Being the primary ball-handler on your team is a huge responsibility, one that requires the best dribble moves in NBA 2K25 to be effective. There are a lot of different categories and possible combinations, so let’s try and build the ultimate crossover machine.
Dribble moves are a small part of NBA 2K25’s arsenal of animations, and yet there are dozens of various moves to choose from. Everything from your player’s stance to the way they dribble the ball down the court, to the flashy crossovers can be customized. At first glance, this all may seem like a purely visual concept, but those with MyCAREER experience know optimizing your MyPLAYER’s dribble moves is crucial to beating your defender.
We’ll go through all 12 categories and tell you which are the best dribble moves in each. We will split our recommendations between smaller guards under 6-feet-5-inches tall and taller playmakers between 6-feet-5-inches and 6-feet-9-inches. Big men options are very limited and even non-existent in some categories, so you won’t have much to pick from if you’re going for a point center build.
Best dribble moves for players under 6-feet-5-inches in NBA 2K25
Dribble style – Russell Westbrook
Westbrook’s trademark explosiveness is evident in his dribble style, but he also has some low-bounce stances that will make steal chasers’ lives much harder.
Size-up – Trae Young
Trae’s size-up moves are almost nauseating, which is a good effect to instill on the opposing defenders. Young’s dribble moves have some of the highest requirements, and once you’ve tried them, you’ll know why.
Regular Breakdowns – Isaiah Thomas
You don’t score 29 points a game for an entire NBA season at just 5-feet-9-inches without some crafty dribble moves. Isaiah’s regular breakdown stands out from the bunch by opening up a lot of space to the side that can seamlessly morph into paint penetration, a jump shot, or a pass.
Aggressive Breakdowns – Darius Garland
Darius Garland can go a little under the radar as a dribbler, but we’ll give him his shine. His aggressive breakdown goes straight at the defender, ready to shift gears at a moment’s notice.
Escape Moves – Darius Garland
We’re sticking with Garland for our escape moves. You want to be nimble in all directions and Garland’s arsenal of evades will always keep you a safe distance from the defender.
Combo Moves – Ja Morant
Ja’s combo moves are tailor made for scoring in transition and are almost a cheat code in that scenario. Considering that’s the best use for combo moves, this is an easy recommendation.
Crossovers – Chris Paul
Chris Paul’s crossovers work similarly to Isaiah Thomas’ regular breakdowns in that they create more separation due to the players’ small stature. Having these moves without the limitations of being under six feet tall is a chance you shouldn’t miss.
Behind the Back – Kyrie Irving
We couldn’t justify making a list of the best dribble moves in NBA 2K25 without including Kyrie. He’s not here simply off of his name, though. Irving’s behind the back moves can eliminate defenders or set you up for a clear shot at will, as long as your timing’s right.
Spins – Ja Morant
Quickness is the name of the game with spin moves and who’s quicker than Ja Morant? Of course, you need to have the agility stats yourself to maximize this animation, but once you’re there, you’ll be like a fast-spinning ferris wheel out there.
Hesitations – Stephen Curry
You only need to try out Steph Curry’s hesitations in NBA 2K25 to realize how crucial they are to his scoring prowess. Separation will become your middle name with this set of dribble moves.
Stepbacks – Trae Young
We complete our small build of dribble moves with the small magician himself, Trae Young. His stepbacks have been straight fire in NBA 2K games for years, and they don’t disappoint in 2K25 either—blink and you’ve already been scored on.
Triple Threat Style – Michael Jordan
Some will say that your triple threat style doesn’t really matter, and honestly, they’re kind of right. So why not get the goat’s moves? No need to argue, LeBron is also an option, so if that’s your interpretation, you can go with him. There are no height limitations for triple threats, just do what you want here.
Best dribble moves for players between 6-feet-5-inches and 6-feet-9-inches in NBA 2K25
Dribble Style – Jalen Green
Green’s nimble dribble style feels very smooth in transition, reflecting his youthful athleticism in real life. Recommended for quick builds who like to push the ball at all times.
Size-up – Kevin Durant
Durant’s lean stature means his size-up move swings wide, which is amazing for opening up pull-up opportunities, KD’s signature shot. This dribble move can score buckets on its own in NBA 2K25.
Regular Breakdowns – Jaylen Brown
For someone who was mocked for not being able to dribble with his left hand, NBA champion Jaylen Brown has some decent dribble moves in NBA 2K25. Case in point, his regular breakdown is explosive and keeps the ball low to the ground, a deadly mix if we’ve ever seen one.
Aggressive Breakdowns – Kobe Bryant
The late great Kobe Bryant’s aggressive breakdown is arguably the most unique one, because it moves back instead of forward. This makes the defender question what’s your next move, giving you the chance to shoot or penetrate as soon as they let their guard down.
Escape Moves – Zach LaVine
LaVine’s body movement during escape moves can be very deceiving to the eye, almost unnatural. It’s harder to predict unnatural, so expect to see a lot of space by equipping LaVine’s escape moves package to your MyPLAYER.
Combo Moves – Zach LaVine
Another way to utilize Zach LaVine’s bag of tricks is via his combo moves. This is as quick and varied as it gets at this height. Do you need any more convincing?
Crossovers – Jimmy Butler
Jimmy is known for getting buckets and not necessarily for his dribbling, but this crossover feels way too good for the low requirements it has. It’s basically Kobe’s crossover, but only needs 70 ball handling to equip.
Behind the Back – Paul George
PG’s behind the back dribbles have a wide sweeping motion that can freeze the defender two feet away from you, giving you a split second decision on whether to shoot, penetrate, pass, or continue playing with your prey.
Spins – LaMelo Ball
As we said earlier, spin moves are all about how fast you can go. LaMello Ball’s guard-like frame makes him quicker than most players 6-feet-5-inches and above, and if you develop your MyPLAYER right, you’ll be spinning right round, like a record, baby all over the court.
Hesitations – Kobe Bryant
What’s with all-time great scorers and hesitations? We’re seeing a connection there, so if you’re an NBA hopeful, you might want to train some hesitation moves. Where were we? Ah, yes, Kobe’s dribble moves are very, very good in NBA 2K25.
Stepbacks – James Harden
Remember when James Harden was scoring 30-plus points every game with nothing but stepback threes, layups, and free throws? NBA 2K25 remembers, because Harden’s stepback package is a speedway to getting buckets for taller playmakers.
After meticulously crafting your MyPLAYER’s dribble moves, it would be a shame to not give him the boost of Takeovers. That’s when you can feel the true power of your build.
