Current Gen NBA 2K21 OP builds for Paint Protection
The best 4 builds in NBA 2K21 for Paint Protectors
There are 4 builds that work amazingly well in NBA 2K21 for Paint Protectors, or traditionally what one would call the Center or 5. This year 2K has created a shooting system that is meant to showcase one’s skill but has actually just made it super easy for people to cheese if they buy the mod controller. Luckily that is not something a paint protector has to worry about too much (unless you have a screen switch at the top or something), in the paint you still have to have the skill and beat others with traditional stick skills. I will show you how to make 4 builds; 3 that can run 3v3 (Park or Pro-Am) or 5v5 (Rec or Pro-Am) and one that you should use for 5v5 only.
Personally, I run with teammates that do not screen cheese the entire game, we run ISO ball mostly and just pick on the weakest links. But with the number of DEF badges you get with each build if you run with a team that does have that system you will have enough badges to have your Brick Wall. But if you are a more independent type, you can run back to basket style or dribble god. I personally use a mix of both — back to basket might be an exaggeration because it only consists of spins but still I eat them up.
Any-who, *I always wanted to say this* ‘DRUMROLL PLEASE!’ The top 4 OP Paint Protector builds (listed best to last):
1) 2-Way Finisher PG: 6’8”, 190 lbs, 90” Wing Span
Ability Pie Chart: Red
Physicals Pie Chart: Pink and Purple
Takeover: Slasher
This build by the numbers alone goes crazy with a DEF REB at 93 and OFF REB at 91. Let alone they allow you an 89 DRIVE DUNK and 94 STAND DUNK. The way I build it badge breakdown: Finishing: 14, Shooting: 1, Playmaking: 11, Def: 30.
Finishing: Gold: Contact, Slithery, Relentless, Showtime (when with my team), and Silver: Fancy. (I catch bodies with this build, especially with my entire 5. When you have to face a few bigs due to the Gold finishing badges you get a dunk animation then you’ll lose it).
Shooting: Bronze: Slippery
Playmaking: Gold: Quick First Step. Silver: Stop&Go, Tight Handles, Unpluckable, Handles for Days
Defensive: HOF: Rebound Chaser, Rim Protector, Box, Intimidator, Pogo, Heart Crusher, Chase Bronze: Interceptor, Clamps. (On Def if you aren’t an experienced big I would suggest running Moving and Post Move Lock on to keep those giants at bay. But if you have faith in your def, save the badges for the other stuff).
2) 2-Way Finisher SG: 6’9”, 191 lbs, 91” Wing Span
Ability Pie Chart: Red
Physicals Pie Chart: Pink and Purple
Takeover: Slasher
At first, I tried to think of a way to combine these builds into one, but the more I tried to whittle it down the more red flags came up. First, you have an option of getting more playmaking badges — which I think people take for granted and I believe they are the most important compliments to any offensive ability. YA NEED IT! Beyond that you also have higher REB/Block/Int Def attributes making you max out at 95 on all those stats. But you also keep guard animations and even athleticism to an extent but especially compared to any big you’ll play. I did think about making one of these but my PG handles business so well I didn’t need it. But if you want that security of the extra attributes goes for the SG, finishing is about the same you lose about 2–1 on all physicals and you get some cooler dunk packages as an SG. The badge setup I would run is Finishing: 14, Shooting: 1, Playmaking: 13, Defense: 30
Finishing: Gold: Contact, Slithery, Relentless, Silver: Putback
Shooting: Bronze: Slithery
Playmaking: Gold: Quick First Step, Handles For Days, Tight Handles. Silver: Unpluckable. Bronze: Break Starter, Stop and Go
Defensive: HOF: Rebound Chaser, Rim Protector, Box, Intimidator, Pogo, Heart Crusher, Chase down. Bronze: Interceptor, Clamps
3) Glass Finisher PF: 6’9”, 240 lbs, 91” Wing Span
Ability Pie Chart: Blue/Red
Physicals Pie Chart: Pink and Purple
Takeover: Glass Cleaner
This is the standard build you will see most teams running at the big, weight fluctuates between super light and super heavy. I pick 240 lbs because it's the point that gives the most athleticism without giving up too much in the paint, but it also gives you the +1 on your driving dunk when you extend your arms out. Try it at 241 and you’ll be sadly disappointed. Now out of all the builds, this is easy to play on, for me. It’s the most unfair build, being that he can get downhill. Every board is a fast break if the opponent is down defending the outlet and you can push the ball — and I mean PUSH. But, if your teammates are left alone by all means let it rip! This build also gets the best attributes for the FT. I keep it at 70 you don’t need any more than that if you know at least one FT animation a little bit. If you need more safety run an Ice-y Veins, I run slippery-off but do you. This man is a pure paint lock and a body catcher. I average 25–18–11 with this build in Rec running with 1–2 randoms. So when I say these builds go crazy they do. The animations are basically unlimited for this build as well you get dribble styles and a mix of the wing and big dunk package abilities. Finally, you also get to touch HOF finishing badges which makes a huge difference. For this list I would make this badge build as follows: Finishing: 23, Shooting: 1, Playmaking: 13, DEF: 22.
