Michael Jordan is one of the most well-known and recognizable NBA players of all time. Owing to NBA 2K23’s robust suite of customization options, you can make a replica build that resembles the mannerisms and playstyles of MJ.
This guide will cover how you can make a Michael Jordan build in NBA 2K23 for both current-gen and next-gen systems. We’ll be going over everything from attributes to badges, animations, and more.
Michael Jordan build NBA 2K23 Stats and Attributes (old-gen and next-gen)
The build will try to mimic the stats and abilities of Michael Jordan from his prime days in the NBA. It is important to note that these stats and build won’t mimic Jordan exactly. Following are all the attributes you need for this build.
| Attribute | Value |
| Handedness | Right |
| Jersey Number | 23 |
| Height | 6’6” |
| Weight | 195 lbs |
| Wingspan | 6’11” |
| Boy Shape | Solid |
| Close Shot | 84 |
| Driving Layup | 90 |
| Driving Dunk | 90 |
| Standing Dunk | 68 |
| Post Control | 60 |
| Mid-Range Shot | 71 |
| Three-Point Shot | 60 |
| Free Throw | 81 |
| Pass Accuracy | 71 |
| Ball Handle | 80 |
| Speed with Ball | 78 |
| Interior defense | 61 |
| Perimeter Defense | 82 |
| Steal | 84 |
| Block | 59 |
| Offensive Rebound | 52 |
| Defensive Rebound | 51 |
| Speed | 85 |
| Acceleration | 85 |
Best Takeovers for Michael Jordan Build (old-gen and next-gen)
Takeovers are the primary and secondary abilities that you gain as the match heats up. You can pick any type of takeover for your build, but the following two are the recommended ones:
- Finishing Moves: Able to absorb and finish through contact on layups, dunks, and alley-oops.
- Pull-Up Precision: Provides a boost to well-timed jump shots taken off the dribble.
If you don’t know what to do with the takeovers, then we have a separate guide explaining how to activate takeovers in NBA 2K23 which you can look at.
Best badges for Michael Jordan build (old-gen and next-gen)
For Michael Jordan’s 99 overall current-gen and next-gen build, we had different choices of badges, but we decided to go with only the best badges that best capture the true image of the Hall of Fame superstar.
As for the next-gen variation, do remember that there’s a slightly different way that the badge system works. The way the all-new, better next-gen badge system works is that you need to select a certain number of lower-tier badges first to actually go ahead and select the higher-tier badges progressively.
Your defense is really strong because of the 6’6” height. With all the points allocated to the steal attribute, you can also use your strong defense to make best dunk build in nba 2k23.
Keeping this in mind, you might have to compensate for the badges a bit in the next-gen variation of NBA 2K23.
Finishing Badges
Dream Shake – Hall of Fame
Fake moves have a much higher chance of baiting your opponent. Any shot that follows a fake move has a higher chance also.
Fearless Finisher – Hall of Fame
Fearless Finisher will help you convert your contact layups and drastically improve your character’s finishing abilities. You also use less stamina for any contact finisher.
Giant Slayer – Hall of Fame
With Giant Slayer, your MJ will have a much easier time going against tall defenders in NBA 2K23. However, you can still be taken surprised by the opposing defender’s best pull-up.
Slithery – Hall of Fame
Increases your success chances when moving through a high-traffic area to move through without contact or losing the ball.
Shooting Badges
Corner Specialist – Hall of Fame
With this badge, your chances of hitting a jump shot after catching a pass or after a rebound improve when you are at the corner, allowing for a more dynamic flow for your build.
Clutch Shooter – Hall of Fame
Any shot that is attempted in the final moments of the 4th quarter receives a boost and has higher chance of success.
Limitless Range – Hall of Fame
Using Limitless Range will increase your shot range drastically for both current-gen and next-gen alike.
Space Creator – Hall of Fame
Increases your success rate of creating space among defenders with back-steps, and any shots that are taken after creating space also have a higher chance of success.
Volume Shooter – Silver
Volume Shooter will increase your chances of a successful attempt, as you take more shots in the match. The more shots you have taken, the better the chances of you hitting a perfect shot.
Playmaking Badges
Handles For Days – Gold
Handles For Days allow you to reduce your overall stamina consumption for dribbling in NBA 2K23. This is the most important badge, as it is required to properly function many other badges, we recommend for your Michael Jordan build on current-gen and next-gen.
Quick First Step – Gold
Quick First Step allows you to bypass almost any defender that’s standing between you and the basket.
Ankle Breaker – Gold
When you perform any backstep, your opponent will have a much higher chance of falling back or stumbling or even moving the wrong way in his attempt to stop you.
Killer Combos– Gold
Increases your character’s ability to chain together different combos without too much stamina consumption and efficient dribbling when sizing up to an opponent.
Defense Badges
Clamps – Gold
This badge grants you access to faster cut-off moves and a higher success rate when bumping into the defender.
Interceptor – Gold
You have a much higher chance of intercepting opponent passes when defending.
Best animations for Michael Jordan build (old-gen and next-gen)
As you know, animations for your different moves can make all the difference in your performance, and the success rate of any shot or attempt that you make.
Therefore, we need to get the best animations set up for our Michael Jordan build in NBA 2K23 for both current-gen and next-gen to make sure that the build gets the deserved efficiency in any match.
Jumpshot
- Lower Base – Kobe Bryant
- Upper Release 1 – Oscar Robertson (100% Animation Blending)
- Upper Release 2 – None
- Dribble – Michael Jordan
- Signature Size-Up – Paul George
- Size-Up Escape Package – LeBron James
- Moving Crossovers – James Harden
- Moving Behind Backs – Zach LaVine
- Moving Spins – Basic
- Moving Hesitations – Luka Doncic
- Moving Stepback – Luka Doncic
- Two Foot Moving Dunk – Jordan Kilganon
- One Foot Moving Dunk – Under Leg Off One
- Standing Dunk – Two hands under Basket Athletic
- Alley-Oops – Zion Williamson Alley-Oop
How to create Michael Jordan Prime Replica build in NBA 2K23
The game features secret replica builds you can create for major basketball legends like Michael Jordan.
The way this works is if you select certain stats for your character in MyPlayer and it matches the stat criteria of a particular replica, you’ll unlock a nickname for yourself, which, for MJ is “His Airness”.
To unlock the Michael Jordan Special Replica, select the stats we’ve highlighted above. These stats will leave you with an overall rating of 99. Note that you must know how to change jersey numbers to complete the replica build.
As for the takeovers, select the “Finishing Moves” takeover as the primary one and the “Extreme Clamps” as the secondary one.
Build the rest of the character following the stats we’ve highlighted above.
Once you do that, your overall player build will be complete, and you’ll be prompted with a screen that you have unlocked the “His Airness” Replica.
In NBA 2K23, you can also relive Michael Jordan’s best career moments by completing Jordan Challenges. Jordan Challenges involve you having to complete games with certain conditions. There is a total of 15 challenges and each challenge has 3 conditions.
