With just one day left until “2K Day,” NBA 2K is primed to continue its reign as the top basketball simulation after improvements to MyCAREER and MyTEAM.
NEW YORK – NBA 2K held it’s annual launch event last week in the heart of Brooklyn, N.Y., where social influencers, media organizations and celebrities filled Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse to experience the video game’s newest iteration, NBA 2K19.
To celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary, NBA 2K also had gaming stations in place so attendees could play every single edition of the game dating back to NBA 2K1, which was released in 2000.
Every year, NBA 2K’s gameplay inches closer to the most authentic NBA experience possible and the world that surrounds the sport of basketball, cohesively influencing culture, music and fashion over time.
Rob Perez, Senior NBA Producer at Action Network, is a huge fan of NBA 2K’s MyPark mode and described the platform as a real RPG sports game that takes players from their local YMCA to the league.
“NBA 2K turned a video game into a lifestyle,” Perez told The Curtis Critique. “Obviously the gameplay is great and everything, but the ability to scan yourself into the console and live the NBA life vicariously through a digital character, as accurately as 2K depicts it, is nothing short of addicting.”
There appears to be an inseparable connection between the NBA itself and the NBA 2K brand. As both entities have evolved over the past two decades, some could make the case that the two have truly become one and the same.
Among media members, Team 2K athletes could also be found wandering the building, including Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard, D’Angelo Russell, Demarcus Cousins, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Kevin Garnett and the first international player to ever grace the cover, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“When I found out I was on the cover, I told my friends, my family, I couldn’t wait until the announcement,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s part of history being on the cover.”
Being on the cover of a video game is an extreme honor for most athletes, just ask the cover athlete for the 20th Anniversary Edition, LeBron James.
“It’s humbling to be on the 20th anniversary cover of a game I’ve played and loved since I was a little kid,” James said. “I’m honored my journey can be part of this special time in 2K history and I’m excited for fans to see it.”
To conclude the night’s festivities, Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott hit the stage for a performance. Scott curated the soundtrack for NBA 2K19.
The game’s tracklist features songs from Scott’s latest album, ASTROWORLD, as well as songs he selected by Bruno Mars, Lil Uzi Vert, Migos, Miguel, PARTYNEXTDOOR and more. The full soundtrack is available on Spotify. You can also find Scott roaming around in MyCAREER.
The Prelude/MyCAREER
The Prelude, NBA 2K19’s demo, is now available for download. Users who download The Prelude will have the opportunity to play the first chapter of “The Way Back,” the moniker for this year’s MyCAREER mode.
MyCAREER features an all-new narrative including appearances from actors Anthony Mackie, Haley Joel Osment, Michael Rappaport, Aldis Hodge, Rob Huebel and more.
The Prelude starts with you as hoops player who failed to get drafted, while you watch your college teammate get selected. As a result, your player winds up playing overseas for the Shanghai Bears in the Chinese Basketball League, in hopes that he can gain the notoriety needed to secure a slot on an NBA roster.
As you develop your skills and gain recognition in China, the opportunity to return to the United States comes when you receive an invitation to play in the G League.
Through hard work and perseverance, your chance to play in the NBA comes late in the season when a roster spot opens up.
MyCAREER has become very popular in recent years thanks to the ability to scan your face right into the game. At the launch event, two-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard expressed his excitement for this year’s MyCAREER mode.
“First thing I do when I pop the game in is make sure the internet connection is good and then I hit that MYCAREER,” Lillard told The Curtis Critique. “I always make my player as a point guard, but I start over a lot. Almost every few weeks I’ll create a new dude and go to a different team.”
Last year, NBA 2K18 introduced “The Neighborhood,” where elements of MyPark, Pro-AM and MyCAREER were merged together for players to truly experience the life of an NBA player.
“The Neighborhood” returns in NBA 2K19 with a fresh new design and new places to explore. Players now have the option to ball until sunrise with new day-to-night transitions, walk on at the Jordan Rec Center, or get the old crew back together for exciting 3-on-3 street ball action.
MyNBA2K19 Companion App
Before you get started in “The Neighborhood,” NBA 2K encourages players to download MyNBA2K19, the new companion application for the game. MyNBA2K19 is packed with features including the ability to scan your face into NBA 2K19 from your mobile device, daily opportunities to earn Virtual Currency and a collectible card battling game.
Users will be able to collect their favorite NBA superstars from the past and present and challenge other gamers across the globe in a variety of modes. More than 400 new cards are available for the 2018-19 NBA season.
MyTEAM
MyTEAM, one of the NBA 2K’s most popular modes where players collect their favorite NBA players and pair them together in a fantasy-draft format, is back and features brand new content to keep players satisfied year-round.
Some highlights of NBA 2K19’s updated MyTEAM mode, include:
DAILY TRIALS – An all-new mode in MyTEAM where you earn MyTEAM points for completing special objectives daily as you play NBA 2K19.
HEAT CHECK CARDS – These are special cards that provide a stat bonus for 48-hours whenever an associated NBA player performs a great game in real life.
TRIPLE THREAT – MyTEAM’s single player experience where you play 3-on-3 against all 30 NBA teams, one division at a time.
MyTEAM UNLIMITED – MyTEAM Unlimited is an all-new 5-on-5 competitive online mode that lets you bring your best lineup of 13 players from your collection to take on rivals across the globe!
With that being said, NBA 2K has announced the NBA 2K19 MyTEAM Unlimited $250,000 Tournament, which will run October 13, 2018-February 13, 2019.
The tournament will be played using the new MyTEAM Unlimited Mode. 32 contestants (16 each on Xbox One & PS4) who qualify during weekly events will advance to a single elimination tournament, scheduled to take place on February 2, 2019.
Winners of the Xbox One and PS4 tournaments will be crowned console champions and advance to the Championship Finals, which will be played on Xbox One the week before NBA All-Star Weekend in NYC, and will be contested in a best of 3 format and livestreamed on 2K channels.
The Championship Finals winner will earn a $250,000 cash prize, and both finalists will earn a trip to NBA All-Star Weekend with tickets to all events. The contest is open to NBA 2K19 players age 18 and over.
NBA 2K appears to have listened to feedback they received on last year’s mode, by adding fresh content, improving chances to pull rare cards and an all-new tournament for MyTEAM fans.
#2KDay is on Sept. 7
Players that pre-ordered the 20th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K19 will be able to get their hands on the game on Friday. The Standard Edition will be available on Sept. 11.
The Curtis Critique 