As we all already know, defense wins championships. Learning how to stay in front of your opposition and get those easy steals is absolutely vital. That said, the learning curve for gathering easy steals in NBA 2K22 can be pretty steep for a new player. That’s why we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you learn how to get easy steals in NBA 2K22.
How to Get Easy Steals NBA 2K22
There are many aspects on the defensive side of the court that require great concentration and practice to master and win games, especially if you’re hoping to compete with some of the elite players online in NBA 2K22. Obviously, simply taking the ball directly out of your opponent’s hands is a quick and easy way to help your team win the game, but it can also be a somewhat risky maneuver if you’re not careful. Successful steals come down to timing, precision, and basketball awareness, all of which come with practice.
In general, there are a number of different techniques that can help you improve your defense and ability to get easy steals in NBA 2K22, but these are the most important to learn.
Pick the Right Badges
Picking the right badges is the best way to ensure that you stay in front of your man and steal the ball away at opportune moments in the game without committing any fouls, of course. The best badges for getting easy steals are ‘Clamps,’ ‘Menace,’ ‘Interceptor,’ and ‘Ankle Braces.’
‘Clamps’ allows you to stay on top of the ballhandler without getting left in the dust. ‘Menace’ drops all of your opponent’s badges when you’re playing defense on them. ‘Interceptor’ enables you to get some clutch steal animations for playing the passing lanes, and ‘Ankle Braces’ ensures that you keep your footing against stronger dribblers. So, these are the four badges you should prioritize.
Play the Passing Lanes (Interceptions)
Once you have the right badges set up, the next most important step is to play the passing lanes properly. Most people think that the only (or maybe just the best) way to get steals is by taking the ball directly away from the opposing ballhandler. However, your off-ball defense is equally as important.
To master off-ball defense and steal the ball in the passing lanes, you will need to close off areas that you think your opponent may pass the ball into so that you can get easy steals. Much of this will come with practice. However, a great way to start is by learning to space the floor properly on defense and always stay in between the ball and your man.
You can even fake out your opponent by moving towards the other side of the court, making it look like you’re about to double-team another player. Then, rush back once he looks to dish the ball out to your own man, allowing you ample time to get in the passing lane.
Practice On-Ball Defense
There’s no doubt that off-ball defense is crucial, but on-ball defense is probably the most reliable way to get steals in NBA 2K22. The key is to try and predict where your opponent will be moving with the ball and not overcommit to anything that could draw a foul or, even worse, force you to lose the game.
There’s a good chance that you won’t always guess correctly, but with practice, you will start to learn how certain players operate and what their favorite moves are. After you understand your opponent’s weak points, that’s when you can (and should) go in for the steal.
For more guides, tips, and tricks, you can check out our NBA 2K22 section.
