We’ve put together a comprehensive guide of 20 proven ways to get badges, 99 OVR, XP, and get to Level 40 fast in NBA 2K23!
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1. Play vs CPU in MyCAREER
If you’re on a mission to grind badges fast, MyCAREER remains the best option, simply because you are able to control the results much more than if you’re playing online. You’re able to have the CPU feed you the ball and be the star for your team, no matter your skill level. This method is a more predictable and repeatable experience for getting badges than if you play with randoms online or if you play vs good squads online. How sustainable of an experience it is to play vs the CPU game in and game out, is up to you. Use our NBA 2K23 Teammate Finder to find players to run with.
2. Put Difficulty on “Rookie” & “12 Minute” Quarters in MyCAREER
Under ‘Settings’, change the difficulty to ‘Rookie’ and the quarter length to ’12 minutes’. Â This will make getting badge points a lot easier and maximize the amount of time available to get badges. This will be even more useful when you’re playing vs weak opponents – more on that later in this guide.
3. Use the NBA 2K23 All-in-One Complete Badges Guide & Analysis
This all-in-one guide is a must-have for the NBA 2K baller, which will give you an idea of what badges to aim for, badge requirements, analysis, and much more. The guide includes all badges and also comes with analysis for each badge if you click on the individual badge.
4. Equip “Domino Effect” Badges First
You want to get badges first that will aid in getting future badge points.  For example, it’s much easier to get Finishing Badges after equipping specific badges that increase the success rate for finishing at-the-rim, like Posterizer, Rise Up, or Fearless Finisher. Another example would be to go after a turnover-causing badge like the Glove Badge first, so that you can get steals easier – which will lead to more fast breaks opportunities.
5. Increase the Attributes That Will Help You Get Badge Points
If you aren’t maxing your MyPLAYER out (within attribute caps) from the get go with VC, or when deciding which attributes to increase first, specifically target the attribute upgrades that will help you get whatever badge categories or badges you’re pursuing.
6. Use Gatorade & Skill Boosts
Gatorade and Skill Boosts can be purchased with VC to give boosts to skill attributes and stamina, and therefore help speed up badge grinding by having a better player.
7. Choose an Ideal NBA Team in MyCAREER
The roster around your MyPLAYER can make a big impact in in getting badge points, so its a good idea to choose a team wisely. For example, if you’re trying to get playmaking badges, you’re going to want to go to a team who will successfully convert assists – a team with potent offensive finishers and/or sharpshooters, like the Nets or Warriors. Or, if you’re trying to get defensive / rebounding badges, you’re going to want to be on a team with bad shooters (for more offensive rebound opportunities) or on a good defensive team (for defensive rebounds).
8. Grind Badge Points in Bulk
Grinding in bulk means to narrow your focus on specific badge categories by grinding in bulk. Â For example, play a few games where you only focus on shooting badges or defensive / rebounding badges, instead of spreading it out trying to get all badge categories all the time. Focusing on one or a few badge categories in bulk can often be more efficient and can take less time to get the badge you are trying to get.
9. Use Every Game Mode Type to Grind Badge Points
Some badge category points are better to get vs the CPU, while others are more efficient to get in The Rec, The City / Neighborhood, or Team Practice / Drills. For example, there’s usually more dunk or finishing opportunities more often in street ball 2v2 or 3v3 games than in 5v5. MyCAREER team drills within the NBA season schedule are another good place to earn additional badge points that maybe aren’t being earned via gameplay as quickly as you’d like.
10. Sim the Schedule to Ideal Teams in MyCAREER
Another trick is to simulate your MyCAREER schedule to play ideal teams and favorable matchups, a.k.a. “bum hunting”. For example, if your MyPLAYER is an inside center and you’re trying to grind rebounding badges, it’d obviously be a good idea to sim the schedule until you play a weak rebounding team and opposing center.
11. Squad Up
If you’re playing online, this can be a good option to have your online teammates help out each other with badge grinding. For example if your friends needs shooting or finishing badges and you need playmaking badges, you could set them up with alley-oops or open shots while you get assists. This option could be a mutually beneficial badge grind for all teammates.
12. Run Plays in MyCAREER
Another option to try to manufacture badge points, is to call different plays in MyCAREER, such as isolation, pick and roll, etc, depending on what result you’re trying to get.
13. Unlock Rebirth
Rebirth can be unlocked by completing quests in NBA 2K23, with the reward essentially giving new MyPLAYERS a “head start” in the grinding process. With Rebirth, you can choose to boost a build to a 90 OVR right after creating the player.
14. Use Leadership Skills
Leadership Skills are perks that offer attribute and skill bonuses to certain skills within NBA 2K23. They also provide boosts in attributes for your AI teammates in MyCAREER .
15. Hire a Badge Grinding Service
If you don’t have the time or patience to grind for badges or rep, hiring a badge grinding service could be an option for you if you’re willing to pay a fee. Some badge grinding services can be found on social media or websites – just make sure it’s a reputable and vouched for service.
NBA 2K23 How to Get to Level 40 & 99 OVR Fast
Along with incorporating the previous tips, here are ways to level up to 99 OVR and Level 40 fast in NBA 2K23:
16. Complete Quests
Quests in NBA 2K23 MyCAREER invite players to complete various activities and challenges throughout the City to reap rewards for their MyPLAYER.
17. Use 2XP Coins in Season Prizes
On the road from Level 1 to 40, reaching certain levels will unlock 2XP coins in Season Prizes. 2XP coins can be used for a specific duration to earn double the amount of XP for that time period.
18. Play During 2XP Events
Take advantage of upcoming NBA 2K23 Events for a chance at 2XP games.
19. Use the Daily Rewards / Daily Spin for a Chance at 2XP
The Daily Reward (new-gen) or Daily Spin (last-gen) are randomized rewards you can win once a day in NBA 2K23. Some rewards include 2XP for a set amount of time, skills and Gatorade boosts, and more.
20. Get a Good Teammate Grade
The higher the teammate grade, the higher the XP!
Hope these NBA 2K tips have helped your MyPLAYER journey for grinding rep, badges, and attributes. As always, check back often for more NBA 2K23 strategy tips to help step your game up!
