NBA 2K25: Best Shaquille O’Neal Build for Paint Dominance

by Fernando Diaz / NBA 2K25, NBA 2K25 Builds / 01 Sep 2024

Let’s chat about one of the greatest most fearsome players to ever hit the basketball court—Shaquille O’Neal…

Shaq was an absolute beast under the hoop; this guy ruled the NBA from the 90s all the way into the 2000s. If you weren’t afraid of Shaq; you were either fibbing or you never faced him on the court. He helped the Lakers win three championships in a row & was slamming it down on everyone from Orlando to Miami!!

For real; Shaq and free throws didn’t go well together… Even in Scary Movie they made fun of him for it! But don’t get it wrong, because when it came to power, rebounds and just pushing people around, Shaq ruled.

If you want to create that Shaq dominance in NBA 2K25; I’ve got the perfect build for you:

Position: Center

Height: 7’0″

Weight: 270 lbs

Wingspan: 7’8″

If you want your player to be as massive & powerful as the real Shaq, these are the stats to pick. Standing 7’0″ tall with max weight gives you a huge advantage in the post. That 7’8″ wingspan? It lets you swat shots and snag rebounds over everyone else on the court.

Attributes

Okay!! let’s dive into the stats that’ll have you dominating like Shaq.

Finishing

Close Shot: 92

Driving Layup: 53

Driving Dunk: 73

Standing Dunk: 95

Post Control: 96

With a 92 Close Shot and 95 Standing Dunk, you’ll be unstoppable near the basket. And that 96 Post Control? You’ll spin and drop-step past defenders all game long.

Shooting

Mid-Range Shot: 52

Three-Point Shot: 30

Free Throw: 75

Now; Shaq didn’t have a reputation for shooting so this build won’t let you sink three-pointers. But that 75 Free Throw?? It’s better than Shaq’s reallife challenges, but you’ll still miss some shots to keep things authentic.

Playmaking

Pass Accuracy: 78

Ball Handle: 51

Speed With Ball: 26

You won’t dribble down the court, but with that 78 Pass Accuracy, you can pass to your shooters when they double-team you in the post.

Defense/Rebounding

Interior Defense: 77

Perimeter Defense: 36

Steal: 38

Block: 93

Offensive Rebound: 70

Defensive Rebound: 92

That 93 Block will let you knock away shots like Shaq did when he was at his best. With 92 Defensive Rebound, you’ll grab boards over everyone else.

Physicals

Speed: 64

Agility: 44

Strength: 91

Vertical: 75

You won’t be the quickest, but your 91 Strength and 75 Vertical mean you’ll dunk and push around anyone trying to stop you.

Badges

Badges play a key role to make this build perform like Shaq — here’s what you need;

Finishing Badges

Hall of Fame: Backdown Punisher, Rise Up, Fast Twitch

Gold: Posterizer, Dropstepper

These finishing badges will turn you into an unstoppable force in the paint just like Shaq. Backdown Punisher lets you overpower anyone in the post, and Rise Up helps you finish strong at the rim.

Defensive Badges

Hall of Fame: Rebound Chaser, Intimidator, Rim Protector

Gold: Brick Wall, Post Lockdown

These defense badges will make you a force in the paint. Rebound Chaser ensures you grab every rebound, while Rim Protector turns you into a shot-blocking beast.

Physical Badges

Gold: Bully, Boxout Beast

Bully allows you to use Shaq-like strength to push defenders around, and Boxout Beast helps you control the boards.

Takeover

To get Takeovers you need:

Power Backdowns: This makes sure you plow through defenders.

Paint Intimidation: This transforms you into a defensive monster that scares off challengers.

Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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