Perhaps the most thrilling part about playing basketball is dunking, and in NBA 2K25 that doesn't change a bit. Whether you're an old pro or a newcomer to MyCAREER mode, mastering the art of dunking truly takes your game up. A well-timed dunk not only displays your player's athleticism but sends a message to your opponents that you mean business on the court.
Dunking in NBA 2K25 usually involves player attributes, good timing, and proper technique. There are different dunks like the two-handers to showy windmills that make it seem like the player’s flying. Still, executing these aerial stunts successfully is going to require some understanding of the game mechanics, familiarity with your player's assets, and proper control inputs.
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Basic Dunk Controls
The newly introduced Learn2K mode in NBA 2K25 is the perfect place to practice the dunk controls if you're still not comfortable with them. As you get used to the precise time and placement required for various dunks, practising will go much faster. In addition, you'll eliminate the possibility of unsuccessful efforts negatively affecting your performance in other modes.
Making sure you have the proper shooting parameters in NBA 2K25 is one crucial thing to remember. You must have Shots or Default selected for Pro Stick Function. Most other controller settings won't affect this. Most of the advanced dunk plays will be extremely difficult to execute consistently in a game if it's set solely to Dribble Moves.
How to Dunk in NBA 2K25
The Sqaure/X button or moving the right stick forward can be used to shoot the basketball correctly, as it has been since the series began. Similarly, dunking the ball will work with both approaches. Players just need to know this before attempting to dunk on their opponents.
To dunk the ball, players must press and hold the R2 or right trigger button of their controller to make their character race to the basket. When their player dunks the ball, all they have to do is hold down the Square/X button or push and hold upward or downward on the right stick.
The player can keep pressing the shooting button, but they must naturally be sufficiently close to the hoop for the dunking movement to start. The animation will start as soon as the character gets in range. Having a defender, however, will make this much harder to pull off, thus players will need to make sure their character has a free lane to the hoop or is taller than the opponent (using Bol Bol will assist in dunking). After that, all players need to do is relax and take in the performance. Remember, making the perfect dunk requires the best player builds in NBA 2K25.
Mastering the Art of Two-Hand Dunks
Next, you'll be applying a little more pressure with the score utilizing the Pro Stick. You must initially hold RT or R2 while going toward the basket in order to use the two-hand slam dunk in NBA 2K25. Hold the Right Stick upwards during the whole dunk animation once you're close, but only necessary once you're right at the basket.
How to Perfect Off-Hand Dunks
As you get more used to hitting slam dunks on the court, it's good to know the technique to identify your move as a dominating or off-hand dunk. When driving to the basket, this is crucial if there is a defender close by since it can be more efficient to slam dunk with the hand that is farthest from them. To accomplish this, drive in the direction of the basket while holding RT, then move the Right Stick to the right or left. Which hand dunks will depend on the direction you select.
Unleashing Your Style with Flashy Dunks
The best method to do some crazy motions on your way up towards the hoop is to go for an extravagant dunk. Since some of the finest dunk animations need you to meet certain rating levels, you'll probably want to have an extremely good player build. Fortunately, you can make the best players by buying NBA 2K25 MTs on LootBar with the safest and cheapest transactions. After creating the best player, approach the basket, hold RT or R2, and as you approach close range, hold down the Right Stick.
Execute Skill Dunks Like a Pro
Skill dunk is the last move, where it's your choice to use the shot meter and the goal is to time your move perfectly. You should rapidly raise the Right Stick, release it, and then keep it down as you go closer to the basket to perform a skill slam. You then want to release the Right Stick back to normal to synchronize the slam with the shot meter or with the animation. Before you begin using skill dunks in NBA 2K25 during a game, be sure to visit Learn2K and practice a few of them because they have more sophisticated controls and timing than regular dunks.
Best Players for Dunking
You may assume that the tallest players in NBA 2K25 will automatically be better at dunking than others. However, this truth is far-fetched because many relatively shorter players are much better than taller ones. Some of these are:
Anthony Edwards
- Height: 6’4”
- Position: Shooting Guard/ Small Forwards
- Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Ja Morant
- Height: 6’2”
- Position: Point Guard
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Shaedon Sharpe
- Height: 6’5”
- Position: Shooting Guard/ Small Forwards
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Zion Williamson
- Height: 6’6”
- Position: Power Forward/Centre
- Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Zach LaVine
- Height: 6’5”
- Position: Shooting Guard/ Small Forwards
- Team: Chicago Bulls
Final Thoughts
While these five top our lists, there are many others according to your preferred positions and playstyle. Dunking is an art and practice makes this art perfect. Always remember to practice in Learn 2K. By understanding the mechanics behind each type of dunk and practising the necessary controls, you can become a dunking specialist in no time. Remember to leverage your player’s attributes and badges to maximize your dunking potential.
