NBA 2K17 Features League Expansion

Feature Article

Submitted on: 07/19/2016 by Erick Boenisch

Hello everyone! For those of you that don’t know me already, my name is Erick Boenisch, Senior Producer on NBA 2K17. Many of you may know me by my online handle, SimBaller. I’d like to be the first person to welcome you to NBA 2K17! The team here at Visual Concepts has been working relentlessly on this year’s game, and I’m extremely proud to show you one of the new features that we know you will all really enjoy.

NBA 2K17 features a simplified menu system that is both beautiful and streamlined. All of the modes within MyGM / MyLEAGUE feature an elegant setup flow that will guide you through the creation of your completely customized league, step-by-step.

For anyone who has read my blogs in the past, you know that I am serious about MyGM and MyLEAGUE. I'm blessed to work with a core group of people who share the exact same level of passion. We've done a LOT of work to these modes this year, and one feature I can't stop talking about is...League Expansion. This is entirely new to NBA 2K17, and is the feature I want to tell you about today.

League Expansion is, as it sounds, a way to grow your league beyond the 30-team NBA. When creating a new MyGM or MyLEAGUE, you have a few options on how you can handle the setup of your new league:

- Start with the current 30-team NBA, as it is structured now.

- Start a league with Expansion where you can instantly expand the league from 30 up to 36 teams (all with designs of your choosing).

- Or, you can start with a completely customized league (that can still include up to 36 teams) that may include realigned divisions, Expansion Teams, Classic teams, Edited/Rebranded NBA teams, Euroleague teams, and more.

The League Expansion feature allows you to create a league with up to 36 teams (with 6 teams being Expansion teams). For those wanting to exert more freedom, Custom League allows you to create a league with a mixture of Current NBA Teams, Classic NBA Teams, Expansion Teams, and Euroleague Teams.

Every possible configuration you could want is now at your fingertips. And I have more features to make the expansion process even easier for you. If creating all of the art assets for the team logo, arena, and uniforms is more than you can handle, I have two alternatives for you. First, we have 10 pre-built fictional franchises (complete with full audio and commentary support) built right in to the game. Pick your favorite one and off you go. Alternatively, you can now download complete team designs from the community in NBA 2K17. For example, if you know that you want your expansion team to be a Seattle Supersonics franchise, you can search through community uploaded team designs and instantly download one right into your new MyGM/MyLEAGUE. It couldn’t be simpler.

For my franchise heads out there, you already know that a proper league expansion is more than just new logo/uniform/stadium art. The entire experience surrounding the game has to support it. We’ve covered every detail required for a proper league expansion, including player protections, expansion drafts, and much, much more. A considerable amount of time was spent this year building an NBA schedule creation tool that dynamically generates balanced schedules with respect to your 31/32/33/34/35/36 team leagues. We then created dynamic menus for every menu in the game including the Draft Lottery and the Draft, with respect to how many teams are in the league. For example, when you have a 32-team league, that means you now have 16 teams in the lottery (up from the current 14), and all the mathematical odds of getting the #1 pick that go along with that new Draft Lottery format need to be updated. Simply put, we left no stone unturned, and we did it all for your enjoyment. Immerse yourselves.

For Expansion Teams, you can choose to: 1) Design your own team logo, uniform, and arena from scratch, 2) You can populate your league with a selection of fictional expansion teams we have built from the ground-up (complete with full audio and commentary support), or 3) You can browse Team Designs that other community members have uploaded. With only the press of a button, these Team Designs can easily be downloaded an inserted directly into your league.

League Expansion isn’t just a feature you can use when setting up your league. You can dynamically expand your league in the offseason, even after the mode has already started! Additionally, the league will approve expansion franchises dynamically on its own as you get further into your franchise. When that happens, you’ll need to make tough decisions about which of your players you want to protect, and which will need to be exposed for the impending Expansion Draft. It won’t happen very often, but when it does, it will shake up your league, without a doubt! For the MyLEAGUE users out there, you will have the ability to contract previously expanded expansion teams, should you choose to do so.

MyGM/MyLEAGUE has seen a LOT of great additions this year; I’ll get into the rest of those details a little closer to launch. We’re always looking for ways to innovate in the franchise space, and following on the heels of Team Relocation in NBA 2K16, League Expansion feels like the natural evolution moving forward with NBA 2K17. Let me know below how you plan on using the League Expansion feature. I’m excited to hear what everyone’s plans are!

