NBA 2K25 Review – Play Like a Pro!

NBA 2K25 takes another leap forward with its Pro Play technology, promising to revolutionize gameplay like never before with its wealth of NBA footage-based animations littered throughout. Along with changes and upgrades to popular modes like My Career and My Team, plus a wide range of customization options, the game certainly aims to satisfy a wide range of players. However, with such high expectations each year, can NBA 2K25 deliver on its promises to both types of 2K players? I’m Chris from Sports Gamers Online. Let’s find out more about it.

NBA 2K25 Review

GAMEPLAY

Pro Play Technology

Already in its second year, I’m truly amazed by the leaps Pro Play Technology has made in NBA 2K25, further enhancing its ability to mimic some of the NBA’s most recognizable players. You don’t realize how incredible it is until you control someone like Tyrese Maxey and feel as though you’re guiding the actual Tyrese Maxey’s every move. It’s as close to the real thing as it gets. The fluidity of each player’s movements and the seamless combination of moves create countless “wow” moments that make you forget you’re even playing a video game. Last year felt like the beginning, but with the improvements in 2K25, the future of 2K basketball feels limitless. Pro Play has set a new standard, and NBA 2K25 shows just how far this technology has come.

Dribbling

One of the first things I recommend doing in NBA 2K25 is heading into the settings, navigating to controller options, and disabling “passive dribble hand switches.” Leaving this setting on can give the illusion that your player is less responsive, moving when you don’t intend and switching the ball hand unexpectedly, making it feel like you have less control if you’re unaware it’s enabled.

The dribbling mechanics in NBA 2K25 offer a new challenge for the gamer to get to know the ins and outs of it, because it’s not the same as 2k24 at all, that much is apparent from the opening tip. One major takeaway I’ve found so far is the importance of not relying too heavily on the turbo button. Easing off turbo allows for smoother, more precise movements, making it easier to chain dribble combos, show off the animations and blow past defenders. And with Pro Play, the dribbling system is beautiful with its smooth branching into different moves and when you’re ready to pull up for a shot, the game feels almost intuitive, as if it anticipates your next action. This flawless blending of animations delivers crazy fluidity and control, making every dribble combo into a shot just natural.

Shooting

I must start by saying that I’m not a fan of the three new shot meters in the game. Why did they remove the cTusk shot meter? Why?!  Aside from that, a significant change this year is the introduction of Shot and Layup Timing profiles. This new feature aims to address complaints about the randomness of the contest system last year, by allowing you to choose how much your timing affects your shots and layups. You can set it to range from relying entirely on player ratings with real player percentage to a more either you time this perfectly, or you miss it style with High Risk, with the “normal” setting resembling what you’re accustomed to in previous years and what I feel most people will play on.  I’ve learned the hard way that setting this to difficulty-based and playing on Hall of Fame can be controller-throwing worthy, so don’t make the same mistake I did. One downside is facing players who use less demanding shot profiles, resulting in them making early or late shots all game long. However, I did play against a player who was consistently scoring with De’Aaron Fox on contested layups, so I can’t complain too much, dude was cooking.  Overall, the new system has its pros and cons, but it adds a much-needed layer to the game.

Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting

When I first heard about Rhythm Dribbles, I thought it sounded pointless—I’m team button unless I’m doing step backs. However, I accidentally triggered it during step backs, so here we are. Despite my initial thoughts, I can’t say I won’t use it. I just need more time to fully determine if I like it for other shots.

Go To Moves

As a branch of Pro Play animations, having your own special go-to jumper stored up—almost like a wrestling finisher—is a cool feature. Being able to almost sneak it in during a dribble combo and the defender doesn’t even know what your about to do is too smooth. You can do it by simply holding the right stick up and then down to release, you can execute this move, with a different animation depending on which hand you have the ball in. It’s a nice touch that adds variety and helps gamers who might not otherwise know how to get themselves open with using what Luka Doncic does

Contest System

Also, I’m going to need more practice with the contest system. You still need to get your hand up even when you’re right in a shooter’s face, but sometimes the contests the game registers don’t match what I was doing. You might be surprised by how often the game considers shooters to be open when you thought otherwise

Customizability

I briefly touched on it with the shot and layup timing profiles, but the customization options in the game are unmatched. From choosing your shooting settings to adjusting the meter’s color, size, and position, everything is conveniently accessible in one menu. The sheer amount of customization available ensures that you can style the game to fit your specific play style and aesthetic preferences.

