Avoid Wasting Time on These NBA 2K25 Badges Upgrades

NBA 2K25 has significantly reduced the number of badges available to players, bringing the total down to 40 from the previous 77 seen in 2K24. While 2K Games aimed to make each badge feel valuable, some options still fall short in terms of performance.

Although Badge Points have been eliminated, players must still invest in specific stats to unlock and upgrade badges. Focusing on one badge can mean sacrificing others that may better enhance your gameplay.

Here are five badges to avoid upgrading in NBA 2K25, ranked by their overall value. All of these badges either require too much investment or offer underwhelming benefits compared to other available options.

5. Ankle Assassin

Ankle Assassin is an iconic badge intended to enhance your dribble moves, but its overall effectiveness is questionable. Despite its entertaining nature, relying on this badge for victory is not advisable, as it often proves inconsistent. Even Elite versions of Ankle Assassin fail to activate frequently, and it demands a 95 Ball Handling rating for Hall of Fame tier, making lower tiers unworthwhile. Instead, consider reaching only 92 Ball Handling for Gold Unpluckable and access to Steph Curry’s effective dribble moves.

4. Bailout

Player kicking out with Bailout in NBA 2K25. — dexerto

Bailout requires an 85 Pass Accuracy for its Bronze variant, making it one of the more expensive badges to obtain. For Hall of Fame status, you’ll need 96 Pass Accuracy, significantly limiting other areas of your build. The benefits it provides—more forgiving kickouts—are not particularly crucial if you play wisely. Instead, aim for a maximum of 92 Pass Accuracy to unlock Hall of Fame Dimer, which greatly improves your teammates’ shooting percentages.

3. Mini Marksman

This unique shooting badge is exclusive to builds standing under 6’4″. Although it reduces the impact of contests from taller defenders, it activates in situations that should typically be avoided. Shooting over much taller opponents is not advisable, and using your speed to create better shots is a smarter strategy. While it shares similar requirements with more effective badges like Deadeye and Limitless Range, it’s not worth upgrading shooting solely for Mini Marksman.

2. Float Game

Player taking a floater in NBA 2K25. — dexerto

Float Game enhances the effectiveness of floaters, presenting intriguing scoring options. However, higher tiers of this badge require a Close Shot stat that is typically only beneficial for specific archetypes like Glass Cleaners and Post Scorers. Ball handlers and shot creators, who would naturally benefit from Float Game, often should not prioritize Close Shot over attributes like Driving Dunk or Driving Layup. Consequently, anything above Silver tier is an inefficient use of stat points.

1. Post Lockdown

Player defending post in NBA 2K25. — dexerto

Post Lockdown can be situationally helpful but is often not needed. It enhances a defender’s ability to counter post moves, yet the requirements for Hall of Fame tier—a 93 Interior Defense and 97 Strength—are high and may compromise your build elsewhere. In typical gameplay, the scarcity of effective Post Scorers minimizes the need for this badge, making it a less valuable investment compared to alternatives like Hall of Fame Paint Patroller, which provides more versatile defensive capabilities.

Building your player is just the beginning; you’ll also need to upgrade effectively. To expedite this process, find ways to earn VC quickly and learn how to maximize your rewards. Mastering the mechanics of NBA 2K25, including the shot meter, dunk packages, and Player Lock feature, is essential for enhancing your gameplay experience.