As players dive into NBA 2K19 and explore everything the game has to offer, many will find themselves wanting to try their hand at running an NBA franchise. Many here at Operation Sports are true franchise mode players, and NBA 2K19 has brought back its fantastic MyGM mode for another run at the hardwood. With endless customization options and a dense set of menus, this mode can be daunting for the uninitiated. Here are some tips to set you up for success whether you’re bringing the Lakers back to prominence or rebuilding past marquee franchises like the New York Knicks.
Try Out The Story At Least Once
Even if you didn’t play the first story in the MyGM mode from last year’s game, NBA 2K19 gives you an overview of what took place and even allows you to choose between a few critical options that help set the stage for the follow up this year. It’s scripted so your goals will be the same if you choose to play more than once, but the story does a good job of walking players through the basics of MyGM.
The story itself is presented through text and does take awhile to get started, but there is more than one scene that was entertaining and unexpected. For the most part, characters are written consistently and making choices in reaction to what different characters propose or say is a good time. I won’t spoil the plot here, but it’s definitely worth a look.
Keep Your Word
When starting a standard MyGM without the story mode, players are tasked with picking the franchise they want to run. Each team has an owner with a different personality type. Owners will be concerned with things like team image, making money, being involved in the day to day, and so on. Don’t worry if your team has an owner whose personality you aren’t happy with as there is a randomize button you can press until you get the owner to have the personality you prefer.
After picking your team, you will have an initial meeting with your owner where he will outline your goals for the season. You can either tell him you’ll accomplish the goal, maybe get it done, or flat out tell him you can’t do it. Would-be GMs should typically be non-committal about their goals, save for one or two you’re sure you can accomplish over the course of the season. Flat out denial isn’t advised at any point, and make sure that if you promise something you follow through. Failure to follow through will cause a large hit in the confidence your owner has in you to do your job.
Take Your Time
The NBA season is an 82-game marathon, and in MyGM this is evident in the sheer amount of things there are to do. The menus are intimidating but are vital to success. It’s important to take your time and go through each menu to see what each does. With the ability to game plan for every team in the league, scout college prospects, change your staff, and even relocate your franchise, NBA 2K19 allows you to change anything and everything about your franchise.
If that seems like too much, you’ll also have the ability to automate as much or as little as you’d like. You can play the full 82 or simulate games that you don’t want to play. You can even schedule team practices or decide to rest your players. Everything is here but can be easily missed if you don’t take the time to explore the mode.
Check In On People
Your owner, staff, and players all have different personalities and needs that will often be brought to your attention. Maybe a player thinks he should be starting or your head coach wants to change the game plan against a certain star player. It’s important to figure out the best way to manage the different types of people under your watch. Maybe the player needs some tough love rather than being coddled. Blowing off your coach could mean his morale drops. Confidence plays a big role in helping your team run smoothly.
There is a team status menu that will tell you of any change in morale, and you can choose to use MyGM perks that you unlock with each level you progress to help keep confidence and happiness high. By playing games, meeting goals, and handling other tasks, your GM XP bar will fill up and with each level you will be given a choice of multiple boosts to help you out. Some are single use while others are permanent, but these will be vital in keeping everyone happy.
Plan For The Future
Make sure you explore the players on your team and review the abilities of your coaches beyond just the current season. LeBron may be the best player in the game now, but he’s also 33 with a huge contract. How long do you keep him versus trying to move him at peak value for youth? The same goes for expiring contracts versus long-term deals. It’s probably not a good idea to trade for an aging vet with three years left on a max deal when you can clear your cap for the upcoming free-agent class.
You can also choose to stockpile draft picks or use them as a bargaining chip at the trade table. Sometimes draft picks will be more valuable to other teams than some pretty good players you may have on your roster, and could mean the difference between getting the player you want or getting summarily rejected. Also be mindful that the players you’re potentially looking at drafting are the real deal.
Exploring your staff and making changes for better coaches, scouts or even a financial officer is also an important piece of the puzzle. You may be running the show but you can’t do it all on your own. Maximizing return on each investment you make is fun but can be difficult if you’re hamstringing yourself with poor parts around you.
Final Thoughts
Running an NBA franchise can be hard, but in NBA 2K19Â any tool you might need to get the job done has been provided. MyGM is a deep, complex and engaging mode in which you can do as much or as little as you want. The sandbox provided is chock full of different ways to lead your team to the Larry O’Brien trophy, whether you play the story or make your own. If you follow these tips and trust the process, you’ll soon be able to give Jerry West a run for his money and become the next great NBA executive.
