Master leadership skills in NBA 2K23. Learn about The General vs Trailblazer, skill point costs, activation requirements, and College Flashback unlocks.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Wed 31st December 2025
Leadership skills in NBA 2K23 are powerful in-game perks that boost your MyPlayer's attributes whilst simultaneously enhancing your AI teammates' performance—transforming you from a capable player into a dominant force capable of elevating your entire squad. Available exclusively in MyCareer mode on Next-Gen consoles, these skills fundamentally change how you approach team basketball in the game.
Understanding the leadership skill system separates casual players from those who truly maximise their MyPlayer's potential. With three distinct skill categories—The General, The Trailblazer, and College Skills—plus tiered progression systems and specific activation requirements, mastering leadership skills requires strategic thinking both on and off the virtual court.
This guide explains everything you need to know about leadership skills in NBA 2K23, from unlocking your first skill to optimising your loadout for different playstyles.
Leadership skills are perks that provide attribute and skill bonuses within NBA 2K23's MyCareer mode.
How Leadership Skills Work
Leadership skills function as in-game buffs that activate during NBA games when specific conditions are met. Unlike badges, which provide passive bonuses, leadership skills require deliberate activation through gameplay achievements.
Key Characteristics
NBA 2K23 features three distinct leadership skill categories:
| Category | Focus | Unlock Method |
|---|---|---|
| The General | Team-first, defensive focus | Dialogue choices |
| The Trailblazer | Individual, offensive focus | Dialogue choices |
| College Skills | Various bonuses | College Flashback games |
The General represents the traditional team-first approach to leadership.
The General is described as your traditional team-first player who shuns the spotlight in favour of team success. This leadership path emphasises defensive contributions, team play, and selfless basketball.
Tier 1 Unlock
The General's base Tier 1 skill is Solid Foundation:
Building Your General Skills
General skills tend to reward:
Ideal Player Types
The General path suits:
The Trailblazer represents an individual-focused, offensive approach.
The Trailblazer path rewards players who lead by example through individual performance. This style emphasises scoring, highlight plays, and offensive dominance.
Tier 1 Unlock
The Trailblazer's base Tier 1 skill is Keep It Simple:
Building Your Trailblazer Skills
Trailblazer skills tend to reward:
Ideal Player Types
The Trailblazer path suits:
Unlocking leadership skills requires accumulating skill points through gameplay.
Primary Method: Dialogue Choices
As MyCareer unfolds, you're given dialogue options with General or Trailblazer answers. Choosing these options earns you skill points for the corresponding path.
Key Point: Your dialogue choices determine which leadership path you develop. Consistent General responses build General skills; consistent Trailblazer responses build Trailblazer skills.
Unlocking Skill Slots
| Milestone | Requirement |
|---|---|
| First skill slot | Start of MyCareer |
| Second skill slot | 30 total skill points |
| Tier 4 skills | 40 total skill points |
Approximately 10 games yield around 30 skill points through dialogue choices and gameplay.
Skill Point Pricing
| Tier | Bronze Cost | Silver Cost | Gold Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free (base) | N/A | N/A |
| Tier 2 | 2 points | 6 points | N/A |
| Tier 3 | 9 points | 20 points | 33 points |
| Tier 4 | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Total Skills Available
Each skill set contains:
College skills provide a third category of leadership abilities earned through special gameplay.
How College Skills Work
College Leadership Skills are uniquely earned by playing College Flashback games. These special games transport your MyPlayer back to collegiate competitions.
The Choice System
Each College Flashback presents two leadership skills to choose from:
Critical Decision: Choose wisely—you cannot recover skills you pass on.
NBA 2K23 features 10 different College Leadership Skills, each offering unique bonuses not available through General or Trailblazer paths.
Making College Skill Choices
When selecting College skills, consider:
Equipped skills require in-game activation to provide bonuses.
Each Skill Has Conditions
Every leadership skill has specific activation requirements that must be met during games:
Managing Your Loadout
Tips for Consistent Activation
The choice depends on your playstyle and MyPlayer build.
| Factor | The General | The Trailblazer |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Team success | Individual performance |
| Primary stats | Defence, playmaking | Scoring, shooting |
| Activation style | Team grades, assists | Made shots, points |
| Best for | Facilitators, defenders | Scorers, iso players |
| Teammate boost | Generally higher | Generally lower |
Can You Mix Paths?
You can earn skill points in both paths through varied dialogue choices. However, spreading points dilutes your progression in each tree. Most effective builds focus primarily on one path whilst occasionally selecting valuable options from the other.
Match Skills to Build Type
| Build Type | Recommended Path |
|---|---|
| Playmaking point guard | The General |
| Scoring guard | The Trailblazer |
| Two-way player | The General |
| Stretch big | The Trailblazer |
| Paint beast | The General |
| Shot creator | The Trailblazer |
Leadership skills in NBA 2K23 are in-game perks that boost your MyPlayer's attributes and enhance AI teammates during MyCareer games. They're divided into three categories—The General (team-focused), The Trailblazer (individual-focused), and College Skills (earned through Flashback games). You can equip up to two skills at once, and each requires specific in-game activation.
Unlock leadership skills by earning skill points through dialogue choices during MyCareer. Select General or Trailblazer dialogue options to earn points for that path. Approximately 10 games provide enough points (around 30) to unlock the second skill slot. College Skills unlock separately by playing College Flashback games and choosing one of two offered skills.
The General emphasises team-first play with skills activated through defensive stops, assists, and high teammate grades—ideal for facilitators and defenders. The Trailblazer focuses on individual performance with skills activated through scoring, made shots, and offensive achievements—ideal for scorers and iso players. Both provide teammate boosts, but with different activation requirements.
No—leadership skills are not available in the Current-Gen (PS4, Xbox One) version of NBA 2K23. This feature is exclusive to Next-Gen consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S). Current-Gen players cannot access or use leadership skills in their MyCareer experience.
You can equip up to two leadership skills simultaneously in NBA 2K23 MyCareer. The first slot is available from the start; the second slot unlocks after accumulating 30 total skill points. Choose complementary skills with different activation requirements to maximise the bonuses you receive during games.
College Leadership Skills are special abilities earned exclusively through College Flashback games in MyCareer. Each Flashback presents two skills—you choose one to keep permanently whilst the other is lost forever. There are 10 College Skills total, offering unique bonuses not available through General or Trailblazer paths.
No—leadership skills only function in MyCareer mode against AI opponents. They do not activate or provide bonuses in Park, Rec, Pro-Am, or any online multiplayer modes. Leadership skills are designed specifically for the single-player MyCareer experience and AI teammate enhancement.
Leadership skills represent one of NBA 2K23's most significant MyCareer features, offering meaningful differentiation between player builds and rewarding strategic thinking beyond pure attribute grinding.
The choice between General and Trailblazer isn't just about bonuses—it's about defining your MyPlayer's identity. Team-first players building floor generals will find The General's defensive and playmaking buffs invaluable. Score-first players creating offensive juggernauts will thrive with The Trailblazer's shooting enhancements.
College Skills add another layer, providing permanent unlocks that can complement your primary path or shore up weaknesses. The permanence of these choices—select one, lose the other forever—adds genuine stakes to Flashback games.
Remember that leadership skills transform not just your player but your entire team. The boosts to AI teammates can mean the difference between playoff exits and championship runs. Choose skills you can consistently activate, match them to your playstyle, and watch your squad evolve from competitive to dominant.
Your leadership journey in NBA 2K23 awaits. Whether you lead from the front as a Trailblazer or elevate everyone around you as a General, mastering these skills will define your MyCareer legacy.