An NBA team is only as good as the plays they run. They can have some of the best players in the league, but without running the proper plays, they won't be very successful. This applies to NBA 2K25 as well. Knowing which plays can best help bring your team to life can be the key difference between victory and defeat. This is why some of the best teams in the history of the NBA have some of the best playbooks.'
Luckily, the game brings a ton of these playbooks for players to choose from. This way, players won't have to worry about constructing the perfect playbook for themselves, though that is still possible. This guide is here to lay out which playbooks are the best options for players to bring with them as they create their perfect roster and players.
Updated by Shane Black on January 25, 2025: There are a lot of playbooks that players can use in the game and it’s hard to justify keeping the “Best of” list to just five entries. This is why this guide has been updated to bring more options for players to choose from when they are building out their team. This helps to give a greater variety of playstyles and allows for players to get creative. It also had more in-text links added to the body to provide more information for players to have a better experience in all aspects of the game.
8 1986 Celtics Playbook
Good Movement And Shooting Opportunities
- Plenty of movement to keep plays fun.
- Covers plenty of ranges to score.
- Offers some money plays that can dominate an opponent.
The Celtics dominated the 80sm for a reason and this playbook shows players exactly why. It gives players plenty of scoring options from just about any range, and has a good amount of movement to keep things interesting. It can spread the defense out to create any kind of play you could want.
Using this playbook will make sure that players can get their shooters open through either passing or isolation plays. Gamers can expect to find plenty of plays that work for them regardless of if they are going for a three-pointer or even posting up down low.
7 1987 Lakers Playbook
Bring Showtime To The Court
- Plenty of diversity.
- Offers lots of movement to keep things going.
- Use a star point guard to bring this to the next level.
Alongside the Celtics, the Lakers saw an incredible run in the 80s with the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading the way. This playbook brings the best of that team to life through a diverse array of plays that can help players get the right people open.
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Further, if the talent of the point guard can meet that of Magic Johnson, this playbook can truly shine. Much of the Lakers' success in the 80s was because Johnson proved why he is one of the best point guards in history. Doing the same means that players can expect the same results.
6 1996 Bulls Playbook
One Of The Most Dominant Teams
- There's a reason this team won three championships in a row.
- Creates a ton of scoring using the triangle offense.
- Still enough variety.
The Bulls had a dynasty in the 90s for a reason, and their playbook from 1996 shows exactly why. While the book is designed to give plenty of isolation opportunities for Jordan, there are also a handful of games that offer others the chance to shine. Utilizing Phil Jackson's famous Triangle Offense, this playbook has some great movement and opens up the court for scoring from any position. It makes sense to have one of the playbooks for one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
5 2001 Laker Playbook
Sheer Dominance
- One of the best offenses in modern history.
- Full of diverse plays.
- Easy scoring.
There's not much that can be said about the 2001 Lakers that hasn't already been said by countless people. The team was incredible, using the talent of Kobe Bryant and Shaq to their full potential. They won the championship due to skill and the right plays being called.
This playbook offers a good set of plays that can make scoring easy. There are plays for isolation to feed the hot hand, while some that offer pick and roll action to get by a defender.
4 2013 Heat Playbook
Become A Superteam
- Diverse array of plays
- Dominant scoring
- Easy to learn
The 2013 Heat was something else, offering electric scoring and just dominant play. Erik Spoelstra dialed up an incredible playbook that used his players to their full effect. This included sharp shooting from Dwyane Wade, physical dominance from LeBron James, and incredible inside play from Chris Bosh. Using this playbook is pretty easy to understand, and it can work for a variety of different teams and their compositions. It's easy to learn and can make your team so much better.
3 Oklahoma City Thunder Playbook
So Much Firepower
- One of the best teams in the league
- High scoring and great defense
The Thunder have cemented their place as the best team in the West this season in the NBA. With their i ncredible offensive talent and their ability to play stout defense, the Thunder are a force to be reckoned with.
This playbook will help anyone become a juggernaut of scoring with great ball movement and spacing to ensure that the players who need to be open will be open.
2 Cleveland Cavaliers Playbook
Best Team In The League
- The Cavs have, possibly, the best offense in the league
- Tons of scoring and ways to get everyone involved
The Cavs have shown up this season in a big way. They are absolute juggernauts on offense and can outscore just about any team on any given night. They even have some good defense to make sure that the other team can't score for themselves.
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They're a perfect combination that allows for a player to really elevate their offense. Their playbook has plenty of variety that will get anyone involved in the scoring and help bring the team to victory.
1 Boston Celtics Playbook
Three Pointers On Three Pointers
- Reliance of three pointers makes for some excessive scoring
- Good passing and spacing
The Celtics are the reigning champs for a reason, and this year has shown they are committed to what helped them win. They are three point shooters across the board, and when those shots are falling, they can't be stopped.
Using these plays will allow players to have a lot of spacing on the court and help their team elevate their shooting potential.
NBA 2K25
- Released
- September 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone For In-Game Purchases & Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Games
- Engine
- Eco-Motion engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- NBA 2K
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Sports
