NBA 2K16: Pro-Am is Here, And It Was Worth the Wait

Feature Article

Submitted on: 10/14/2015 by Dustin Toms

At long last, NBA 2K16's highly anticipated Pro-Am Mode was made available yesterday thanks to the game's latest patch. And I must say, it was worth the wait.

For those unaware, Pro-Am was completely broken when 2K16 launched on September 25. Players were unable to join a game and try out the mode. In addition, players on the east and west coast could not join each other's games. Operation Sports knocked the game's final review score down a notch due to the issue.

Pro-Am is the true 5-on-5 basketball simulation experience. It's not just NBA 2K, it's a virtual game of legitimate hoops. Defense is key as a simple breakdown will lead to an easy score for the opposing team. Mistakes quickly add up if you're not paying attention, so keep your eyes on the details. Your primary focus needs to be on your assignment, only paying total attention to the ball when it's right next to you. Wandering eyes lead to quick cuts towards the hoop.

Offense is going to be a work in progress for each team as running sets and motion will come with practice and time. It'd be nice if you could call/run a 2K play where the directions would appear for each player, but in Pro-Am, that's not the case. Communication becomes key, and reputations will help teach you each player's tendencies (assuming you stick with the same core team).

Team building should be well thought out. Running on a team with a 6-foot-7 forward at the five spot is problematic for obvious reasons. My team (which featured Steve, Chase, ExtremeGamer and Millennium -- all-stars I say!) ended up swapping out one of our highest-rated players to bring in his 57 overall power forward. He ended up "towering" over the rest of us at 6-foot-11.

A few other items to points out, When our team needed a fifth, we were given 70-rated point each time. The CPU player was not awful, but it's a definite advantage for the opposing squad. Also, if a player fouls out he will be replaced by a CPU player.

After playing four games, I'm itching to get back to more. It's truly practice makes perfect. If the Pro-Am mode was hypothetically in its second year and had failed to work at launch like it did this year, the uproar from the community would have been unbelievable -- it has that much potential.

If you thought juggling the depth and modes in NBA 2K16 was already a challenge, well sorry but things just got even tougher to manage.

Member Comments

# 101 Pappy Knuckles @ 10/18/15 06:19 PM

I've seen a lot of interesting teams while playing Pro-Am, but this is unacceptable. Whatever you do, please don't be like these Dodi Boiz we ran across.Attachment 109382

Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

# 102 lucas21 @ 10/19/15 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by de5m0n


	Seems like a lot of us are looking for a squad. We should start our own but someone else be the leader I'm STEADYSERG on Xbox1 Position: 6'11 balanced PF Rating: 91 (and rising) Style: Pride myself on controlling the paint and getting rebounds. Played point guard last year and loved setting teammates up but got tired of playing with 3 other guards so had to switch to PF this year. I have good IQ and could see plays ahead of time.

i got a nice squad we do a lot of winning but at times when we come across teams with multiple bigs it hurts us.....in other words we can use you kid if u down to run we all are from philly and always on playing

# 103 tru11 @ 10/19/15 04:28 PM

dont know if its a glitch but when you dunk it says out of bound lol

# 104 OG_Almighty @ 10/19/15 04:58 PM

Loving Pro-Am arena mode. Walk-on is great too, but it feels so much like JRC. With the addition or the arenas, now we're on some next level tip.

THIS feels like a true sim mode! The best teams we've came across play their roles and move the rock like the 2014 Spurs. Even so, with proper strategy and smart play, they can be beaten which is very rewarding. There is no hero ball and I love it! 2K did a great job in balancing the gameplay from 2K15's arcade-ish online play. We did come across one BEASTLY undersized center but even he had weaknesses that could be exploited. A few other teams put up some amazing games as well. If shown the proper care, this could be the future of 2K basketball.

