NBA 2K22 is a basketball simulation video-game that was developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It is the 23rd installment in the NBA 2K franchise and the successor to NBA 2K21.
The game boasts improved gameplay mechanics from years past. Among the features reworked were shot logic, contested shots, and defense.
Features[]
Shot Meter[]
NBA 2K22 has a bigger, yet better shot meter than 2k21, with a bigger shot window. Coupled with shot timing, and shot logic, players will see a higher percentage of their shots go in this year .
Defense[]
Defense has been completely reworked in NBA 2K22. The AI has been reworked so shooters must be properly positioned before getting shots off.
MyCAREER[]
MyCareer is the Story mode of NBA 2K22.
On next gen, MyCAREER follows The City's newest resident, MP. MP is known for his million-follower fanbase thanks to his viral YouTube channel. Now though, people want to know what's next for the social media sensation who's earnings are barely keeping him afloat as his friend-manager, Ricky works behind the scenes to get endorsement deals and opportunities, on the corporate side of the NBA and the lifestyle side. Can MP build the life he wants he wants? To play NBA ball, work on music, and develop his street ball skills off the court? Start MP in College, sign to the G-League, declare for the draft, or do all in a row! The choice is yours.
Neighborhoods[]
The City[]
The City returns more alive, brimming with quests, and is seamlessly integrated into MP's story.
Concha Del Mar[]
MyPlayers have left the sunny coast of 2K Beach, and officially welcome you aboard Concha Del Mar! This multi-deck cruise ship features basketball courts available at your convenience, But, maybe...you want to change your look? The all-new Promenade deck has everything you need to get the latest drip! Perhaps, you're seeking some Pro competition? Luckily, Pro-Am has you covered! And when you aren't breaking ankles on the court, perfect your shot with the customizable MyCOURT.
MyHub[]
"Yo MP! Ricky here. A busy man needs to see his schedule at all times! That's why I set up the MyHub app in your living room. It's connected to your phone, so checking any quest objectives, or social messages becomes a breeze. As you progress, your MyHub will become more active, but you've gotta put the work in first!"
MyWNBA[]
Take on the role of a WNBA rookie! Work on your game, become a household name on and off the court and retire a WNBA legend!
The W Online[]
Show out against competition across the world in a 3v3 pickup game.
MyTEAM[]
MyTEAM returns in NBA 2K22.
This mode can be accessed from the main menu. Alternatively, it can be accessed from within MyCAREER; by going to Pink Diamond Plaza, or MyTeam Theater.
The $250,000 MyTEAM Tournament is featured across all console generations this year.
Controls[]
On-Ball Defense[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move Player | LS | LS | |
| Hands Up | RS | RS | |
| Player Swap | X | A | |
| Take Charge | O | B | |
| Block/Rebound | Triangle | Y | |
| Steal | Square | X | |
| Sprint | R2 | RT | |
| Icon Swap | R1 | RB | |
| Double Team | L1 | LB | |
| Intense Defense | L2 | LT | |
| Intentional Foul | Touch Pad | Back Button | |
| On the Fly Coaching | Arrow Pad | Arrow Pad |
Off-Ball Defense[]
| Action | PS4 & PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move Player | LS | LS | |
| On Ball Steal | RS | RS | |
| Player Swap | X | A | |
| Take Charge | O | B | |
| Block/Rebound | Triangle | Y | |
| Steal | Square | X | |
| Sprint | R2 | RT | |
| Icon Swap | R1 | RB | |
| Double Team | L1 | LB | |
| Intense Defense | L2 | LT | |
| Intentional Foul | Touch Pad | Back Button | |
| On the Fly Coaching | Arrow Pad | Aarrow Pad |
On-Ball Offense[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | X | A | |
| Bounce Pass | Circle | B | |
| Lob Pass | Triangle | Y | |
| Shoot | Square or RS | X or RS | |
| Sprint | R2 | RT | |
| Icon Pass | R1 (choose receiver) | RB (choose receiver) | |
| Call Timeout /
Coaches Challenge |
Touch Pad | Back Button | |
| Move Player | LS | LS | |
| Pro Stick | RS | RS | |
| On the Fly Coaching | Arrow-Pad | Arrow-Pad | |
| Call Play | L1 | LB | |
| Post Up | L2 | LT |
Off-Ball Offense[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call For Pass | X | A | |
| Quick Screen | O | B | |
| Tell Teammate To Shoot | Square | X | |
| Call For Alley-oop | Triangle | Y | |
| Sprint | R2 | RT | |