On Ball Defense

Playing on-ball defense in NBA 2K25 has proven to be relatively easy if you manage to get the ball handler directly in front of you. The sliding by defenders is excellent, and the bumping is impactful, making it challenging for the ball handler to shake you off. However, once you’re in chase mode, it feels like the defense operates at about 75% speed while the ball handler speeds ahead at nearly 99%. Recovering from this position is extremely difficult. I was excited to try out NBA 2K25’s new defensive cutoff system, and I’ve found it excellent for use in the half-court and during pick-and-roll situations when you need to work around screens. You need to be smart and take advantage of your opponent’s predictable movement patterns because if you guess wrong, you’re essentially out of the play.

Computer Defense

Now, man Im going to tell you on Hall of Fame, the computer is ready and willing to smoke you with ease. Trying to defend the computer on hall of fame will have you ready to throw your controller at the wall, because just when you think you have them locked up they will call for a clean backdoor cut to a dude you don’t even see for an easy 2 points. They utilize every inch of space on offense and play like a Hall of Fame safety on defense. The hedge defender has never been so dangerous on both sides, as they will deflect the ball on you if their looking at it…its beautiful. I will say, driving into the paint you can get the computer into quick foul trouble as the game does call a bunch of fouls once you drive into the paint on defenders, its not early 2k24 level where if the defender touched you It was a foul but its noticeable. Driving into the paint almost guarantees you 2 free throws if you aim to go into the defender’s body.

GAME MODES

PNO (Play Now Online)

Since I play this mode a lot, I was surprised by the quality of life upgrades it received because play now online usually never gets any love. There’s now a team cooldown, so you have to wait a couple of games before using certain teams again, which certainly lessens the odds of seeing the Suns or Celtics as often. Additionally, you’re now able to see which team your opponent selects, so no more duplicate teams and having to quit out, which is great. Although one dude still did it on me, like really bro?

MyNBA

MyNBA in NBA 2K25 remains largely the same with only a few updates, but that’s not a bad thing—it’s still the best franchise mode in sports gaming. Last year, we saw the introduction of the LeBron era, and this year, we get the Steph era. You can jump into the 2017 Golden State Warriors’ historic run or try to stop them with teams like the Rockets or Cavs. Aside from that, MyNBA is largely unchanged. One small gripe is that the sim engine tends to undervalue great teams too often. The Celtics frequently finish with either 55+ wins or under 45, while the Sixers, despite no major injuries, often end up with a 40 to 44 win record multiple times.

MyGM

MyGM has now made its way to PS5 and Series X/S consoles, allowing you to take on the role of a team’s GM. The concept of MyGM has great potential, but it feels like it needs more depth. The mode places you in a building that might as well be empty, as the limited interactions and conversations you do have quickly become boring. Your basically running around to 4 rooms hoping your players or coaches don’t end up hating you, but the repetitive office environment and lack of voiced dialogue make it again get stale quickly.

MyTeam

MyTeam has introduced some new features as well. In addition to the highly publicized return of the Auction House, your starting packs now include a selection of two All-Stars and a Legend player to kick off your collection. There are also four new game modes to try, with my favorite being Triple Threat Park. This mode is a blast and lets you play with one of your cards in a 3-on-3 game in a revamped Rivet City. It’s a great addition to the game. The new modes, combined with the return of several old ones, provide plenty of content for both single-player and multiplayer gamers.

The W

And The W, with all eyes on the WNBA this year, has received some much-needed care and attention in 2K. Even the addition of player interviews, which were absent before, is a welcome improvement. While it’s not yet on par with the men’s side of the game, progress is being made to get it there. Your focus will be on building your legacy, with the goal of becoming one of the GOATs in the WNBA and continually assessing how you stack up. And their 3 on 3 mode has you playing in the forest, which is actually beautiful.

My Career/The City

And lastly, for MyCareer, the game is focused on helping you create the next great NBA dynasty. A new dynasty component has been added, allowing you to track your team’s place in history and compare them to some of the best teams ever. This year, they’ve also limited the number of badges to 40 across all game modes, making each badge feel even more special. MyCourt makes a return, so you can practice your skills solo or invite friends over for a game. I’m a bit annoyed that the 100,000 VC included with my review code only gets me to a 75 overall, but it’s whatever. As for The City, you’ll find a brand-new area designed to make every inch of space count, rather than just having an open world for its own sake. I appreciate that most of the things I need are clustered in the same area and the welcomed return of Sunset Beach, Rivet City, and Old Town, all with a remastered twist if you were around back then just enough said.

NBA 2K25 Review Verdict 

NBA 2K25 continues to impress with its Pro Play technology, making player movements incredibly lifelike and pushing gameplay to a level I didn’t know video games could reach. While some modes have either been left unchanged or only minimally updated, the exciting changes and additions in MyTeam and MyCareer—two of their biggest modes—provide enough variety to satisfy gamers.