlayer. For LaMelo, these are the best badges to equip:
Finishing
- Gold Acrobat, Fearless Finisher
- Silver Posterizer, Giant Slayer
- Bronze Dream Shake, Rise Up, Backdown Punisher
Shooting
- Hall of Fame Limitless Spot Up, Blinders
- Gold Circus Threes, Volume Shooter, Mismatch Expert
- Silver Lucky #7, Hot Zone Hunter
- Bronze Sniper, Catch and Shoot, Corner Specialist
Playmaking
- Hall of Fame Ankle Breaker, Dimer, Quick First Step
- Gold Unpluckable, Hyperdrive, Handles for Days
- Silver Space Creator, Quick Chain, Bail Out
Defense/Rebounding
- Gold Pick Dodger, Chasedown Artist
- Silver Clamps, Pick Pocket, Interceptor
- Bronze Rebound Chaser, Brick Wall
This carefully selected Hall of Fame, Gold, Silver, and Bronze badge setup allows you to unlock all of LaMelo‘s signature abilities on both ends of the court. Let‘s analyze the key badges that will take your game to the next level:
- Limitless Spot Up – Pull up from the logo and beyond just like LaMelo
- Ankle Breaker – Mimic his nasty hesitations, crossovers and combo dribbling
- Dimer – Zip pinpoint passes to open teammates off the drive
- Chasedown Artist – Use that 7‘0" wingspan for epic chase down blocks
With these 20 powerful badges equipped, you‘ll have access to the full LaMelo Ball arsenal. Now let‘s discuss some winning strategies…
Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Follow these essential tips and strategies to dominate NBA 2K23 with your unstoppable LaMelo Ball build:
- Push the pace – Use LaMelo‘s speed and ball handling to fly upcourt on the fast break for easy buckets or lobs.
- Pull up from way downtown – Launch from 30+ feet when slower defenders give you cushion.
- Pass off the dribble – Break down the defense off the dribble then drop dimes to open shooters.
- Alley-oops all day – LaMelo‘s lob passes are money so look for any chance to throw it down.
- Abusing ankle breakers – Chain together hesitation combos until defenders are on skates, then drive strong.
- Crash the glass – Use that 6‘10" wingspan to sky for boards on both ends after misses.
- Clamp down on D – LaMelo‘s huge wingspan also allows him to be a defensive menace.
Put it all together and your unguardable LaMelo Ball build will have opponents contemplating rage quitting!
How LaMelo Compares to Other Elite Builds
Let‘s see how LaMelo‘s build stacks up against other elite NBA 2K23 point guards:
Steph Curry
Very similar with all-time shooting ability. But LaMelo edges out Steph with higher finishing, playmaking, size and defense.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie has more crafty dribbling packages, but can‘t match LaMelo‘s size or playmaking versatility.
Damian Lillard
Lillard has a better post fadeaway but isn‘t the alley-oop finisher, distributor or disruptive defender LaMelo is.
Ja Morant
Morant has comparable athletic explosiveness, but LaMelo‘s shooting range and height gives him the advantage.
Conclusion
Thanks to his rare combination of size, shooting range, playmaking vision, finishing skills and defensive versatility, this LaMelo Ball build stands out as one of the most complete and exciting in modern NBA 2K.
Whether playing MyCareer, Park, or Rec, your opponents will have nightmares trying to contain this living triple-double machine. Now that you have the blueprint, get out there and show the basketball world LaMelo Ball‘s limitless potential in NBA 2K23!