Stay tuned folks, we’re just getting started here with the news drops for NBA 2K17…

Erick Boenisch

aka SimBaller

Member Comments

# 221 UFCMPunk @ 07/22/16 02:20 PM

The only downside is I have to wait until September 16th to play this game. Incredible improvement across the board and has made MyGM/MyLeague more exciting to play this year.

# 222 RyanJS08 @ 07/22/16 02:21 PM

Thank you 2k! Such a small bite but man I can't wait for this game to come out! Customization wins again this year and I love the ideas of the new modes. Looking good so far.

# 223 astone1996 @ 07/22/16 02:39 PM

So are we limited to the cities like last year. Louisville, Seattle, Vegas, etc. or can we pick any place in the nation

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 224 laroche360 @ 07/22/16 04:56 PM

Please add the option for the short length. Please 2k

# 225 LionsFanNJ @ 07/22/16 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosens6


	For you guys wondering, you can fully edit, customize, rebrand EVERY team this year, not just 3.

They figured out the console memory issues then? NOICE

# 226 Godgers12 @ 07/22/16 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikko25


	I assume in MyGM we can start as the GM of an expansion team and build it up. I dont know how that would work out because you wouldnt play games for the first season so would your team start play in the 2017-2018 season? Interested to see how that would work.

This is what I'd like to know too. Can we play as an expansion team from the onset? My guess is that once you start, you begin before the 2016-17 season, have the expansion draft, rookie draft then you're on your way. Come to think about it, it would be nice to redo this past draft.

# 227 VinnyVegas28 @ 07/22/16 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astone1996


	So are we limited to the cities like last year. Louisville, Seattle, Vegas, etc. or can we pick any place in the nation Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seems as if you can create any city you want for expansion. It's just 10 preset cities that 2k added if you want to use them right away without the creation process. Also commentary is tied to the presets that 2k made available

Sent from my E6833 using Tapatalk

# 228 Trackball @ 07/22/16 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LionsFanNJ


	They figured out the console memory issues then? NOICE

I don't play 2K on consoles anymore (once I got this new computer, I switched to Steam to see if this thing could run it, and it can).

HOWEVER, I'd still like word for my console brethren who had this limitation in 2K16.

For those who don't know, on consoles, you could only move and/or rebrand three teams, due to "memory issues" on the consoles, according to 2K themselves. The PC version did not have this limitation; you could move/rebrand all 30 teams, which does add plausibility to 2K's explanation.

Now you can do it to all 30+ teams after all? Just asking for clarification for console users.

# 229 trekfan @ 07/22/16 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	I don't play 2K on consoles anymore (once I got this new computer, I switched to Steam to see if this thing could run it, and it can). HOWEVER, I'd still like word for my console brethren who had this limitation in 2K16. For those who don't know, on consoles, you could only move and/or rebrand three teams, due to "memory issues" on the consoles, according to 2K themselves. The PC version did not have this limitation; you could move/rebrand all 30 teams, which does add plausibility to 2K's explanation. Now you can do it to all 30+ teams after all? Just asking for clarification for console users.

According to the Forbes article, yes, all 30 teams can be rebranded. Now, that's not straight from 2K's mouth, but you'd hope Forbes wouldn't be printing things that aren't confirmed.

# 230 Da InFaMoUs NY @ 07/22/16 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	I don't play 2K on consoles anymore (once I got this new computer, I switched to Steam to see if this thing could run it, and it can). HOWEVER, I'd still like word for my console brethren who had this limitation in 2K16. For those who don't know, on consoles, you could only move and/or rebrand three teams, due to "memory issues" on the consoles, according to 2K themselves. The PC version did not have this limitation; you could move/rebrand all 30 teams, which does add plausibility to 2K's explanation. Now you can do it to all 30+ teams after all? Just asking for clarification for console users.

the 30 team rebrand never worked on PC, after like 6 teams the jerseys & courts would get an error and nothing will save.

# 231 Turbojugend @ 07/22/16 08:34 PM

So I can actually recreate the ABA in NBA 2K17?!? 'Cause that would be epic!

Can we limit the number of teams in the league if we want less than 30?

# 232 CookNBA03 @ 07/22/16 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbojugend


	So I can actually recreate the ABA in NBA 2K17?!? 'Cause that would be epic! Can we limit the number of teams in the league if we want less than 30?

