An NBA team is only as good as the plays they run. They can have some of the best players in the league, but without running the proper plays, they won’t be very successful. This applies toNBA 2K25as well. Knowing which plays can best help bring your team to life can be the key difference between victory and defeat. This is why some of the best teams in the history of the NBA have some of the best playbooks.'
Luckily, the gamebrings a ton of these playbooksfor players to choose from. This way, players won’t have to worry about constructing the perfect playbook for themselves, though that is still possible. This guide is here to lay out which playbooks are the best options for players to bring with them as they create their perfect roster and players.
Updated by Shane Black on June 20, 2025:There are a lot of playbooks that players can use in the game and it’s hard to justify keeping the “Best of” list to just five entries. This is why this guide has been updated to bring more options for players to choose from when they are building out their team. This helps to give a greater variety of playstyles and allows for players to get creative. It also had more in-text links added to the body to provide more information for players to have a better experience in all aspects of the game.
81986 Celtics Playbook
Good Movement And Shooting Opportunities
The Celtics dominated the 80sm for a reason and this playbook shows players exactly why. It gives players plenty of scoring options from just about any range, and has a good amount of movement tokeep things interesting. It can spread the defense out to create any kind of play you could want.
Using this playbook will ensure that players can get their shooters openthrough either passing or isolation plays. Gamers can expect to find plenty of plays that work for them regardless of if they aregoing for a three-pointeror evenposting up down low.
71987 Lakers Playbook
Bring Showtime To The Court
Alongside the Celtics, the Lakers saw an incredible run in the 80s with the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading the way. This playbook brings the best of that team to life through a diverse array of plays that can help players get the right people open.
Further, if the talent of the point guard can meet that of Magic Johnson,this playbook can truly shine. Much of the Lakers' success in the 80s was because Johnson proved why he is one of the best point guards in history. Doing the same means that players can expect the same results.
61996 Bulls Playbook
One Of The Most Dominant Teams
The Bulls had a dynasty in the 90s for a reason, and their playbook from 1996 shows exactly why. While the book is designed to give plenty of isolation opportunities for Jordan, there are also a handful of games that offer others the chance to shine. Utilizing Phil Jackson’s famous Triangle Offense, this playbookhas some great movement and opens up the courtfor scoring from any position. It makes sense to have one of the playbooks for one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
52001 Laker Playbook
Sheer Dominance
There’s not much that can be said about the 2001 Lakers that hasn’t already been said by countless people. The team was incredible, using thetalent of Kobe BryantandShaq to their full potential. They won the championship due to skilland the right plays being called.
This playbookoffers a good set of plays that can make scoring easy. There are plays for isolation to feed the hot hand, while some that offer pick and roll action to get by a defender.
42013 Heat Playbook
Become A Superteam
The 2013 Heat was something else,offering electric scoring and just dominant play. Erik Spoelstra dialed up an incredible playbook that used his players to their full effect. This included sharp shooting from Dwyane Wade, physical dominancefrom LeBron James, and incredible inside play from Chris Bosh. Using this playbook is pretty easy to understand, and it can work for a variety of different teams and their compositions. It’s easy to learn and canmake yourteam so much better.
3Oklahoma City Thunder Playbook
So Much Firepower
The Thunder have cemented their place as the best team in the West this season in the NBA. With their incredible offensive talentand their ability to play stout defense, the Thunder are a force to be reckoned with.
This playbook will help anyone become a juggernautof scoring with great ball movement and spacing to ensure that the players who need to be open will be open.
2Cleveland Cavaliers Playbook
Best Team In The League
The Cavs have shown up this season in a big way. They are absolutejuggernauts on offenseand can outscore just about any team on any given night. They even have some good defense to make sure that the other team can’t score for themselves.
They’re a perfect combination that allows for a player to really elevate their offense.Their playbook has plenty of varietythat will get anyone involved in the scoring and help bring the team to victory.
1Boston Celtics Playbook
Three Pointers On Three Pointers
The Celtics are the reigning champs for a reason, and this year has shown they are committed to what helped them win. They arethree point shootersacross the board, and when those shots are falling,they can’t be stopped.
Using these plays willallow players to have a lot of spacingon the court and help their team elevate their shooting potential.