| Call Timeout /
Coach’s Challenge |
Touch Pad | Back Button | |
| Call for Screen | L1 | LB | |
| Post Up | L2 | LT | |
| On the Fly Coaching | Arrow-Pad | Arrow-Pad | |
| Move Player | LS | LS | |
| Pro Stick | RS | RS |
Dribble Moves[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Size-up | Move & hold RS stick up from a standing dribble | Move & hold RS up from a standing dribble | |
| Signature Park Size-up | Repeatedly tap L2 from a stand dribble | Repeatedly tap LT from a stand dribble | |
| In and Out | Move RS right then quickly release while dribbling with right hand. | Move RS up right then quickly release while dribbling with right hand | |
| Hesitation | Move the RS then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | Move the RS right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Momentum Hesitation | R2 + move RS right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | RT + move RS right then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Hesitation Escape | Move and hold RS right when dribbling with right hand | Move and hold RS right when dribbling with right hand | |
| Crossover | When dribbling with the right hand. Move RS up left then quickly release | When dribbling with the right hand. Move RS up left then quickly release | |
| Momentum Crossover | R2 + move RS up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | R2 + move RS up left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Crossover Escape | When dribbling with right hand move & hold RS up left | When dribbling with right hand move & hold RS up left | |
| Between Legs Cross | Move RS left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | Move RS left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Momentum Between Legs Cross | R2 + move RS left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | RT + move RS left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Between Legs Escape | Move and hold RS left when dribbling with right hand | Move and hold RS left when dribbling with right hand | |
| Behind the Back | Move RS down left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | Move RS down left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Momentum Behind the Back | R2 + move RS down left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | RT + move RS down left then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Behind the Back Escape | When dribbling with right hand, move & hold RS down left | When dribbling with right hand, move & hold RS down left | |
| Stepback | Move RS down then quickly release | Move RS down then quickly release | |
| Momentum Stepback | R2 + move RS down then quickly release | R2 + move RT down then quickly release | |
| Spin | Rotate the RS clockwise then quickly & release when dribbling with right hand | Rotate the RS clockwise then quickly & release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Half Spin | Rotate RS in a quarter-circle from right to up then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | Rotate RS in a quarter-circle from right to up then quickly release when dribbling with right hand | |
| Hard Stop / Stutter | Tap L2 while driving for a quick change of speed | Tap LT while driving for a quick change of speed | |
| Hold Off Defenders | Hold L2 | Hold LT |
Passing Controls[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Pass | Press X | Press A | |
| Bounce Pass | Press O | Press B | |
| Lob Pass | Press Triangle | Press Y | |
| Skip Pass | Hold X to target a receiver further away | Hold A to target a receiver further away | |
| Fake Pass | Triangle + O while standing or driving to the basket | B + Y while standing or driving to the basket | |
| Jump Pass | Square + X while standing or driving to the basket | A + X while standing or driving to the basket | |
| Icon Pass | Press R1 then press the icon button of the desired receiver | Press RB then press the icon button of the desired receiver | |
| Flashy Pass | Double tap O | Double tap B to pass | |
| Alley-oop | Double tap Triangle | Double tap Y | |
| Alley-oop to Self | Double tap triangle + move LS to the hoop | Double tap Y + move LS to the hoop | |
| Lead to Basket Pass | Press & hold triangle to make the selected receiver cut to the basket. Then Release to pass. | Press & hold Y to make the selected receiver cut to the basket. Then Release to pass. | |