I asked in the questions thread to be submitted for interviews, hope we get an answer soon.

# 233 Rasco11 @ 07/22/16 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grazz1


	Question - can we only add teams or can we subtract? Meaning can I do a mode with 24 or 26 teams if I want to? That would be great for the retro seasons - prior to a 30 team league.

This is what i want to know as well!!! Wish they had addressed this...

# 234 Ebpmd @ 07/22/16 10:54 PM

It would be fantastic if we could decrease the number of teams. I'd love to play an ABA season!!!

# 235 Trackball @ 07/22/16 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebpmd


	It would be fantastic if we could decrease the number of teams. I'd love to play an ABA season!!!

Even if they say no, I'll be more than happy with what's been revealed so far.

We can give Seattle and Vancouver teams again AND no one else has to lose their team? How can you NOT be hyped?!

And besides, saying this means it's on the ticket for 2K18.

# 236 AusBot @ 07/23/16 04:31 AM

This is awesome news. Would love the ability to downsize the league. Full customisation. Could create the Aussie pro league.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

# 237 mackmaine87 @ 07/23/16 02:30 PM

Mygm need to add stadium upgrades like madden had still has. Haven't played madden in recent years. Upgrading seating parking lots etc.. with the money we get from the fans throughout the seasons...

# 238 DutchMastah7 @ 07/23/16 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	Even if they say no, I'll be more than happy with what's been revealed so far. We can give Seattle and Vancouver teams again AND no one else has to lose their team? How can you NOT be hyped?! And besides, saying this means it's on the ticket for 2K18.

I want to get the Sonics back in there, and I think I might relocate the Grizz back to Vancouver and somehow implement the Bobcats back in somehow. Maybe do an expansion draft and bring in Seattle and put the Bobcats somewhere in NC or SC.

The Carolina Bobcats sounds good to me.

# 239 CaseIH @ 07/24/16 06:26 AM

This sounds great an all if it works properly, and going by this groups track record its hard to get to pump up, knowing thats a big if.

I do like the idea, and glad they are putting forth effort on the Association modes, instead of always kissing the rear ends of the online while us Association guys who helped get this game to where its at now by buying it years ago religiously.

Still my main thing is lets get simulated stats right guys, it ruins MY league when stats just arent realistic. I do think you made strides last year to improve on that, and the past 2 yrs you guys have stepped up and made a very good game, so lets get the stats for teams and players in Assocation modes right, and hopefully with the strides made by you guys we get it finally right this year.

Also while expansion sounds great, have to say Im going to be disappointed if D League isnt back finally. I enjoy messing around and playing games with the Euro's but you dont keep then up to date or rate them right in attributes but mainly tendencies is where you really have them screwed up. Plus rosters dont get updated, and there is mistakes having players hgt and weight way off. For example Keith Lankford is around 6'4 you have him 7'1, and D'or fishcer you have him I think at 6'1 and he is about 7ft, and of course their weight was way off too.

Typically this time of year I dont get to excited for NBA2k, because of playing MLBTS, but I didnt get The Show this year, just didnt feel they did enough to justify it, and with money being tight, I told my wife if I got to pick only 1 Im going with NBA2k17, which is a 1st, as Ive never felt the team at 2k deserved it over The Show team of guys, but NBA2k16 was a big step imo, and if the things I mentioned get fixed and done for 17, then I will be happy as a pig in a mud hole

# 240 dwayne12345 @ 07/24/16 08:17 AM

I don't share your pessimism CaseIH but I do clearly understand where it comes from. People who look at the little things with the MY modes definitely see the main issues are not in features but in the coding behind some of the more database aspects of 2K.

Things like euroleague teams being completely ignored to the point where an entire year passes and the 210 or so Euroleague players not having simple things like proper height and close to proper attributes. Leo Westermann for example is a 6'5 3 point shooter from France. If you've never watched a game a simple google search and a look at his career stats would tell you that much. 2K had him at 6'3 with no shot for much of the season (he might still be but i haven't played in a few months so I don't know).

If Rookies are still coming in with f'd up attributes that don't match their position isn't fixed any MyGM/MyLeague/MyPlayer feature add on is for nought. A 1st round pick 5'11 point guard in a draft class with 60 speed and quickness is unacceptable.

So I believe 2K will get it right but I understand why you can be cautious about that idea.

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