NBA 2K18 may seem like a simple sports game to a bystander, but anyone who’s given it a go will tell you it’s nothing to scoff at. There are dozens of specific offense moves, ways to dribble, defensive maneuvers, shooting techniques and such. Each of them requires you to memorize a unique button combination, and the game doesn’t do a good job of showing you these. That’s why we’ve decided to write this NBA 2K18 controls guide, in which we’ll list all the basic and advanced commands.
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Jump shot | Move and hold right stick straight up or down (or hold Square) | Move and hold right stick straight up or down (or hold X) |
| Hop gather | Press Square while driving (left stick determines direction) | Press X while driving (left stick determines direction) |
| Spin gather | Press R2 and double tap Square while driving | Press RT and double tap X while driving |
| Runner | Move and hold right stick away from the hoop while driving | Move and hold right stick away from the hoop while driving |
| Normal layup | Move and hold right stick towards the hoop while driving | Move and hold right stick towards the hoop while driving |
| Reverse layup | Move and hold right stick towards baseline, while driving along the baseline | Move and hold right stick towards baseline, while driving along the baseline |
| Euro step layup | Doubletap Square while driving | Doubletap X while driving |
| Cradle layup | Doubletap Square while holding Left Stick toward the ball hand | Doubletap X while holding Left Stick toward the ball hand |
| Two-hand dunk | Press R2 and move & hold the right stick towards the hoop | Press RT and move & hold the right stick towards the hoop |
| Flashy dunk | Press R2 and move & hold the right stick away from the hoop | Press RT and move & hold the right stick away from the hoop |
| Dominant / off-hand dunk | Press R2 and move & hold left or right to dunk with that hand | Press RT and move & hold left or right to dunk with that hand |
| Mid-air change shot | Start a dunk or layup, then move the right stick in any direction while in the air | Start a dunk or layup, then move the right stick in any direction while in the air |
| Pump fake | Start a jump shot, then release the right stick quickly | Start a jump shot, then release the right stick quickly |
| Step through | Pump fake, then press and hold the right stick before pump fake ends | Pump fake, then press and hold the right stick before pump fake ends |
| Putback dunk/layup | Move and hold the right stick in any direction during an offensive rebound | Move and hold the right stick in any direction during an offensive rebound |
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Move | Left stick | Left stick |
| Steal, hands up, contest | Right stick | Right stick |
| Intense D | L2 | LT |
| Sprint | R2 | RT |
| Defensive strategies | tap L1 | tap LB |
| Double team | hold L1 | hold LB |
| Icon swap | R1 | RB |
| Player swap | X | A |
| Take charge | Circle | B |
| Steal | Square | X |
| Block, rebound | Triangle | Y |
| On-ball defense | Press and hold L2 when in front of the dribbler | Press and hold LT when in front of the dribbler |
| Crowd dribbler | Press and hold L2 when near the dribbler | Press and hold LT when near the dribbler |
| Fast shuffle | Press and hold L2 and R2, and move the left stick in any direction | Press and hold LT and RT, and move the left stick in any direction |
| Hands up defense | Move and hold the right stick in any direction | Move and hold the right stick in any direction |
| Shot contest | Move and hold the right stick in any direction while near the shooter, during the shot | Move and hold the right stick in any direction while near the shooter, during the shot |
| Vertical contest | Move and hold the left stick away from the shooter and press Triangle | Move and hold the left stick away from the shooter and press Y |
| Swat block | Hold R2 and press Triangle | Hold RT and press Y |
| Take charge | Press and hold Circle | Press and hold B |
| Flop | While taking charge, release Circle, then press it again | While taking charge, release B, then press it again |
| Intentional foul | Repeatedly press Square near ballhandler, or press and hold it | Repeatedly press X near ballhandler, or press and hold it |
| Double team | Press and hold L1 | Press and hold LB |
| Icon double team | Press L1, press and hold the action button of desired double teamer | Press LB, press and hold the action button of desired double teamer |
| Bump | Hold L2 while in the path of the offensive player | Hold LT while in the path of the offensive player |
| Chuck | Press L2 and move the right stick towards the offensive player while standing | Press LT and move the right stick towards the offensive player while standing |
| Grab | Move the left and right sticks towards the offensive player while the defender is running | Move the left and right sticks towards the offensive player while the defender is running |
| Post up/ball denial | Hold L2 when near the opponent | Hold LT when near the opponent |
| Deny hands out | Move right stick in any direction | Move right stick in any direction |
| Ball pressure | Press the right stick towards the ballhandler | Press the right stick towards the ballhandler |
| Push | Press L2 and move the left stick into the defender, while off-ball | Press LT and move the left stick into the defender, while off-ball |
| Deny/front post | Press L2 and move the right stick left or right, while off-ball | Press LT and move the right stick left or right, while off-ball |
| Pull chair in post | Move the right stick in the same direction as the offensive player, while off ball | Move the right stick in the same direction as the offensive player, while off ball |
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Rhythm dribble | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then quickly release | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then quickly release |
| In and out | Press R2 and move the right stick towards the hoop, then release quickly | Press RT and move the right stick towards the hoop, then release quickly |
| Hesitation (quick) | Move the right stick toward the ball hand, then quickly release | Move the right stick toward the ball hand, then quickly release |
| Hesitation (escape) | Press R2 and move the right stick toward the ball hand, then quickly release it | Press RT and move the right stick toward the ball hand, then quickly release it |
| Crossover | Move the right stick towards your off hand, then release it | Move the right stick towards your off hand, then release it |
| Crossover (escape) | Press R2 and move the right stick toward your off hand, then release | Press RT and move the right stick toward your off hand, then release |
| Between legs cross | Move the right stick between the off hand and the player’s back, then release quickly | Move the right stick between the off hand and the player’s back, then release quickly |
