When booting up NBA 2K22, the majority of players are going to immediately start building their customized NBA superstar. Sure, being able to take command of a franchise and build a championship team is nice, but the ultimate goal is becoming an NBA legend yourself in MyCareer.
MyCareer offers a deep dive into the many ups and downs of an NBA career. Unlike previous entries, NBA 2K22 doesn’t go full Hollywood with intense dramatic themes like abusive fathers or best friends dying, but it does have a few unnecessary focal points that don’t translate to the game of basketball. Regardless, MyCarer is a vast mode in NBA 2K22 that can become a bit overwhelming. Here is our extensive guide on how to find success in MyCaeer.
Making Your Build
The first, and most important, part of MyCareer is creating your player’s build. There is a wide range of different body types, facial features, and hair designs to, hopefully, create a player to your liking. After you’ve finished designing how you want to look in the game, it’s time to pick what position you’ll play. Depending on the playstyle you want, the best options are point guard or power forward.
The easiest way in gaining a high game rating is feeding open teammates for assists or cleaning the glass for rebounds. Surprisingly, you don’t receive that high of a boost by simply scoring yourself, so being a good teammate will help improve your overall game.
Regardless of what position you do ultimately choose, it’s important to adjust your height, weight, and wingspan properly. Slight adjustments can alter various attribute categories; a longer wingspan might mean a higher rebound rating, but a lower three-point shot.
After you complete all the measurements, you’ll be able to distribute attribute points to determine what your player would look maxed out. The point arrangement must end with your player having a possible max of 99. There is a chance that your player could have a possible max below the perfect 99, and honestly what’s the point in creating a player who couldn’t achieve a perfect rating?
Before you finalize your build, NBA 2K22 will tell you which past or present players you style your game after. This is helpful if you’re hoping to, say, create a Devin Booker-James Harden combo guard or Giannis Antetokunmpo power forward-center-ball handler hybrid.
If you’re not satisfied with who your player resembles, NBA 2K22 allows you to easily go back and make further adjustments. And even if you decide to create a new build, but don’t want to change your appearance, the game will save the old appearance to allow you to skip ahead of the point distribution.
Path To The NBA
Once you’re satisfied with your MyPlayer build, it’s time to start your journey to the NBA. Your best friend and manager, Ricky, will soon remind you how crucial this moment is in your life. Since graduating high school, your player (ironically named MP for “my player”) has blown up on socials with a YouTube channel. The media and NBA coaches aren’t sold that basketball is MP’s top priority, and can you blame them when you’re walking on runways or rapping in the studio?
Your first major decision is whether to go to college and take the more conventional path to the NBA, sign with a G League team, or jump straight to the NBA. Unless you’re extremely impatient, it’s ill-advised to head to the Association right away. Attending college or signing with the G League presents their specific advantages.
College:
- You’ll have a selection of ten schools, each with differing rewards for Badge Points
- Playing in the national tournament, and possibly winning it, will net you a large boost in Fans, which will help secure future endorsement opportunities
- Even if you choose to go to college, that doesn’t mean you can’t go to the G League; if you’re not satisfied with your projected draft status, you can elect to sign with the G League and then participate in the NBA Combine
G League:
- Unlike in college, playing in the G League will immediately reward you with Virtual Currency; VC is used to increase your attributes and purchase items throughout The City or Neighborhood
- Receive a permanent five percent boost to MyPoints, which upgrades the max overall for your player
- Includes the post-game interviews that will be featured throughout your NBA journey
- Play against tougher competition than college
If you’re looking for the full, complete NBA 2K22 experience, then you should hit the books and head to college. Although it might take a bit longer to reach the NBA, you’ll receive a nice early boost in Badge Points and can still go through the G League for additional boosts in your attributes before the draft. Alternatively, if you’re wanting a different experience then signing with the G League is a good route as well.
Attending The NBA Combine
Regardless of whether you choose to go to college or head to the G League, you’ll be given the option of attending the NBA Combine. Again, unless you’re extremely impatient, it’s ill-advised to skip the Combine. Performing well in the Combine drills can skyrocket your draft status to a much higher projection. There are six drills in the NBA Combine:
- Vertical
- Running Vertical
- Lane Agility
- Sprint
- Shuttle
- Bench Press
The key to success in these drills is your ability to toggle between the left and right triggers on the controller. While the goal is to be the best at each exercise, if you manage to place among the top 15 then that’s a success. But it’s important to take these exercises seriously, as they can greatly impact your draft status heading into the draft.
Welcome To The NBA
Congratulations, you’re officially in the NBA. After completing the Combine and seeing which team decided to take a chance on you, it’s time to your journey in becoming a legend. Despite your rating, you’ll start on the bench with whichever team drafts you. It might be frustrating, especially if you have a higher rating than the incumbent starter at your position, but hey, that’s how it goes.
To get in the starting lineup, you must first prove that you deserve it. You’ll be tasked with receiving a B or higher game rating in numerous games, as well as complete team practices with the head coach. And even then, it might take some time before the coaches decide to finally insert you in the starting lineup.
Other than completing quests to further your basketball career, NBA 2K22 offers side gigs for you to pursue. MP has the opportunity to make a name for himself in the music or fashion industry, presenting unique tasks that include delivering coffee for The Game and trying to find the meanest outfit for the runway.
Though these ventures may pose questions and raised eyebrows from people in the basketball community, they can help improve MP’s overall marketability and the ability to earn more points to increase his overall max rating. But before that, you’ll need to select an agent.
Palmer Athletic Agency:
- More basketball focused
- The larger agency that rewards performance on the court; if MP performs well for his team, then he’ll see many sponsorships rather quickly
- If you perform poorly on the court, it’ll be difficult for you to advance
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Rewards earned:
- 5,000 MVP Points
- +25 Fundamentals
- +25 Team Orientated
- +25 Corporate
- +25 NBA
Berry And Associates:
- While performing on the court is desired, Berry and Associates also look to expand MP’s marketability through music and fashion
- The smaller agency that provides more attention to MP and its clients
- Even if MP doesn’t perform well for his team, Berry and Associates will still focus on making MP a social star
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Rewards earned:
- 5,000 MVP Points
- +25 Music
- +25 Fashion
- +25 Free Spirit
- +25 Street
The more traditional route is Palmer Athletic Agency, but if you’re sick of the standard basketball sim then choose Berry and Associates. Admittingly, the side quests that deal with the expanding music and fashion hustles can sometimes be a complete waste of time, but it’s worth at least trying. Missing out on the rewards earned from the agency you don’t choose isn’t the end of the world, either, as those areas will continually be awarded or subtracted points throughout your career.
Choosing your agent is the final step before fully embarking on your NBA journey. From this point forward, you can choose whether you want to focus on dominating on the court or spitting fire behind the mic. Ricky will have plenty of advice for MP and always be on the lookout for new opportunities, but don’t feel obligated to tackle them. There’s plenty to do around The City, so take your time exploring and discover what kind of player and person you want to be in NBA 2K22.