2K21 Realistic Stats to Strive For

[mvpstax]

UPDATED for 2K23 (Not much has changed...)

Since a lot of us are always looking to put together sliders that give us a mix of sliders that produce:

A.) Realistic play
B.) Realistic stats
C.) A little bit of fun

...I thought it would be good to collect some stats that we should strive for. Obviously these are ranges since not all teams are equal in the likes of talent, play-style, etc.

I combed through data of the past three seasons to come up with ranges that produce minimums and maximums for team stats for the season. On a per-game basis, we should fall between the following ranges.

This doesn't mean that every game will fall between these ranges because outliers do exist. But these ranges would be considered "normal".

...

Team Stats:

TOT PTS: 98 - 120
League average last year: 110.6 (111.8 in '20)

FG%: 40% - 52%
League average last year: 46.1% (46% in '20)

FGA: 80 - 96
League average last year: 88.1 (88.8 in '20)

3P%: 30% - 40%
League average last year: 35.4% (35.8% in '20)

3PA: 24 - 47
League average last year: 35.2 (34.1 in '20)

FT%: 67% - 85%
League average last year: 77.5% (77.3% in '20)

FTA: 15 - 30
League average last year: 21.9 (23.1 in '20)

PIP: 34 - 60
League median last year: 47.8
Last year high: 57.6 MEM (55.9 (MEM) in '20)
Last year low: 41.5 NY (43.6 (SA) in '20)
Note: Normally 38%-52% of total points would come from the paint

TOT REB: 36 - 54
League average last year: 44.5 (44.8 in '20)

OFF REB: 6 - 14
League average last year: 10.3 (10.1 in '20)

AST: 18 - 31
League average last year: 24.6 (24.4 in '20)

TO: 9 - 19
League average last year: 13.8 (14.5 in '20)

DUNKS: 2 - 8
League average in '18-'19: 4.6
Note: This one is loose because there isn't much data on team dunks that I could find, but it works.

...

For individual players, it's a bit harder since there is way more variability. Instead, let's look at the maximum values and aim to make sure guys aren't falling way outside of the norm. For instance, there shouldn't be anyone chucking 20 three's per game.

Also, since guys play all different minutes, I'm going to use stats on a per 36 minutes basis.

Player Stats (max ranges):

FGA per 36 min: 21 - 26
Max last year: 22 (Luka)
Note: Remember that FTA's don't get counted in FGA's. So Luka basically took 22 FGA plus almost 8 FTA per 36 mins last year. 8 FTA's would equal to 4 extra shot attempts if we assume they are two point shots and non and-1's.

3PA per 36 min: 10 - 15
Max last year: 12.2 (Curry)

FTA per 36 min: 14 - 19
Max last year: 12.6 (Embed)

REB per 36 min: 13 - 19
Max last year: 17 (Drummond)


...

Tendencies:

Good stat breakdown for shot tendencies by team here: https://go.nba.com/w2qx

Gotta go through it and break it down in the future.
...

Maybe I'll come back to add more relevant stats to strive for, or even post a set of sliders myself at a later date. But in the meantime, hopefully this is helpful for someone (besides myself) trying to create a "realistic" game.


Sliders I am using (for 2k21):

Spoiler

This is just how I play. Credit goes to EccentricMeat's Sliders that I used as a base before tweaking.

This is Next-Gen btw...

This set is NOT recommended for camera angles such as 2K Cam, High, or any other camera angle that does not represent a "side view" of the court

Camera: Nosebleeds, Zoom: 1, Height: 4
Broadcast angle can also work here.

Game Speed - 50

CONTROLLER SETTINGS
Shot Timing - Real Player %
FT Timing - Real Player %
Pro Stick Orientation - Absolute
Help Defense Button Function - Call for Help
Pro Stick Defense - Absolute
Defensive Assist with Intense-D - 0 (you can try increasing by increments of 5 if you have trouble sticking in front of your man)
Boxout Assist Strength - 50
Pass Target Direction - 85
Pass Target Distance - 5
Pass Target Openness - 10


COACH SETTINGS
Adaptive Coaching Engine - Offense & Defense
Substitution Method - Rotation
Offensive PlayVision - All Plays
PlayVision Display - Full
Playcalling Messages - Show All
Offense Playcalling - Auto
Defense Playcalling - Manual
Freelance Series Order - Dynamic
Freelance Series Repeat - No Not Repeat


SLIDERS
Base: Hall of Fame

OFFENSE User/CPU (both if only one listed)

FT Difficulty - 65
Inside Shot Success - 57/64
Close Shot Success - 58/65
Mid-Range Success - 68/75
3PT Success - 48/62
Layup Success - 52/60
Dunk in Traffic Freq. - 1
Dunk in Traffic Success - 50/54
Pass Accuracy - 45
Alley-Oop Success - 50/53
Contact Shot Success - 58/70
Ball Security - 35/30
Body-Up Sensitivity - 100
Pass Speed - 45/50


