The One Major Mistake Players Should Avoid on Defense in NBA 2K24

In NBA 2K24 there are many different ways to make a huge difference on the court and help your team win games whether you’re playing in MyCareer, Park, Rec, etc. Whether it’s on offense, defense or on the glass, everything can be the difference between winning and losing.

But it’s easy to get laser focused on scoring and not on defense. And even if they try to play defense and go for steals and blocks, there’s still one big mistake some may make. And it’s one we’ve all made, myself included.

This mistake can easily lead to your team getting blown out if the ball handler has a good eye for passing and if the player on the receiving end is a good shooter. This mistake is simply about not staying on your man on defense. This happens all of time when playing in Park or Rec and the best way to fix this habit is by taking mental notes.

The reason why this happens all of the time is because defenders are following the basketball and not the man who they should be guarding. On countless occasions this will leave a man open, especially in the corners where it’s much easier to hit three pointers.

So the key to solving this issue is by simply ignoring the ball as best you can and remain laser focused on your matchup. In turn, the opponent with the ball in his hand won’t have that open man to pass to and get bailed out if he’s well guarded.

When everyone stays on their assignment, it’s incredible how much better your team defense looks. And having played against several teams who are great on defense, I know how much of a nightmare that is to deal with, especially if they have some extra aggression as they try to turn the ball over.

And the reason for their success is because they know how to stay with their man time and time again. Now, there’s nothing wrong with going for double teams and things like that but not on every possession because a good facilitator will punish you for it.

So at the end of the day, you don’t need a bunch of blocks and steals to become an elite defender. Staying on your man, contesting his shots and making him miss is a sign of an elite defender. Follow the man instead of the ball and you’ll become a clamp lord of the basketball Seven Kingdoms.