Introduction
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a basketball unicorn – a 7-footer with the speed, skill, and versatility to dominate the game in ways we‘ve never seen before. The Greek Freak‘s unique blend of physical gifts and all-around ability have made him one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA over the past few seasons. But creating a build that accurately captures Giannis‘ playstyle and impact in NBA 2K23 is no easy feat. It requires careful consideration of attributes, badges, animations, and more.
In this guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to create the ultimate Giannis Antetokounmpo build in NBA 2K23. From his key stats and tendencies to the best badges and attribute spreads, we‘ll give you the blueprint for unleashing the Greek Freak on your virtual opponents. Let‘s dive in!
Giannis By the Numbers
Before we start building, let‘s take a look at some of Giannis‘ key stats and averages from his dominant 2021-22 season:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points per game | 29.9 |
| Rebounds per game | 11.6 |
| Assists per game | 5.8 |
| Steals per game | 1.1 |
| Blocks per game | 1.4 |
| Field goal percentage | 55.3% |
| 3-10 feet shooting percentage | 52.1% (career high) |
| Points per isolation possession | 1.12 (career high) |
| Screen assists per game | 3.8 (career high in 2020-21) |
| All-Defensive selections | 7 |
As you can see, Giannis stuffs the stat sheet on a nightly basis, impacting the game in virtually every way imaginable. He scores efficiently from inside and out, creates for his teammates, crashes the glass, and anchors one of the league‘s best defenses. Any Giannis build worth its salt will need to be able to replicate this level of all-around production.
Building the Perfect Freak
Body Settings
The first step in creating any NBA 2K build is to nail down the body settings. For our Giannis build, we recommend the following:
- Height: 6‘11"
- Weight: 242 lbs
- Wingspan: 7‘4"
- Body Type: Built
While Giannis is listed at 6‘11" and 242 lbs, we‘ve found that going a touch shorter and lighter helps with his speed and acceleration while still allowing him to dominate physically. The 7‘4" wingspan is key for shot blocking, rebounding, and finishing at the rim. And the Built body type strikes the right balance between strength and agility.
Attributes
Next up is setting the right attribute caps. Here‘s what we recommend for each category:
Finishing
- Close Shot: 85
- Driving Layup: 88
- Driving Dunk: 95
- Standing Dunk: 92
- Post Control: 82
With a 95 Driving Dunk and 92 Standing Dunk, this build will be able to posterize defenders and finish through contact just like the real Giannis. The 82 Post Control will also allow for some back-to-the-basket scoring on mismatches.
Shooting
- Mid-Range Shot: 75
- Three-Point Shot: 73
- Free Throw: 70
While shooting isn‘t Giannis‘ strongest suit, these ratings are more than enough to keep defenses honest. A 75 Mid-Range shot is respectable for a big man, and the 73 Three-Point shot reflects Giannis‘ improved stroke in recent years.
Playmaking
- Pass Accuracy: 82
- Ball Handle: 77
- Speed With Ball: 76
Giannis may not be a primary ball handler, but he‘s developed into an impressive passer and shot creator for others. The 82 Pass Accuracy and 77 Ball Handle will allow him to run offense and make plays in the half court and transition.
Defense/Rebounding
- Interior Defense: 95
- Perimeter Defense: 84
- Steal: 72
- Block: 90
- Offensive Rebound: 93
- Defensive Rebound: 95
Defense and rebounding are where this build will truly shine. With 95 ratings in Interior D and Defensive Rebounding, this Giannis will be an absolute menace protecting the rim and cleaning the glass. The 84 Perimeter D is also excellent for switching onto guards and wings.
Physicals
- Speed: 86
- Acceleration: 84
- Strength: 95
- Vertical: 88
- Stamina: 95
Giannis is one of the most explosive and physically dominant players in the league, and these ratings reflect that. The 86 Speed and 84 Acceleration are terrific for a player this size, while the 95 Strength will allow him to bully smaller defenders.
Badges
Choosing the right badges is just as important as setting the attributes. Here are some must-haves for any Giannis build:
Finishing
- Posterizer (Hall of Fame)
- Limitless Takeoff (Gold)
- Slithery Finisher (Gold)
- Fearless Finisher (Hall of Fame)
- Lob City Finisher (Gold)
- Putback Boss (Gold)
- Rise Up (Gold)
Shooting
- Catch & Shoot (Silver)
- Corner Specialist (Bronze)
- Hot Zone Hunter (Bronze)
- Rhythm Shooter (Silver)
Playmaking
- Post Spin Technician (Silver)
- Dream Shake (Silver)
- Needle Threader (Gold)
- Bail Out (Silver)
- Downhill (Gold)
Defense/Rebounding
- Intimidator (Hall of Fame)
- Rebound Chaser (Hall of Fame)
- Pogo Stick (Gold)
- Rim Protector (Hall of Fame)
- Chase Down Artist (Gold)
- Brick Wall (Gold)
- Worm (Gold)
Takeover & Animations
To complete the build, we recommend choosing Finishing Moves as the primary takeover and Extreme Clamps as the secondary. These will allow Giannis to dominate on both ends when he gets hot.
For animations, equip ones that highlight Giannis‘ explosiveness and agility. The long athlete layups, side clutches, two-foot dunks, and under-basket athletic flushes are all great options. For dribble moves, go with quick and snappy animations that allow Giannis to change speeds and get to his spots.
Putting It All Together
And there you have it – the ultimate Giannis Antetokounmpo build for NBA 2K23! This version of the Greek Freak is an absolute monster, able to dominate games in transition, lock up elite scorers, throw down ferocious dunks, and control the glass. He‘s the perfect blend of speed, power, skill, and versatility.
Some potential strategies and lineups to maximize this build:
Pair Giannis with a floor-spacing guard and surround him with 3-and-D wings. Let him run wild in transition and attack the rim relentlessly in the half court.
Deploy Giannis at the 5 in small-ball lineups to blow by slower big men and switch everything on defense. With his combination of perimeter skills and rim protection, he can thrive in this role.
Use Giannis as a screener in pick-and-rolls and let him create chaos as a roll man and short-roll playmaker. With his strength and finishing ability, he‘s nearly impossible for most defenders to contain.
This Giannis build is also perfect for MyCareer, especially on a team like the Bucks or Heat that can space the floor and let Giannis cook in isolation. Focus on finishing, defense, and playmaking in your skill progression, and you‘ll be racking up MVPs and DPOYs in no time!
Conclusion
Creating a player as unique as Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA 2K is a tall task, but with the right build, it‘s definitely possible. By focusing on Giannis‘ otherworldly athleticism, defensive versatility, and improving skill set, you can create a virtual basketball monster that dominates games on both ends.
Hopefully this guide has given you all the tools and knowledge you need to create your own Greek Freak and terrorize your 2K opponents. Just remember – with great Freakishness comes great responsibility. Use your powers wisely, and always strive to be a force for good on the virtual hardwood!
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I have some virtual Giannis dunks to throw down and virtual MVPs to win. See you on the sticks!
