How Important is Strength in NBA 2K23?

Hey friend, I know determining which attributes to upgrade in 2K23 can be confusing. Especially understanding how impactful strength is for your MyPlayer. Well after 1000+ hours in the 2K lab, let me break down everything you need to know about the value of strength this year!

In a nutshell, strength is extremely important in 2K23. It allows you to absorb contact, overpower defenders, and finish through traffic. For big men, it‘s necessary to dominate the paint. Guards and wings can still benefit in smaller doses. Let‘s dive into the details.

What Does the Strength Attribute Do in 2K?

According to 2K themselves, "Strength determines who wins a contact battle and helps dictate how successful a player will be when backing down or being backed down in the post, both with and without the ball."

To translate – higher strength makes it easier to bump cutters, absorb blows when attacking the rim, post up deeper, and wrestle for rebounds. You also become much harder to push around on drives or when boxing out.

I always think of strength as your "durability" and resistance against contact. Bigs rely on it to overpower opponents down low. But even guards and wings benefit when driving into traffic.

Just How Strong Are NBA Superstars in 2K?

Let‘s examine the actual strength ratings of some of the NBA‘s most powerful players in 2K23:

Player	Position	Strength Rating
Giannis	PF	95
LeBron	SF	88
Embiid	C	86
Zion	PF	86
Julius Randle	PF	84

It‘s no coincidence these beasts are nearly impossible to slow down when attacking the rim! Their raw strength allows them to bully weaker defenders in the paint.

Now compare that to more finesse players like Kyrie Irving (72 Strength) or Steph Curry (54 Strength). Those guys rely more on craftiness to finish around the rim despite their lack of strength.

Based on the ratings above, I‘d say once you get strength into the 85+ range, you‘ve reached true "paint beast" status.

Strength vs. Vertical – Which Matters More for Bigs?

For big man builds, both strength and vertical are vital ratings. But which one is more important for finishing at the rim?

From my experience, strength has a bigger impact on posting up deep and absorbing contact on rebounds and putbacks. The higher your strength, the deeper you can establish position down low.

Vertical mainly affects how fast you can rise up for putbacks, alley-oops, and blocking shots. Freak athletes like Rudy Gobert can still throw down thanks to their elite hops, even with just average strength.

Overall, well-rounded big men will want both ratings in the 70s+ range. Go heavier into strength if you mostly operate in the post. Prioritize vertical if your game is built on rim running lob threats.

Ideal Strength Goals Based on Build and Position

Not all builds need max strength. Here are the ideal strength targets based on your position and archetype:

• Guards: 65-75 strength is sufficient. Higher will sacrifice speed/acceleration which are more vital.

• Wings: 70-80 strength provides great balance. Allows bumping cutters while still quick enough on perimeter.

• Bigs: 75-85+ is essential to dominate the interior. Helps establish deep position and absorb contact.

• Stretches: 60-70 strength is ideal. Gives some interior resistance without sacrificing shooting and speed.

As a baseline, aim for at least 60 strength on any build to avoid getting constantly pushed around. But your exact needs depend on playstyle.

How Much to Invest in Strength for Popular Builds

Wondering exactly how much to invest in strength for your MyPlayer? Here are my personal recommendations:

• Slashing Playmaker: Get 65-70 strength – gives finishing boost while retaining speed.

• 2-Way Slasher: Go 70-80+ strength for elite contact dunks. This is your core game.

• 2-Way Sharpshooter: Get 65-70 strength. Provides paint presence without sacrificing shooting.

• Paint Beast: Max out strength as high as possible (85-99). This is your main role.

• Glass Cleaner: Favor strength (80-90) over vertical for relentless rebounding.

• Stretch Four: Get 60-65 strength just to hold your own inside. Avoid overinvesting.

As you can see, interior builds need strength the most. But even perimeter builds benefit from some contact resistance.

Badges That Become More Potent With Strength

High strength also boosts the impact of several key badges:

• Backdown Punisher – Strength amplifies your backdown power.

• Brick Wall – Strength helps you set more devastating screens.

• Post Lockdown – Strength enhances your resistance against being pushed in post.

• Box – Boosts your boxout impact for rebounds.

By combining high strength with these badges, you can become an absolute brick wall down low. Max them out to get the most from your power ratings.

Balancing Strength With Speed and Acceleration

While strength is important, you can‘t neglect speed and acceleration either. Powerful builds like Paint Beasts can minimize speed. But most positions need balance.

As a general rule of thumb, keep speed and acceleration at 70+ on any build other than traditional big men. Once strength goes above 75, it will start to sap your mobility.

Guards and wings should make speed and acceleration top priorities before strength for sharper cuts and separation. Bigs can better afford to sacrifice quickness for brute force.

Height and Strength Caps – Why Shorter Builds Can‘t Max Strength

Unfortunately, due to physical limitations, shorter players can‘t reach the same strength caps as bigger builds in 2K:

• A 6‘3" guard has a strength cap around 80.

• A 7‘3" big man can max strength as high as 99.

As a result, smaller builds naturally struggle more against max strength paint beasts. Their lower caps make it harder to overpower the titans down low.

If going shorter, you need greater speed, vertical, and finishing badges to overcome the strength deficit compared to bigger players. Carefully choose attributes that best amplify your playstyle.

Is Strength Still Useful for Guards and Shooters?

While most vital for bigs, strength can still be helpful in smaller doses even for guards and shooters. Some benefits include:

• Better absorbing contact on drives

• Fighting through screens more easily

• Holding ground vs bully post scorers

• Finishing contested layups in traffic

• Maintaining stamina against physical defenders

I‘d recommend most perimeter builds invest lightly in 60-70 strength once key shooting and playmaking ratings are sufficient. Every little bit of contact resistance helps!

Is Strength More Important in Current or Next Gen 2K?

The impact of strength is far more noticeable on next gen 2K23 due to the improved collision engine. Each bit of contact feels heavier and more realistic.

As a result, strength becomes even more crucial on next gen for builds attacking the rim frequently. Backdown moves, post play, and contact dunks are much tougher without adequate strength.

Current gen has slightly looser collisions where strength doesn‘t matter quite as much. But it‘s still very useful. Next gen takes its importance to another level.

The Verdict: How Much Should You Prioritize Strength?

While essential for big men, strength is still helpful for guards/wings too. At minimum, get 60-70 strength so you don‘t get constantly pushed around.

For drivers and finishers, 70-80 strength is ideal for contact dunks and absorbing punishment in traffic. Max it out on interior bigs.

Balance strength with sufficient speed/acceleration to retain mobility. Badges like Backdown Punisher also amplify its impact. Invest in strength strategically based on your build.

Hopefully this guide gave you a better feel for why strength matters so much in 2K23. Let me know if you have any other questions!