NBA 2K25 continues the franchise’s tradition of delivering a fluid and realistic basketball simulation.

Whether you’re playing casually or competing online, having the NBA 2K25 best settings can greatly enhance your gameplay and provide you with a significant advantage.

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In this ONE Esports guide, we walk you through the best settings across different areas of the game.

Dominate on the court with these NBA 2K25 best settings

To access the game settings, select the Features tab from the Main Menu.

Main settings

Main settings in NBA 2K25
Screenshot by Jeremiah Sevilla/ONE Esports
SETTINGOPTION
Game DifficultyHall of Fame
Quarter LengthPreference
FatigueOn
InjuriesOn
Game Speed50
Foul Out6
On Court Shot ClockLast 10 seconds
Camera ShakeOn
Action ReplaysPreference (recommended to select “Never”)
Highlight Play Camera CutsPreference (recommended to “Off”)
After Basket Camera CutsPreference (recommended to select “Never”)
Arena Photo Strobe FlashesOff
Pick & Roll Overlay OnOn
2K Smart Play OverlayOff
Menu LanguageUse system settings
Commentary LanguagePreference
Units of MeasurementPreference
Scene SubtitlesOff
Motion Blur0
Shot Press-and-HoldOff
Audio PresentationPreference

Be sure to set the motion blur to zero for a fluid gameplay experience.

Coach settings

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SETTINGOPTION
Adaptive Coaching EngineOff
TimeoutManual
Player MinutesAuto
SubstitutionManual
Substitution MethodACE
Offensive PlayVisionAll plays
PlayVision DisplayFull
Playcalling MessagesShow all
Offense PlaycallingManual
Defense PlaycallingManual
Late-game FoulingManual
Team CommunicationDefense only or Offense and defense
Freelance Series OrderDynamic
Freelance Series RepeatRepeat on success
Teammate Cut to BasketManual

Disabling the Adaptive Coaching Engine (ACE) and setting most coaching options to manual puts you in full control of your team’s strategy and decisions.

This allows you to dictate every play, substitution, and adjustment, giving you greater flexibility to adapt your tactics based on the flow of the game rather than relying on automated suggestions.

Controller settings

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SETTINGOPTION
VibrationPreference
Trigger EffectPreference
Shot Timing ProfileHigh Risk-Reward or Normal Risk-Reward
Layup Timing ProfileHigh Risk-Reward or Normal Risk-Reward
Free Throw TimingUser Timing
Shot Timing Visual CueSet Point or Push
Shot Meter Input TypeAll
Pro Stick FunctionDefault
Pro Stick OrientationAbsolute
Off-Ball Offense ModeAbsolute
Double Team ReactionManual
Help Defense Button FunctionDouble Team
Call for Pick and Roll vs FadeManual
Player IconsOn
Skip PassEnabled
Icon Lead PassingOn
Pro Stick Pass TypeNormal
Icon PassingFull Receiver Control or Default
Receiver ControlHandoff/Pitch pass or Receiver get open
Hold Lob Pass ButtonSkip pass
Passive Dribble Hand SwitchesDisabled
Pro Stick DefenseCamera relative
Shading IndicatorOn
Who To GuardOff
Boxout Assist StrengthBased on your position
Pass Target ProfilePreference

When choosing the Shot and Layup Timing Profile, go for the High Risk-Reward option if you’re an experienced NBA 2K player and confident in your timing. This setting gives you greater control over your shots, but requires precision to be effective.

If you’re newer to the game or still honing your skills, stick with the Normal Risk-Reward option, which offers a more balanced and forgiving approach.

For the Shot Timing Visual Cue, it’s best to continue using what you’ve grown accustomed to in previous NBA 2K titles. However, if you’re just starting out, both the Set Point and Push options provide solid visual references to help you get comfortable with shot releases.

Video settings

Your video settings will largely depend on your specific PC hardware and capabilities. However, if you’re looking for a good baseline to start with, you can try the recommended settings below.

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SETTINGOPTION
Display ResolutionYour monitor’s resolution
Window ModeFull screen windowed
Resolution Scaling MethodBased on your GPU
Resolution Scaling QualityPerformance
Vertical SyncOff
Ray-Traced ReflectionsOff
Texture Detail LevelMedium
Overall QualityCustom
Cache Shaders in MemoryOn
Show Low VRAM IndicatorOn

Advanced Quality Settings

SETTINGOPTION
Shader Detail LevelHigh
Shadow Detail LevelMedium
Player Detail LevelMedium
Crowd Detail LevelLow
NPC DensityLow
Volumetric EffectsOff
ReflectionsLow or Off
Era FiltersOff
Global IlluminationLow
Ambient OcclusionOff
Temporal Anti-AliasingOff
Motion BlurOff
Depth of FieldOff
BloomOff
Max Anisotropy16

These settings provide a balance between performance and visual quality, allowing you to adjust further based on how your system handles the game. From here, you can fine-tune specific options to match your preferences and optimize your gaming experience.

Customize HUD

With the new Customize HUD feature, it’s important to prioritize the following settings for optimal gameplay:

Shot Meter Shots

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How to turn off Shot Meter in NBA 2K25 — step-by-step guide
SETTINGOPTION
Visibility for ShotsOff
Visibility for LayupsOn
Visibility for Free ThrowsOff
GraphicArrow
ColorPreference
SizeLarge
PlacementPreference

Turning off the Shot Meter for both shots and free throws is highly recommended to improve your timing and muscle memory, leading to more consistent and precise shooting. By relying on rhythm rather than visual cues, you’ll develop better shot accuracy over time.

However, keep the Shot Meter enabled for layups to maintain better control during those attempts. Set the meter size to “Large” and select the “Arrow” graphic for enhanced visibility, making it easier to perform advanced layup techniques.

Shot Feedback

SETTINGOPTION
VisibilityAll shots
DistanceOn
TimingOn
Free Throw ChanceOn
CoverageOn

Shot feedback plays a crucial role in improving your shooting skills and overall performance. It provides real-time information about your shot distance, timing, and how well your release was executed.

By analyzing this feedback, you can identify areas for improvement, such as refining your timing or adjusting your shooting mechanics based on how tightly you were defended.

Perfect Release Animation & SFX

OPTIONSETTING
VisibilityAll shots
GraphicPreference
PlacementPreference
Sound EffectPreference

Enabling perfect release visibility for all shots is essential, as it gives you immediate insight into whether your opponent is going make or miss their shot. This real-time feedback allows you to make quick decisions—either focusing on boxing out and securing the rebound or preparing for a fast break.

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