DEFENSE User/CPU (both if only one listed)

Driving Contact Shot Freq. - 100
Inside Contact Shot Freq. - 100
Layup Defense Strength (Takeoff) - 90/100
Layup Defense Strength (Release) - 75
Jump Shot Defense Strength (Takeoff) - 50/60
Jump Shot Defense Strength (Release) - 70/85
Help Defense Strength - 100
Steal Success - 35/45


ATTRIBUTES User/CPU (both if only one listed)

Acceleration - 20/25
Vertical - 25
Strength - 50
Stamina - 55
Speed - 47
Durability - 50
Hustle - 85/100
Ball Handling - 60
Hands - 100
Dunk Ability - 40
On-Ball Defense - 50/100
Stealing - 25/50
Blocking - 25/50
Off Awareness - 50/100
Def Awareness - 75/100
Off Rebounding - 25
Def Rebounding - 55/65
Off Consistency - 50
Def Consistency - 50/100
Fatigue Rate - 45
Lat Quickness - 75/100


TENDENCIES

Only ones that matter for User (if not listed, leave at 50):
Attempt Dunks: 50
Attempt Putbacks: 100
Play Passing Lanes: 75
Go for On-Ball Steals: 100
Contest Shots: 100
Backdoor Cuts: 50

For CPU only:
Take Inside Shots - 0
Take Close Shots - 20
Take Mid-Range Shots - 100
Take 3PT Shots - 45
Post Shots - 25
Attack the Basket - 70
Look for Post Players - 75
Throw Alley-Oops - 50
Attempt Dunks - 50
Attempt Putbacks - 100
Play Passing Lanes - 100
Go for On-Ball Steals - 100
Contest Shots - 100
Backdoor Cuts - 50


FOULS User/CPU (both if only one listed)

Over the Back - 100
Charging - 100
Blocking - 100
Reaching - 100
Shooting - 100/85
Loose Ball - 100
Illegal Screen - 100


MOVEMENT User/CPU (both if only one listed)

Speed with Ball (Max) - 60
Speed with Ball (Min) - 40
Acceleration with Ball (Max) - 60
Acceleration with Ball (Min) - 40
Speed without Ball (Max) - 85
Speed without Ball (Min) - 55
Acceleration without Ball (Max) - 85
Acceleration without Ball (Min) - 55


IN-GAME SETTINGS

Gameplan > Defensive Settings
Pre-Rotate - Yes (All)
Drive Help Rules - Help & No Rotation (All)
Double Team Perimeter - On Drive (All) (Do this if you're still having trouble containing the drive and want to see more kickouts)

Gameplan > Coaching Sliders
Help Defense - 100

[EccentricMeat]

Terrific post. I did something like this waaaay back, like 2013, and always meant to post an updated version.

This is much better

[res2]

This is great. I keep looking these up one off when I need 'em. Great to have in one place.

Thumbs up!

[devin2kgamer]

Don't forget about Team Fouls Per Game

League Wide Average last season: 20.8 Fouls Per Game

https://www.basketball-reference.com.../NBA_2020.html

Hawks (highest): 23.1
Cavs (lowest): 18.3

[EccentricMeat]

I've added a link to this at the bottom of my slider set thread, crediting you of course

Thanks again for making our jobs easier!

[dlb731]

I have a slider set that I've been working on that simulates the stats pretty well, except for CPU fouls and free throws. It's the same issue every single year where I can't foul the computer for anything. I can draw them, but can't dish them out. LOL

[mvpstax]

Quote: Originally Posted by dlb731

I have a slider set that I've been working on that simulates the stats pretty well, except for CPU fouls and free throws. It's the same issue every single year where I can't foul the computer for anything. I can draw them, but can't dish them out. LOL

Yeah the FT's are crazy every year. I used to be able to set my quick settings to "play physical" and that would create more fouls, but I don't see that option anymore (playing on next gen). Try it out.

I haven't dug into the coach profiles yet, but there might be a quick hack in there to have guys play more aggressive or something. Easier to change one coaching profile (if there is a fix for humans) than all of them at least, or worse, editing the rosters...

[dlb731]

Quote: Originally Posted by mvpstax

Yeah the FT's are crazy every year. I used to be able to set my quick settings to "play physical" and that would create more fouls, but I don't see that option anymore (playing on next gen). Try it out. I haven't dug into the coach profiles yet, but there might be a quick hack in there to have guys play more aggressive or something. Easier to change one coaching profile (if there is a fix for humans) than all of them at least, or worse, editing the rosters...

I'm playing on next gen as well. The fouls aren't consistent. The first game I played with the sliders, it went well... Even had two players foul out.. but after that, the fouls just dropped off.

And I agree.. in the past I would set it to physical defense, and it would increase the fouls, but the way they have the options setup this year is weird.