Not to get too deep into math or analytics, but the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. If a defender is in that straight line between you and the hoop in NBA 2K25, we just gotta go through them. The Strong Handle badge is one of the game's best ways to do that, and I'm here to tell you how.
If you remember the Bully badge from years past, Strong Handle has a lot of that energy. It stops defenders from bothering you during the dribble. Players with a significant strength or size advantage such as Lebron playing Small Forward, will simply push their defender out of the way. Don't stand on the tracks when the train's coming through.
With a big enough strength advantage, pushing the right stick toward your opponent will push the ball through your legs. It's a great move for park settings, where you're more likely to encounter a build without high enough strength.
At this point in the game, there are crazy Out of Position cards featuring centers and power forwards playing positions such as guard. Strong Handle can help them bully their way right into the paint. If the defender has their hand on your hip, when they dip, you dip, we dip.. sorry I had to. But seriously, you can escape the hand-on-hip animation by quickly attacking the basket using the left stick and turbo. You'll see your player put their hand out and push off, signaling Strong Handle activated.
If your ballhandler also has Lightning Launch, which speeds up your perimeter attack, that pushoff animation offers a great chance to activate it. NBA 2K25 has a few things in common with fighting games. Your opponent takes some space, then you have to be aggressive and figure out some way past them. Once you start mixing in dribble combos, any number of things can happen.
You can also escape the hip ride animation by using the right stick to do any crossover animation. Spin moves and behind-the-back crossovers are also great ways to generate space. Players have taken to calling a spin move after using Strong Handle the "cheese spin," and that's accurate. Hey, we're here to win games, not judge tactics.
Also this year, players have signature go-to shots, done by holding the right stick up. That begins the player's signature size-up sequence, which will then transition into a jump shot.
Because these shots are players' special moves, they have larger green windows and higher make percentages.
Of course, everything in NBA 2K25 has a counter, in theory. The Immovable Enforcer badge improves a defender's strength when defending ball handlers and finishers.
Here's a video in which YouTuber Nate Dawg shows a player build with Strong Handle on legend to play some serious bully ball: