MyCareer is the defining experience of NBA 2K23. This mode is in a tier of its own when it comes to sports games with a robust, complex, and dynamic system that gives players unparalleled freedom when it comes to designing their character and feeling like a real baller.
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With so many ways this can go right, there are also many ways in which this can go wrong. It's possible to start over in NBA 2K23, but that usually entails spending hard-earned cash to catch back up with where the player was before. The alternative is to simply grind from scratch all over again. With some advice, players can get it right the first time and truly enjoy their experience.
Updated on July 25th, 2023 by Hodey Johns: With the new game coming up, it may be surprising to learn that some players are picking up NBA 2K23 for the first time. As the game goes on sale or even for free on some subscriptions, this is the perfect time to pick it up and try the series out. The thing is, MyCareer can easily make gamers turn away from the series if they don't experience the game the right way. For these new players, entries have been added to this list, especially dealing with the next-generation consoles which have a few notable changes in the MyCareer mode. By following this advice, players can have a fun and successful MyPlayer without spending any money and feel accomplished before the next game drops.
12 Know The Shooting, Dunking, And Playmaking Requirements
Perhaps the best thing players can do for themselves is to make a character, skip the story, go straight to the NBA, and then check out the dunk, shooting, and playmaking animations in the shop. They will mention any requirements the player needs to use them.
After seeing what kinds of requirements are in place for contact dunks and other desired animations, head back to the drawing board and make another player, making sure to hit the height and attributes needed. Do this before wasting any virtual currency on a player, maybe even a few times before getting everything just right.
11 Use A Build Guide And Make Changes
Using a build guide can be understandably disappointing. Players want to create their own athlete, not somebody else's. Still, even if not followed, looking over the guide and seeing why players gravitate toward it is an excellent idea.
Many say that the best power forward build is a post playmaker. There's nothing lost when plugging in the numbers and seeing why it is popular. Check out the badge counts and attributes as they shift height, weight, and wingspan. Then go ahead and make personal changes with this personal direction in mind.
10 Test Every Build
Never take somebody else's word for what the best build is before trying it out. The "best build" for themselves is not necessarily the best for everyone. What looks great on paper doesn't always pan out. For example, getting that 99 steal number only to swipe one or two balls in a full game can feel like a tremendous waste.
Not everything can be tested. Gamers will still need to design the perfect custom jump shot on their own. But the tests provide valuable feedback for builds and give players insight into how they will perform in the endgame. If it feels mediocre, revise until it feels great.
9 Plan Out The Badges
New to this year's game, players won't get to have all of the badges that they "unlock." They get a certain amount of badge points and the unlocked badges present a selection. This will result in far fewer badges received, making the choice that much more important.
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Gamers can get many of the best defense/rebounding badges, but not all of them. Pick a handful and adjust the corresponding attributes until the player has just enough to get all of the badges they want in the category. Do this across all four sections and the build will truly take shape.
8 Pick The Right Team
This is where players go the most wrong and it's a simple fix. Do not pick a favorite NBA team and hope for the best. Players need to select the team that works best for the position and type of player they created or else they'll never get meaningful court time.
For example, a power forward on the Bucks will be stuck behind Giannis Antetokounmpo for their entire career as he is the highest-rated player in the game. But a shooting guard looking to fit in on the same team will get minutes almost immediately as Wesley Matthew is the lowest-rated starter in the game. Find a team with a single weakness and craft a player who can fill the void.
7 Endorsem*nt Deals Are Key
Players are going to need Virtual Currency to be great and they will not start off making very much per game. For each endorsem*nt deal, the game yields more Virtual Currency per game. Therefore, check the requirements for each deal and get those knocked out as quickly as possible.
This extra currency goes not just for games but for stats recorded during games. As players see their minutes grow over time, they'll accumulate more stats and, therefore, have more money. Once players have all their endorsem*nts, the "grind" to maximum level becomes a cakewalk.
6 Turn In Quests
After getting the player made and the best shots equipped, talk to the characters in the city before doing a single game. They offer a handful of quests and rewards, most of which can be knocked out just by playing normally. Money doesn't get easier than this without paying for it.
Even those at max level shouldn't fail to talk to these NPCs before games. The free cash can be used to buy boosts and equipment. Or, if feeling in the mood, start a new player off on the right foot with a truckload of currency for extra stats!
5 Acquire The Extra Perk
Go into the Takeover tab and check out the empty perk space. These perks provide a benefit to the takeover meter in some fashion, but they have to be unlocked first. Most of the time, it means completing a quest line.
This is as much of a benefit to the build as anything else and too many players don't even know it exists because it is new this year. Some perks can make takeovers last for entire games, which will leave opponents constantly fighting an uphill battle.
4 Practice Until Every Badge Point Is Unlocked
Hit up the practice facilities in-between games and practice with the team. Even when there aren't official drills, there are plenty of exercises to choose from that rapidly increase progression toward a badge of choice, like the elite playmaking badges.
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Until every last badge point is unlocked, practice should be considered mandatory in the gamer's mind. It will take a while, probably a few full NBA seasons, but once it happens, players will have the security of knowing their player is as good as can possibly be.
3 Work Out Weekly
A year or two back, workouts went from being something to do in between each game to something that needs to be done only once per week in out-of-game time. These workout bonuses give gamers a moderate to a large boost in certain physical attributes.
Those who don't have their workout bonus going will always be a little slower and just a little shorter than those who do work out. Over the course of an entire game, that's several rebounds and fastbreak points to account for.
2 Get The Cheapest Attributes First
It can be tempting to save up $50,000 to get a block rating from 98 to 99. For the same price, though, consider that passing, shooting, finishing, interior defense, etc, could all be upgraded by ten points apiece. At some point, it's just not efficient to spend virtual currency like this.
Buy the cheapest attributes first. This makes the player's OVR skyrocket, meaning they'll start sooner. Plus, it will create additional dimensions for the player to show off in the Park.
1 Get A Little Of Every Stat During Games
There are five major statistics: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Even if the player build isn't bent on specializing in everything, gamers should make it a goal to average a bit of each in every game. Even assist specialists should slash on an open lane to the rim and block specialists should stick an arm out there when the opponent makes a risky pass.
The game gives more fans, minutes, accolades, and Victual Currency for hitting benchmarks for each statistic. Even if players aren't getting tons of blocks, even just a few will result in more time playing and more upgrade points to spend. Equip a great dunk package even when not a primary dunker when needing a quick score.
NBA 2K23 is available now for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
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