| Full Receiver Control | Press & hold O to freely move the selected receiver with LS. Release O to pass. | Press & hold B to freely move the selected receiver with LS. Release B to pass. | |
| Touch Pass | Press X before the first receiver gets the ball (Use LS to select the second receiver) | Press A before the first receiver gets the ball (Use LS to select the second receiver) | |
| Pro Stick Pass | Press & hold R1 + move RS in the desired pass direction | Press & hold RB + move RS in the desired pass direction | |
| Give and Go | Press & hold X until the receiver catches the ball. Hold X & use LS to move the initial passer. Release X to get the ball back | Press & hold A until the receiver catches the ball. Hold A & use LS to move initial passer. Release A to get the ball back. | |
| Rolling Inbound | Press triangle during baseline inbounds | Press Y during baseline inbounds |
Shooting Controls & Dunks[]
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jump Shot | Press & hold Square then release | Press & hold Y then release | |
| Free Throw | Press & hold square then release(when at the line) | Press and hold Y then release(when at the line) | |
| Layup | Move & hold RS up(when driving) | Move & hold RS up(when driving) | |
| Runner / Floater | Move & hold RS down while driving | Move & hold RS down while driving | |
| Reverse Layup | Move & hold the RS right(while driving along the baseline) | Move & hold the RS right(while driving along the baseline) | |
| Euro Step Layup | Double tap square while driving & hold LS towards the off hand | Double tap Y while driving & hold the LS towards the off hand | |
| Cradle Layup | Double tap square when driving & hold LS towards the ball hand | Double tap Y when driving & hold LS towards the ball hand | |
| Two-Hand Dunk | R2 + move & hold RS up while driving to basket | RT + move & hold RS up while driving to basket | |
| Dominant or Off-Hand Dunk | R2 + move & hold RS up, left or right in close range | RT + move & hold RS up, left or right in close range | |
| Flashy Dunk | R2 + move & hold RS down when driving, release to finish dunk | RT + move & hold RS down when driving, release to finish dunk | |
| Pump Fake | Tap Square | Tap Y | |
| Hop Gather | Tap Square while dribbling with L deflected | Tap Y while dribbling with L deflected | |
| Spin Gather | Hold R2 + double tap Square | Hold RT + double tap Y | |
| Half Spin Gather | Rotate RS in a quarter-circle from right to up then hold while driving with ball in right hand | Rotate RS in a quarter-circle from right to up then hold while driving with ball in right hand | |
| Step Through | Near basket, pump fake, then press & hold square | Near basket, pump fake, then press & hold Y | |
| Putback | Press square when attempting an offensive rebound | Press Y when attempting an offensive rebound |
Post Offense Controls[]
Press and hold (L2 – PS4) / (LT – Xbox One) button to post up.
| Action | PS4 and PS5 Controls | Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropstep | Hold LS to the left or right toward hoop, then tap Square | Hold LS to the left or right toward hoop, then tap X | |
| Spin or Drive | Rotate RS to either shoulder | Rotate RS to either shoulder | |
| Jab Stepback | Hold R2 & move RS up then quickly release. | Hold RT & move RS up then quickly release. | |
| Straight Stepback | Hold R2 & move RS down then quickly release. | Hold RT & move RS down then quickly release. | |
| Post Layup | Move LS toward hoop + hold RS up left or up right | Move LS toward hoop + hold RS up left or up right | |
| Post Hook | With LS on neutral, move & hold RS up left or up right. | With LS on neutral, move & hold RS up left or up right. | |
| Post Fade | Move & hold RS left or right away from the hoop | Move & hold RS left or right away from the hoop | |
| Post Shimmy Fade | With LS neutral, hold R2 + move & hold RS down left or down right | With LS neutral, hold RT + move & hold RS down left or down right | |
| Post Shimmy Hook | With LS neutral, hold R2 + move & hold RS up left or up right | With LS neutral, hold RT + move & hold RS up left or up right | |
| Post Hop | Move & hold LS left, right or down then tap square | Move & hold LS left, right or down then tap X | |
| Up and Under | Use RS to pump fake, then let go of L2 and quickly move & hold RS again before the pump fake ends | Use RS to pump fake, then let go of LT and quickly move & hold RS again before the pump fake ends | |
| Dunk Attempt | Hold R2 & move LS + RS up. | Hold RT & move LS + RS up. |