All in all, this mode is amazing and intense when matched up with a good team. Pro-Am has a more serious vibe to it which was much needed. The competition is a different breed from the silliness at the park. My only feedback would be:

1. Addition of private lobbies
2. Getting VC or rewards for Pro-Am arena play
3. Home & Away uniforms
4. Viewable rosters

# 105 CujoMatty @ 10/20/15 05:31 AM

They should make getinng an assist a kabazillion VC so that people would have incentive to pass the ball.

# 106 cvbmch @ 10/20/15 05:54 AM

The cpu we had were rated in the 50s and wouldn't guard his guy even after hitting 4 straight 3 pointers. I'm on Xbox one so hopefully the patch will fix this

# 107 Walt Frazier @ 10/20/15 09:50 AM

Anyone else come across a white haired 'Dennis Rodman meets Shaq'....number 91?

Is it any of you? Haha...this guy is an absolute BEAST on the boards!

# 108 Trent Booty @ 10/20/15 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Frazier


	Anyone else come across a white haired 'Dennis Rodman meets Shaq'....number 91? Is it any of you? Haha...this guy is an absolute BEAST on the boards!

Toke Nasty?

# 109 OG_Almighty @ 10/20/15 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles


	I've seen a lot of interesting teams while playing Pro-Am, but this is unacceptable. Whatever you do, please don't be like these Dodi Boiz we ran across.Attachment 109382 Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Frazier


	Anyone else come across a white haired 'Dennis Rodman meets Shaq'....number 91? Is it any of you? Haha...this guy is an absolute BEAST on the boards!

Bro! I have! Does he play for a team that wears a mostly white uniform? I forgot the name of the team but that guy was a BEAST. We barely beat their squad by 6.

# 110 OG_Almighty @ 10/20/15 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles


	I've seen a lot of interesting teams while playing Pro-Am, but this is unacceptable. Whatever you do, please don't be like these Dodi Boiz we ran across.Attachment 109382 Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by cujomatty


	They should make getinng an assist a kabazillion VC so that people would have incentive to pass the ball.

It's already high if you're consistent. I had 6 assist and 0 points in the 2nd quarter one game and already have a B+. Finished with 14 points 11 assist and an A+

# 111 KingAmar12 @ 10/22/15 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sschevyridah


	What position you play? Looking for a PF or another Center to run with 4 others I have.

I'm looking for a squad too man, PF 85 overall (for now), unselfish as hell. I'd rather set a pick and crash boards than score. PS4, PSN ID is KingAmar.

# 112 TheWalkingCash @ 10/22/15 07:39 PM

We really need away jerseys in Pro-AM.

# 113 KidYungn @ 10/23/15 02:28 AM

Pro Am is NOT worth the wait and just might be the worst game mode in this years game. ON top of that, why is my guy an 81 in there but an 89 in My Player mode? another FLOP by 2k, as expected.

# 114 Jrocc23 @ 10/23/15 03:21 AM

Just played Pro-Am. Mannn, this game mode needs ALOT of work. It's like a barebones 2K11 Crew Mode. Besides better customization.

- Commentary is a must have. With it would make the game a lot more immersive and exciting. It's just mad bland.

- We need bench players. I liked the old way with having a NBA roster. But if 2K would like to settle w/ generic players, put them on the bench. I kind of get if someone fouls out they get kicked, but I am sure a lot of players would much rather still play that user than the CPU. So let the user stay in the game but he has to be subbed out for a generic player or a NBA player which I liked more.

- You should be able to pick positions before the game. Like it was before

It's silly the CPU is at PG or SG. Just let us pick our positions. It'll make things so much easier. How they were talking, I thought they put WORK into this mode after all those years.

Honestly, I can go on and on with this list. Just go back to 2K10-11 and copy a lot of that setup and we can build from there. This is basically a step back.

# 115 Pappy Knuckles @ 10/23/15 12:30 PM

We should have a bench? I disagree. The point of this mode is to play with our custom characters. If a guy fouls out or grade drops too low there needs to be a consequence. They shouldn't be able to stay in the game with another player.

Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

# 116 GradyMac @ 10/23/15 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KidYungn


	Pro Am is NOT worth the wait and just might be the worst game mode in this years game. ON top of that, why is my guy an 81 in there but an 89 in My Player mode? another FLOP by 2k, as expected.