| Behind back | Move the right stick away from the hoop, then release | Move the right stick away from the hoop, then release |
| Stepback | Press R2 and move the right stick away from the hoop, followed by a quick release | Press RT and move the right stick away from the hoop, followed by a quick release |
| Spin | Rotate the right stick from the ball hand around the player’s back, then quickly back to neutral | Rotate the right stick from the ball hand around the player’s back, then quickly back to neutral |
| Half spin | Rotate the right stick in a quarter-circle from the ball hand to the hoop, then quickly go back to neutral | Rotate the right stick in a quarter-circle from the ball hand to the hoop, then quickly go back to neutral |
| Triple threat jab | Move the right stick left or right, then release it | Move the right stick left or right, then release it |
| Triple threat combo move | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then release it quickly | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then release it quickly |
| Triple threat stepback | Press R2 and move the right stick away from the hoop, then release fast | Press RT and move the right stick away from the hoop, then release fast |
| Triple threat spinout | Rotate the right stick then set it back to neutral quickly | Rotate the right stick then set it back to neutral quickly |
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Pass | Move left stick to point toward recipient, press X | Move left stick to point toward recipient, press A |
| Bounce pass | Press Circle | Press B |
| Skip pass | Hold X | Hold A |
| Overhead skip pass | Triangle | Y |
| Lead to basket pass | Press and hold Triangle, then release | Press and hold Y, then release |
| Flashy pass | Double tap Circle | Double tap B |
| Dribble pitch/handoff | Press and hold Circle, then release | Press and hold B, then release |
| Icon pass | Press R1 then press the action button of the receiver | Press RB then press the action button of the receiver |
| Fake pass | Press Triangle and Circle | Press Y and B |
| Jump pass | Press Square and X | Press X and A |
| Alley oop | Double tap Triangle (towards the basket if you want to oop yourself) | Double tap Y (towards the basket if you want to oop yourself) |
| Rolling inbound | Press Triangle during baseline inbounds | Press Y during baseline inbounds |
| Give and go | Press and hold X to control the passer, release to receive the ball back | Press and hold A to control the passer, release to receive the ball back |
| Pro stick pass | Press R1 and move the right stick | Press RB and move the right stick |
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Enter/leave post | Press and hold L2 to post up, release to faceup | Press and hold LT to post up, release to faceup |
| Quick spin | Rotate the right stick to the outside shoulder | Rotate the right stick to the outside shoulder |
| Hook drive | Rotate the right stick to the inside shoulder | Rotate the right stick to the inside shoulder |
| Fakes | Move the right stick left or right, then release it quickly | Move the right stick left or right, then release it quickly |
| Pick up dribble | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then release | Move the right stick towards the hoop, then release |
| Switch dribble hand | Move the right stick away from the hoop, then release quickly | Move the right stick away from the hoop, then release quickly |
| Post hook | Move the right stick left or right towards the hoop, at close range | Move the right stick left or right towards the hoop, at close range |
| Post fade | Move the right stick left or right away from the hoop, beyond close range | Move the right stick left or right away from the hoop, beyond close range |
| Post layup | Move and hold the right stick left or right towards the hoop at close range, while the left stick is pointing towards the hoop | Move and hold the right stick left or right towards the hoop at close range, while the left stick is pointing towards the hoop |
| Shimmy shot | Press R2 and move the right stick away from the hoop, with the left stick in neutral | Press RT and move the right stick away from the hoop, with the left stick in neutral |
| Shimmy hook | Press R2 and move the right stick towards the hoop, while the left stick is in neutral position | Press RT and move the right stick towards the hoop, while the left stick is in neutral position |
| Post hop | Move the left stick left or right away from the hoop, then tap Square | Move the left stick left or right away from the hoop, then tap X |
| Post stepback | Move the left stick away from the hoop, then tap Square | Move the left stick away from the hoop, then tap X |
| Dropstep | Move the left stick right or left toward the hoop, then tap Square | Move the left stick right or left toward the hoop, then tap X |
| Pump fake | Start one of the above shots, then move the right stick to the neutral position | Start one of the above shots, then move the right stick to the neutral position |
| Up & under, step through | Pump fake, then move the right stick again before pump fake ends | Pump fake, then move the right stick again before pump fake ends |
| Action | Playstation 4 | Xbox One |
|---|
| Call for ball | Press X | Press A |
| Call for alley-oop | Double tap Triangle while cutting towards hoop | Double tap Y while cutting towards hoop |
| Set screen | Press Circle | Press B |
| Call for screen | Press Triangle | Press Y |
| Post up | Hold L2 while standing or moving into defender | Hold LT while standing or moving into defender |
| Push | Move the left stick while posted up | Move the left stick while posted up |
| Spin | Rotate the right stick clockwise or counterclockwise while posted up | Rotate the right stick clockwise or counterclockwise while posted up |
| Walk down | Move the left and right sticks towards the defender | Move the left and right sticks towards the defender |
| Quick playcall | Press L1, then select a play using the right stick | Press LB, then select a play using the right stick |
| Positional playcall | Press L1, then press a teammate’s action button and choose a play | Press LB, then press a teammate’s action button and choose a play |
| Basic pick control | Press and hold L1 | Press and hold LB |
| Advanced pick control | Press and hold L1. Use R1 to choose between roll and fade, and R2 to choose pick side | Press and hold LB. Use RB to choose between roll and fade, and RT to choose pick side |
| Icon pick control | Press L1, then press and hold action button of desired screener | Press LB, then press and hold action button of desired screener |
| Slip Screen and Early Fade | Call for pick, press L1 again before the screener gets hit | Call for pick, press LB again before the screener gets hit |