Finishing: HOF: Contact, Slithery, Relentless, Putback, Showtime. Gold: Fancy. Shooting: Bronze: Slippery
Playmaking: Gold: Quick First, Post Spin, Unpluckable, Downhill
Defensive: HOF: Rebound Chaser, Rim Protector, Pogo, Intimidator. Gold: Box, Chase Down. Bronze: Break Starter
4) Glass-Cleaning Lockdown: 7’2”, 264lbs, 97” Wing Span
Ability Pie Chart: Blue/Red
Physicals Pie Chart: Pink and Blue
Takeover: Post Scorer (Only if you plan to be offensively dominated) or Glass Cleaner
Last but not least, but actually very much so least. This build is for those new to 2K competitively or new to the big. The sheer mass of the character alone gives you advantages in grabbing boards and getting blocks. It also gives you an advantage in the post. Backdowns and drop steps will be more effective. This build lacks lots of athleticism but you gain the ability to stretch the defense even if it's just a little bit with your post hook. With the aim application, it’s pretty much green all the time. Now if you run this it will get a little hectic in the paint with double teams and things because bigs are usually easy targets for plucks from guards. So it would be easiest if you have 4 out set. The badge setup I would run is Finishing: 25, Shooting: 1, Playmaking: 12, Defense: 22.
Finishing: HOF: Backdown, Drop Step, Contact, Relentless, Fancy, Putback
Shooting: Ice Veins
Playmaking: Gold: Post Spin, Dream Shake, Quick First, Unpluckable
Defensive: HOF: Rebound Chaser, Rim Protector, Pogo, Intimidator, Heart Crusher. Silver: Interceptor Bronze: Alley-Oop
As advertised these are the best paint protecting builds out there. They can be dominant on both sides of the floor and will lead to a strong defensive and offensive foundation for your team. If you could not tell by the way each is built, I would not take the Glass Lock into the park. Just how unathletic the build is will not hold up well in that quick-based arena. But in The Rec where you can slow it down and have more teammates for court coverage he can be an anchor that just punishes and dominates other bigs. I hope this gives you a solid overview — if you have worries about physicals you don’t need to worry about strength, most competitive bigs are PF running the Glass Finisher builds. so you’ll be able to compensate for the lack of strength with speed and vertical. The last build does not require “Box” because of strength so those balance out. Also, heads up if you run with all Red Pie Charts be weary of the lack of contact dunks you will catch, the badge difference between HOF and Gold is very high in 2K so you’ll be taken out of lots of animations especially if there are two defenders down there. But every other thing you will completely dominate, I ran predominantly with my PF Glass Finisher build early in 2K, but now I run the PG build and average around 22 PTS, 12 REB, and 9 AST. I hope this gives you a pretty good grasp on the builds, if you have something you feel like I missed or what you think works let me know in the comments. In my next article, I’ll be going over 1v1 builds to dominate the “RUSH” and Ante-Up.
