Here’s How to Shoot in "NBA 2K20" (Because It’s Never Been More Scarily Accurate)

Wanna be a baller?

Whether you’re new to NBA 2K or a grizzled Vince Carter-aged vet, you’re gonna need to learn how to shoot from scratch with NBA 2K20.

That’s not a bad thing. It’s not even a surprising thing. For the fourth year running, the 2K team have tinkered with the shooting function, this time making it smoother and more realistic than ever.

Though previous innovations have been disastrous (RIP 2K18), the enhancements to 2K20 are probably the best the franchise has ever seen. Not only can you now play with teams from the WNBA, but shot functionality uncannily mimics real player performance.

Let’s get into it.

(This game was previewed on the PS4, so all screenshots below correspond to the PlayStation experience. Nonetheless, we'll outline the correct buttons for Xbox One as well.)

The Basics

If you’ve never actually played NBA 2K before, here’s what you need to know. To put the ball in the basket, hold and release the Square button on PS4 or X button on Xbox One, or pull back and release the right thumbstick.

You’ll see a Shot Meter next to your player, and you’ll want to fill it up—until it’s flashing green—before letting go. That’s not to say you won’t sink the rock if you don’t go 'green'. Ultimately though, the fuller the bar, the better your chances.

(If you’re only interested in posterising, the Shot Meter won’t appear for dunks. As a rule, run into the paint and yank the right thumbstick or hold down the correct button at the basket. Then: Boom-shaka-laka.)

Of course, there’s way more to it than that, but if you’re just looking for the shooting buttons, well, there you go. Hopefully we don’t also need to tell you that you need to be on the offensive end of the court, and not smothered by defenders, to increase your likelihood of making buckets.

The game will let you know if you’re on fire or ice cold, thanks to snowflake and fire icons based on how many shots in a row you’ve sunk (or failed to sink).

There’s also a bit of unique difficulty during free throws if you’re the Away team, as the crowd will stomp the floor and rumble your controller, making it harder to fill the bar before releasing.

That should get you through your first few games. However, if you want to evolve from a button-masher to an elegant hooper with a beautiful touch, read on.

How Shooting Used to Work

Maybe it's been a few years since you played 2K. Well, things have changed, hombre, so don't roll up thinking you know how this works. Prior to 2K18, your shot accuracy was based on your Stamina Bar (which measured the amount of time you held the 'shoot' button or thumbstick). 2K18 cut that right out, and added a smaller Shot Bar (which combined your timing with your position on the court, your posture and your defensive pressure). Though player energy was still measured by the traditional Stamina Bar around an avatar’s feet, the Shot Bar floated next to the player’s head, making it extremely difficult to see.

2K19 course corrected with the Shot Meter (yep, another name change), which now flashed your team colours and was much easier on the eyes. Everything else remained the same.

How to Shoot in NBA 2K20

Okay, don’t panic when I tell you that the 2K20 Shot Meter is even smaller than before.

It’s only a subtle change, but y’know, these things matter when you’re trying to dominate your opponent.

Thankfully, according to the official 2K gameplay blog, there are a few options available to ensure you can see exactly what’s going on.

For instance, you’ll be able to customise your Shot Meter, so the green flash isn’t the only way to visually depict a perfect shot. You can also have a splash or splat effect. Nice. (You can also move the Shot Meter to your feet by going into Controller Settings, and if you really want, you can even change the Shot Meter colour in Settings to White, Black, Grey, Red, Yellow, Cyan, Blue or Magenta.)

They’ve also updated your Stamina Bar too. When energy drops below a certain threshold, you’ll see a flashing yellow effect. This’ll keep you from mashing 'Sprint' all game long, and encourage subs.

Finally, thanks to an updated motion engine and advances in player imitation, NBA 2K20 requires a working knowledge of how current NBA players operate. Example: If you’re playing as Ben Simmons for the Philadelphia 76ers, there’s probably no point attempting a three pointer, because he’s unlikely to make them. (In fact, as developers told the Sydney Morning Herald, AI defenders don’t even defend Simmons from the three-point line. Awesomely, the makers regularly adapt as players progress over the season, so if Simmons starts hitting jump shots, the AI will be recalibrated.)

Similarly, you might not want to attempt any dunks with Steph Curry, but put him at the three-point line, and you’ll have an easier time with the Shot Meter than with almost anyone else in the game.

Above all, the key to scoring remains shot selection. Whether you're playing as James Harden, Anthony Davis, Liz Cambage or Sue Bird, there's no sure shot in NBA 2K20. If you're heavily contested in the paint, you may want to post up (with L2 on PS4 or LT on Xbox One) and then spin or drive a stepback by holding R2/RT and moving the right trigger left or right before quickly releasing. If they won't give you an opportunity, make one.

NBA 2K20 is now available. (Affiliate disclosure: Student Edge may earn a commission if you click that link and buy a product from our partner's page.)

Read More:

Do You Need NBA 2K20 If You Have NBA 2K19 or Older?

Here’s How to Dunk in NBA 2K20 (Because It's the Only Way to Fly)

Here’s How to Shoot in NBA 2K20 (Because It’s Never Been More Scarily Accurate)

Here's How to Defend in NBA 2K20 (Including Steals, Flops and Intentional Fouls)

Here’s How to Do Dribble Moves in NBA 2K20 (From Spins to Crossovers)

Here’s How to Pump Fake and Fake Pass in NBA 2K20

Here’s How to "Eurostep" in NBA 2K20 (and Play Like Giannis)

How to Trade Players in NBA 2K20 (and Always Get Who You Want)

How to Get Bonus VC in NBA 2K20

Header Image: 2K Games