A flop? But you don't give any reasons.

Me and my 4 squadmates have played every. I gut since the patch. We LOVE it.

They do need home/away jerseys though.

# 117 Jrocc23 @ 10/23/15 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles


	We should have a bench? I disagree. The point of this mode is to play with our custom characters. If a guy fouls out or grade drops too low there needs to be a consequence. They shouldn't be able to stay in the game with another player. Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

Yeah, I disagree. I would much rather the person I am playing against be a user and if he fouls out still be a user but have to use a lower overall player. That's a consequence to me. Instead, he fouls out, his CPU highly rated player is still in the game lol. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense since hell most likely play better than the user. So it's not really rewarding me.

I can careless about the grade thing if I am on the opposing team. Obviously he's messing up for the other team. And why should he get kicked for performing bad? The consequence is he's hurting his team lol.

# 118 Pappy Knuckles @ 10/23/15 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrocc23


	Yeah, I disagree. I would much rather the person I am playing against be a user and if he fouls out still be a user but have to use a lower overall player. That's a consequence to me. Instead, he fouls out, his CPU highly rated player is still in the game lol. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense since hell most likely play better than the user. So it's not really rewarding me. I can careless about the grade thing if I am on the opposing team. Obviously he's messing up for the other team. And why should he get kicked for performing bad? The consequence is he's hurting his team lol.

If they don't kick guys you can get situations where guys keep fouling on purpose or intentionally sabotage the team.

Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

# 119 Jrocc23 @ 10/23/15 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles


	If they don't kick guys you can get situations where guys keep fouling on purpose or intentionally sabotage the team. Sent from my SCH-S960L using Tapatalk

If someone keeps intentionally fouling, then yes, kick them. Or if someone is idle, kick them. How common is it for someone to keep fouling anyways? This rarely even happens in regular online modes. You also get situations where some people legitimately foul out especially as a big man. And you shouldn't be kicked just because someone is playing bad at the moment or etc.

Most of the time, these players will know each other. So I believe that'll be rare for someone to sabotage the team. If they did, that's a lesson learned for that team or player. Maybe leave it for the walkons, but more than likely, most people are playing w/ friends. This wasn't how it went in the past and there weren't constant issues like this at all that I can remember.

# 120 born2playball @ 10/23/15 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrocc23


	Just played Pro-Am. Mannn, this game mode needs ALOT of work. It's like a barebones 2K11 Crew Mode. Besides better customization. - Commentary is a must have. With it would make the game a lot more immersive and exciting. It's just mad bland. - We need bench players. I liked the old way with having a NBA roster. But if 2K would like to settle w/ generic players, put them on the bench. I kind of get if someone fouls out they get kicked, but I am sure a lot of players would much rather still play that user than the CPU. So let the user stay in the game but he has to be subbed out for a generic player or a NBA player which I liked more. - You should be able to pick positions before the game. Like it was before It's silly the CPU is at PG or SG. Just let us pick our positions. It'll make things so much easier. How they were talking, I thought they put WORK into this mode after all those years. Honestly, I can go on and on with this list. Just go back to 2K10-11 and copy a lot of that setup and we can build from there. This is basically a step back.

Yeah I agree with you. Pro-am is like a poor mans version of 2k10-11 crew. I keep thinking one of these years they will actually create a mode that rivals the old crew mode but it just never seems to happen.

It looks to me like pro-am was just thrown in at the last second. Its no wonder why it was completely broken on release. If their ever going to create a truely great online NBA style experience again with our myplayers then they need to focus and work on it all year long instead of it just being an afterthought at the last second and something they just throw in to say its in there.

The whole setup and style of the original crew mode was a very good foundation that they should go back and look at. What we have now with pro-am is still inferior to what they had 5-6 yrs ago with crew which is hard to believe. Of course over that time street ball and virtual currency has been 2ks primary focus for the online so its not too suprising it is what it is.

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