NBA 2K21 Shot Meter: Players Unhappy with Reworked Pro Stick
By Andrew Lin
NBA 2K21 Shot Meter was revealed recently in a gameplay trailer, and it's a change many players seem to find unwelcome. Here's what's new with the shot meter in NBA 2K21
NBA 2K21 Shot Meter Details
In last year's NBA 2K20, the shot meter filled up and flashed green to indicate a perfect shot. For this year's version, the Pro Stick was reworked to give more options in gameplay.
- Hold RS down = jump shot
- Hold RS left or right = escape dribble moves
- Hold RS up = signature size-ups
- Tap the RS = quick 1-to-1 dribble moves
- Tap the RS with Sprint held = quick momentum dribble moves
Timing the shot isn't enough; you'll also need to aim it as well. You have to press in the stick and adjust the ticker by moving the stick while pressed.
Players are confused at this change, as the green flashing shot meter from 2K20 was a well received update from 2K19. You can set this option back, but the feedback is disabled by default. It's unknown if there's a way to use a legacy shot meter like in 2K19.
Based on the demo, 2K21 has gameplay nerfs overall since 2K19. Defenders are weaker, and so too are shots due to the new meter. Hitting white and green shots is more difficult than it was in 2K20.
Players have been reporting that shots overall have been more difficult to land successfully even with a white shot. They've also reported that using the stick is awkward when going through different plays like dribbling to layups.
It also seems that player stats have more impact in the game now. Knowing your players will be a key component of how successful your offense or defense will be.
NBA 2K20 has a demo that you can download now for PS4 and Xbox One.