The Definitive Guide to Building LaMelo Ball in NBA 2K23 - DowneLink (2024)

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

The Definitive Guide to Building LaMelo Ball in NBA 2K23 - DowneLink (1)

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!

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The Definitive Guide to Building LaMelo Ball in NBA 2K23 - DowneLink (2024)

FAQs

What is LaMelo Ball overall in 2K23? ›

LaMelo Ball's NBA 2K Ratings Over the Years
GameRating
NBA 2K2486
NBA 2K2387
NBA 2K2286
NBA 2K2179
1 more row

How much does a lamelo ball weigh? ›

How tall is Lamelo Ball in 2K24? ›

LaMelo Ball
HeightWeightWingspan
Height 6'7Weight 180Wingspan 6'10

Who is a 99 overall in 2K23? ›

Michael Jordan, the sacred cow

Michael Jordan's 99 rating is followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 97 with no player at 98. Other stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid are all at 96. KD already expressed his discomfort for not having 99.

Who is a 96 overall in 2K23? ›

NBA 2K23 Player Ratings
Player2022/23
1.Giannis Antetokounmpo97
2.Stephen Curry96
2.Nikola Jokic96
2.Kevin Durant96
152 more rows

Why does LaMelo Ball wear 2? ›

For the 2021-22 season, Ball missed the deadline to switch numbers and was forced to wear No. 2 for a second-straight season. But, LaMelo was clear during exit interviews following Charlotte's loss to Atlanta in the Play-In game that he'll be back in his beloved No. 1 next season.

Is LaMelo Ball number 1 or 2? ›

Ahead of the 2022–23 NBA season, Ball changed his jersey number from the number 2 to the number 1.

How tall was LaMelo at 14? ›

gojo supremacy - 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞

Here are some of the craziest growth sports. by NBA players that we've ever seen. Lamelo Ball went from 5 10 freshman year of high school. to 6 8 heading into the 2,020 draft. Scotty Pippin was a 6 foot 1 senior in high school.

Is LaMelo Ball hurt? ›

INJURY UPDATE: @hornets guard LaMelo Ball will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season as he continues to rehab from his right ankle injury. Ball has not played since Jan. 27 for the Hornets (18-54), who've been eliminated from postseason competition.

Is LaMelo Ball's mom okay? ›

How big is LaMelo Ball's wingspan? ›

Aran Smith @nbadraftnet now LaMelo Ball supposedly measured 6-6 in shoes with a 6-6 wingspan. Not undersized by any means. But smaller than once thought.

Who is a 90 overall in 2K23? ›

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young earned a 90 overall rating in the new NBA 2K23 video game.

Who is the highest overall in 2K23? ›

1 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – 97

But in NBA 2K23 both are winners, earning the same overall rating of 84 to coast into the top ten. Further up the list, 'Greek Freak' Antetokounmpo isn't merely the top power forward – but the single best player in NBA 2K23, full stop.

Who has the highest ball handle in 2K23? ›

The Best Ball-Handlers According To NBA 2K23
  • Kyrie Irving - 99.
  • T2. Stephen Curry - 97.
  • T2. James Harden - 97.
  • T4. Luka Doncic - 95.
  • T4. Ja Morant - 95.
  • T4. Damian Lillard - 95.
  • T7. Chris Paul - 93.
  • T7. Trae Young - 93.
Sep 20, 2022

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