The In-Depth Breakdown of the Game Modes in NBA 2K19.

NBA 2K19 is full of different game modes. With each game mode comes a different adventure. This article was put together to help guide those on the basics and advanced components of 2K's game modes.

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This is your basic basketball simulation game mode. You choose your team and play your opponent in a standard NBA game. You can go multiplayer, challenge the computer, or take it online and test your knowledge and skills against other players. This is the prototypical game mode because, most of the time, this mode is just about having fun, playing with your favorite team, and living an NBA game experience. 

Tips & Tricks 

- This is the best game mode to hone your skills. Play against the computer on Hall of Fame difficulty and practice your moves and plays. This is the most efficient way for getting better. 

- The most dominant teams are the Celtics and Warriors. Their incredible depth and shooting are perfectly suited for an NBA video game.  

- The best teams are the ones where every player on the court can shoot. Everyone from your point guard to center should be able to shoot the 3 ball if you want to win the most games. 

- Defense does win championships in this game. Along with shooting, your team should be able to play great defense. We already mentioned the Warriors and Celtics, but another great team on this game are the Timberwolves. They check all of the boxes above. 

- The HoF CPU is ridiculous, so they will sharpen your skills.  

MyTeam 

MyTeam is the card collecting, team building mode of 2K. You buy and  collect cards of players past and present using VC (Virtual Currency) or MyTeam Points. Every so often, 2K will drop cards for special occasions. For example, if Derrick Rose scores 50 points one game, he’ll get a “Moments” card where his card’s attributes and abilities are solely based off his 50 point game. This mode is great for people who love the idea of fantasy teams of past and modern legends, while also being able to progress in the game. 

Tips & Tricks 

- Save your MyTeam Points. Buying cards with MyTeam Points is a lot cheaper than buying them with VC.  

- Know the market for players. Check the Auction House for whatever player(s) you want to see a reasonable buying or selling price for players.  

- Be on the look out for announcements of new packs and cards. Check 2K’s social media accounts often. That is where they make a majority of their announcements.  

- Do not spend MyTeam Points that you don’t have. A good rule of thumb is to only buy cards that you have, at least, double of what the asking price is. So, if a card is 5000 points, only buy it if you have at least 10000 points. Trust me, the last thing you’re going to want to do is be broke in the game mode, otherwise, you’ll spend all year playing catch-up. 

- It’s a pay-to-win or grind-to-win game mode. You won’t reach your full potential in this game mode, unless you’re willing to pay or willing to grind. 

MyLeague/MyGM 

These 2 modes are virtually the same mode, so we can categorize them together. These modes deal with going through an entire NBA season, or seasons, and doing all of the ins and outs to helping your team with the championship. You can use current day teams, implement historic teams, or tear the entire league down with a fantasy draft. MyGM mode, though, deals more with you being in charge of the front office and emphasizing the decision making of an NBA team, while in MyLeague mode, you’re in control of everything from the front office, to the coaching staff, to the players, to the fans. Many people play this game mode to rebuild their favorite teams and create dynasties. 

Tips & Tricks 

- Always try to rebuild you franchise around young stars. Having multiple young stars in these game modes means championships for years. Potential = Success. 

- Get rid of any bad contracts. If someone on your team is making more money than they’re playing suggests, get rid of them. It is hard to bring in stars when your bench players are making starter money.  

- Don’t settle for average. If your best player is on a max contract, and he’s not necessarily someone you can build a championship team around, let him go. The worst place you can be is average. At least if you’re terrible, you get a good chance at a good draft pick.  

MyCareer 

A majority of the time, this is the game mode most players bought 2K for. In this mode, you customize your very own player and take him on a journey from 60 overall to the holy grail 99 overall. Build a hall of fame career and play NBA games and go through many storylines on your NBA team. Or, you can take your talents to the neighborhood and play other players on the blacktop, Cages, or Ante-Up  in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4  games. If street ball isn’t your thing, you can take your talents to the Jordan Rec Center or Pro-Am and team up with your friends or random players in a standard 5v5 basketball game. This mode has been the selling point for 2K because you can play, endlessly, for hours and be productive. You can even turn your hobbies into real money by joining the NBA 2KLeague. 

Tips & Tricks 

- It’s all about your archetype. The best archetypes win. Simple. 

- Research and study the best builds, animations, and signature styles on YouTube to figure out the best playing style for you. You need to know how you play and where you’re most comfortable at to be able to know your build. 

- Different games require different skills. 2v2 and 3v3 games require great shooting. 1v1 and 5v5 games require dominant big men. Understand this so you’re not at a disadvantage when you stop on the court. 

- Your badges are everything. Even the bronze badges make a huge difference. Grind your badges to max level to reach your player’s maximum potential.  

- Make the hold you want to make! Yes, you should research the most dominant builds and animations. Yes, you should understand the type of player you are. But, at the end of the day, this game is about having fun and you won’t have fun with a player that someone else told you to make because it worked for them. Have fun and enjoy your player, regardless of what others think of your build. 

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