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

# 241 astone1996 @ 07/24/16 10:11 AM

Hope you can pick rivalries for the expansion teams. Portland and OKC for Seattle. Memphis and Toronto for Vancouver but what do you make the team there is already the Grizzlies. What would be a good name for Utah because I have never felt Jazz works for them but works perfectly for New Orleans

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 242 midwestking100 @ 07/24/16 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HealyMonster


	I know I will be recreating either the 92-93 or 93-94 season once the game drops with Unis and courts and rosters

I would love to re live a 90s nba season. Definitely an early 90s season.

# 243 Trackball @ 07/24/16 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astone1996


	Hope you can pick rivalries for the expansion teams. Portland and OKC for Seattle. Memphis and Toronto for Vancouver but what do you make the team there is already the Grizzlies. What would be a good name for Utah because I have never felt Jazz works for them but works perfectly for New Orleans

A few years ago, someone on Yahoo proposed a three-way trade of team nicknames. Then real-life name changes screwed it all up.

New Orleans Jazz
Charlotte Hornets
Utah Bobcats

# 244 jackzagal @ 07/24/16 09:23 PM

I mainly play Mycareer, but all this new MyGM/MyLeague features look INSANE!

I'm sure tons of Youtubers will take advantadge of this and will make some great series, and I usually like those.

# 245 Junior Moe @ 07/24/16 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaseIH


	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.

Yeah, they really need to step their game up with the Euro's. Some of these players are all screwed up. Crazy thing is that guys like Keith Langford were fine in 2k14 and 2k15. I'm hoping that with the apparent inclusion of the Olympic teams that Euroball has gotten a lift altogether. Plus, the Turkish Airlines Euroleague is only gonna have 16 teams this year. Hopefully the combination of the Olympics and there being 9, I think, fewer teams leads to more effort being put into it. 2K's effort since 14 hasn't been great. That's understandable to a degree, this is an NBA game. But we're long enough into this thing now to where we should demand more from them on this front.

# 246 DIRK41NOWITZKI @ 07/25/16 03:08 AM

Hey Steve_OS, don't want to sound impatient, but do you have any idea when the Q&A will be released?

# 247 Razor7787 @ 07/25/16 06:14 AM

I did not go through all the posts here. Sorry for that. Is it only possible to expand the league to 36 or is it also possible to 31?

# 248 Trackball @ 07/25/16 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor7787


	I did not go through all the posts here. Sorry for that. Is it only possible to expand the league to 36 or is it also possible to 31?

31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36. Your choice.

# 249 Razor7787 @ 07/25/16 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36. Your choice.

Thank you.

# 250 jbrew2411 @ 07/25/16 09:24 AM

I think I have asked for this in the Madden "Wish List" threads for years now. I love the idea of expansion as it adds to the overall depth of a franchise type mode. I will be getting 2k17 for sure now.

# 251 Gosens6 @ 07/25/16 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizDevConglomerate


	This must be a sign of the future similar to the other game maker and their new FROSTY engine, which will be the engine for all of their games. This move alone tells me, there's no excuse doe 2k not making a football game on the same platform and utilizing the same features for authentication. It's time to make it happen. College, NFL, CFL, etc. There's no excuse. Fam boys, no more allegations aimed at the Other franchise. This exonerates them. The ball is in 2k's court now. Make it happen. How? Similar to the other company, invite people to your HQ, pay them to pound out the leagues, so there aren't too many unofficial rosters, have the core. Name it. Then allow for everyone else to do whatever. But we have our core for the downloads we're looking for. A,community roster team on staff, to update ratings and equipment. Make it happen.

2K isn't worried about football. They make too much money from their NBA franchise to give a damn about trying to compete with Madden.

If it's not a full fledged NFL licensed game (Customization features or not) it won't sell well.

We will probably never see another 2K football game. People need to let it go.

# 252 countryboy @ 07/25/16 10:58 AM

I'm very excited for expansion mode but if they limit us to 2 uniform slots again this year for created teams, then I may just pass and play as the Pacers.

I'm really hoping we get at least 5 uniform slots for created teams this year.

# 253 NYJin2011tm @ 07/25/16 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrew2411


	I think I have asked for this in the Madden "Wish List" threads for years now. I love the idea of expansion as it adds to the overall depth of a franchise type mode. I will be getting 2k17 for sure now.

They had expansion in Madden 2002 when the Texans came into the league. You could use the Texans or a created team. Always liked that feature. Never understood why they only kept it in the game just that one season.

With expansion 2k17 went from maybe wait and see to must buy for me now.

# 254 Junior Moe @ 07/25/16 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosens6


	2K isn't worried about football. They make too much money from their NBA franchise to give a damn about trying to compete with Madden. If it's not a full fledged NFL licensed game (Customization features or not) it won't sell well. We will probably never see another 2K football game. People need to let it go.

Yep. Plus, I'd imagine that a non exclusive NBA license is much cheaper than the exclusive NFL license so they clear even more. I'm just blessed that 2K is out here repping for franchise nerds like myself. I feel like we're seeing the benefits of those online modders they hired seeing as we're being given access to some of this stuff on a level console gamers can handle. I love dabbling in this stuff. I was sooo close to buying a high end PC for 2K gaming and mods to get my CH2K fix. But now that we're getting closer and closer to that creation point I don't feel the need. Awesome Job, 2K!!

# 255 Barncore @ 07/25/16 11:59 AM

I hope they didn't put too much time into this. There are other more important fundamental things that require attention when it comes to MyGM and MyLEAGUE

# 256 Mauer4MVP @ 07/25/16 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnsey


	I hope they didn't put too much time into this. There are other more important fundamental things that require attention when it comes to MyGM and MyLEAGUE

Whaaaaaat? I agree there are things that could be improved but it's a fantastic addition. I hope they put a lot of time into it so it succeeds. I don't want a half-done feature.

# 257 Junior Moe @ 07/26/16 10:51 AM

I just realized that if we can indeed rebrand/edit all teams in our ML then this will allow us to update and change the ad boards and stuff for every team. Now we can have Pepsi or Sprite or Foot Locker or whatever. There will be a Walking Dead ad in every arena come 2k17!

Also, we can now accurately create MSG and TD. Should add a lot for authentic nuts and Knick/Celtics fans.

# 258 mvb34 @ 07/26/16 05:04 PM

Will I be able slowly add expansion teams to my league?

# 259 Godgers12 @ 07/26/16 06:17 PM

I hope to God teams weigh different factors when deciding on who to protect. Age, potential, contract, OVR, and scheme fit should all be factors. I don't want to see a top 5 pick left unprotected a year later, for instance.

# 260 Dyslexicphish @ 07/26/16 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauer4MVP


	Whaaaaaat? I agree there are things that could be improved but it's a fantastic addition. I hope they put a lot of time into it so it succeeds. I don't want a half-done feature.

I can see where Barnsey is coming from. Don't get me wrong, I love the feature. There are just so many little things fundamentally wrong with mygm/myleague that also extend to mycareer. Tendencies, created draft classes, free agent logic and stats (to name a few) still need work. Not to mention D-league and foreign leagues missing (just ask Tyler Johnson and Hassan Whiteside how important those are). Now contrast that with the fact there have only been 3 expansion teams in the past 21 years. Expansion teams are a somewhat rare occurrence.

Again, I really love the feature and it's a nice addition to have. I truly hope that it is, like you said, fully and properly implemented. I just believe that there are more pertinent issues and that I hope implementing expansion teams did not leave those issues unresolved. Time will tell though.

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