NBA 2K21 Ultimate Dribbling & Speed Boosting Guide: How to Speed Boost, Ball Handling Requirements, Dribble Moves, & More

What is Speed Boosting?

“Speed boosting” is a term coined for NBA 2K to describe using types of dribble moves that give you a “speed boost” / added acceleration out of a dribble move.

(Also See: NBA 2K23 Ultimate Dribbling Guide)

Speed Boost Requirements

  • Your MyPLAYER requires a 86 or better Ball Handling rating to speed boost
  • Speed Boosting in NBA 2K21 factors in your MyPLAYER’s “Speed With Ball” rating. Speed with ball is 70% of your Speed rating and 30% Ball Handling to calculate the rating according to NBA 2K Gameplay Director, Mike Wang. NBA 2K21 speed boosting is based off the same requirements.
  • Equipping the Quick First Step badge will make your dribble moves launch out more quickly.
  • Pro Dribble Moves require a minimum 85 Ball Handling rating
  • Check the NBA 2K21 MyPLAYER Builder to find builds that have speed boost

Speed With Ball Chart

See the chart below to see if your build gets a minimum 86 Speed With Ball rating.

(source: ooPaulagio)

How to Speed Boost in NBA 2K21

Speed Boost Instructions

  • To speed boost, Press Right Stick Up to trigger size-up animation, then (while ball is on the side during the animation), press R2 / RT and Left Stick towards ball hand to turbo  or “speed boost” out of the animation.

Speed Boost Dribbling

How to Equip Dribbling Moves for MyPLAYER

  • To buy dribble animations, go to MyPLAYER Appearance > Animations Store > Dribble Moves > (Choose various dribble moves)
  • To equip dribble animations, go to MyPLAYER Appearance > My Animations > Dribble Moves

Dribble Packages & Requirements (All)

DRIBBLE STYLE REQUIREMENTS

* Pro/NBA/WNBA Dribble Moves require 65 OVR except for Triple Threat Moves (Any)
* Patch 1.03 lowered the Ball Handling requirements for Pro dribble moves from 85 to 80

NAME POSITION BALL HANDLING
DRIBBLE STYLE
Base (Any) (Any)
Big PF, C (Any)
Power PG, SG, SF (Any)
Fundamental PG, SG (Any)
Quick PG, SG (Any)
Slasher SG, SF, PF (Any)
Shifty PG, SG (Any)
James Harden PG, SG, SF (Any)
LeBron James PG, SG, SF (Any)
Magic Johnson PG, SG, SF (Any)
Kobe Bryant PG, SG, SF (Any)
Jerry West PG, SG (Any)
Dennis Johnson PG, SG (Any)
John Stockton PG, SG (Any)
Allen Iverson PG, SG (Any)
Tim Hardaway PG, SG (Any)
Steve Nash PG, SG (Any)
Jason Kidd PG, SG (Any)
Isiah Thomas PG, SG (Any)
Chris Paul PG, SG (Any)
Russell Westbrook PG, SG (Any)
Damian Lillard PG, SG (Any)
Kyrie Irving PG, SG (Any)
Kemba Walker PG, SG (Any)
Stephen Curry PG, SG (Any)
Paul George SG, SF, PF (Any)
Kawhi Leonard SG, SF, PF (Any)
Ja Morant PG, SG (Any)
MOVING CROSSOVERS
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Normal 5 (Any) (Any)
Normal 6 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
Pro 7 (Any) 80
Pro 8 (Any) 80
MOVING BEHIND THE BACKS
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Basic 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
MOVING SPINS
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Basic 2 (Any) (Any)
Basic 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Normal 5 (Any) (Any)
Normal 6 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
Pro 7 (Any) 80
Pro 8 (Any) 80
MOVING HESITATIONS
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
Pro 7 (Any) 80
Pro 8 (Any) 80
SIGNATURE SIZE-UP
Basic (Any) (Any)
Normal (Any) (Any)
Elite (Any) 80
M. Cazorla (Any) 80
C. Parker (Any) 80
B. Stewart (Any) 80
G. Antetokounmpo (Any) 80
K. Bryant (Any) 80
J. Crawford (Any) 80
S. Curry (Any) 80
L. Doncic (Any) 80
K. Durant (Any) 80
P. George (Any) 80
T. Hardaway (Any) 80
J. Harden (Any) 80
K. Irving (Any) 80
A. Iverson (Any) 80
L. James (Any) 80
M. Jordan (Any) 80
Z. Lavine (Any) 80
K. Leonard (Any) 80
PARK SIZE-UP
Park 1 (Any) 80
Park 2 (Any) 80
Park 3 (Any) 80
Park 4 (Any) 80
Park 5 (Any) 80
Park 6 (Any) 80
Park 7 (Any) 80
Park 8 (Any) 80
Park 9 (Any) 80
Park 10 (Any) 80
Park 11 (Any) 80
Park 12 (Any) 80
Park 13 (Any) 80
Park 14 (Any) 80
BASIC SIZE-UP PACKAGES
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Basic 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
SIZE-UP ESCAPE PACKAGES
Basic 1 (Any) (Any)
Basic 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Pro 1 (Any) 80
Pro 2 (Any) 80
Pro 3 (Any) 80
Pro 4 (Any) 80
Pro 5 (Any) 80
Pro 6 (Any) 80
TRIPLE THREAT STYLES
Normal 1 (Any) (Any)
Normal 2 (Any) (Any)
Normal 3 (Any) (Any)
Normal 4 (Any) (Any)
Normal 5 (Any) (Any)
Normal 6 (Any) (Any)
Normal 7 (Any) (Any)
Normal 8 (Any) (Any)
WNBA 1 (Any) (Any)
WNBA 2 (Any) (Any)
WNBA 3 (Any) (Any)
WNBA 4 (Any) (Any)
WNBA 5 (Any) (Any)

 

NBA 2K21 Dribbling Tips

  • Equip and practice various dribble packages in MyCOURT to get comfortable with the right one.
  • Use NBA 2K21 Dribbling Badges 
  • Study how the defense is playing, then use the most effective move for the right situation. Here are some examples:
    • If a defender is crowding you, create space with the triple-threat step-over and jab-step.
    • If a defender is slow, sprint past him
    • Anticipate the defense, e.g. if a defender is going for the steal in the open court, counter with a behind the back move or crossover.
    • Keep the defense off-balance by mixing up dribble moves, change of directions, speed, etc.

NBA 2K21 Dribbling Controls

XBOX ONE

PS4

Hope this NBA 2K21 Speed Boost and Dribbling Tutorial helped step up your dribbling and be sure to check back here for more NBA 2KW gameplay tips!

 

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