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NBA 2K12 My Player 101

 

Now that the NBA lockout is over and the season is scheduled to start on Christmas Day -- joy to the world, King James will come -- it's a perfect time to explore the My Player mode in NBA 2K12 .

I’m usually not a big fan of such modes, but I gave this one a whirl because I always wanted to be a 6-foot point guard with mad hops and skills. And let me tell you, this mode can be addicting if you don’t mind occasional bursts of frustration because of your boneheaded AI teammates. This tutorial is all about the fictional point guard from Ohio named World B. Free II.
 
 
Make a good first impression

I found the decisions I made early in my career came back to haunt me.

I played a fairly solid game in the amateur All-Star Game that kicks off your career. I scored a game-high 18 points, but only had a “C” teammate grade, which was frustrating to no end. I could have had 10 or more assists had my post-player teammates make a stinkin’ layup. What also hurt my rating was calling for the ball too much. But when I am standing wide open in the corner for an easy 3-pointer, and my uncoordinated teammates decide to drive the lane into the teeth of the defense, how is it my fault?

What also got my baggy shorts in a bunch was the fact the ball-hogging teammate of mine who shot 22 percent from the floor was drafted ahead of me.

Oh well, such is life.

The pre-draft interview process is also paramount. It’s tricky because you can choose from four different answers to the questions a general manager will pose to you. I chose to say all the right things to the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, but purposely tanked my interview with the Indiana Pacers. In hindsight, Indy would have been the best place for me. I would have been in the starting lineup as a rookie. Instead, I got stuck in Phoenix behind Steve Nash. I did get a cool billboard proclaiming, “The Future is Here.”
Still it was an epic fail on my part.

Be a star

Another fishy aspect about being a point guard in My Player is it sometimes rewards you for being a bad teammate. The more I played like Allen Iverson, the more I was rewarded.

Sure, you can’t take every shot and get pats on the back from your teammates, or the game, but take all the important shots and it will reward you handsomely. The biggest boosts I received were by hitting last-second and game-winning shots. I made sure I took as many as I could throughout my career, which finally took off in Phoenix once Nash (finally) retired.

Get defensive

Another way I was able to cement my role as NBA elite was by playing great defense. I don’t know if it was my skill on the sticks or the kind of player I whipped up, but I was able to handle anyone I guarded rather easily.

The trick here is to not let the player you are shadowing score by whatever means necessary. Luckily as a point guard, I was guarding lesser scoring threats than, say, if I were a shooting guard or small forward. I was also able to play some pretty good help defense without letting my counterpart go off on me. 

Another tip is to lay off the steal button every once in a while. Sure, you get a pretty good bump up by making a handful of steals in the game, but you are also punished for those ticky-tacky reach-in calls. Choose your spots wisely.
 
 
Do the little things

Boxing out isn’t flashy and won’t bring the bling, but those things add up and make your teammates and coaches like you. Setting screens, even as a tiny 6-foot point guard, will also endear you to your sometimes brain-dead cohorts.

Know your weakness

Another problem I ran into was not allocating points into my attributes correctly. I wanted to be a flashy, dunking point guard and the attributes I really needed to focus on for my position — ball handling and security, pass, mid-range shot — suffered. This stunted my growth and will be something I will change the next time I play through. I won't change the mohawk or the tats. Those stay.

The important thing to remember is you can’t be good at everything. Pick a few skill sets and drive those rating up. I may have been a turnover machine, but, boy, my dunks were sweet.

Do you have any tips to make the My Player experience even better?
 

 


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Member Comments
# 1 OGKing @ 12/22/11 05:53 PM
As of right now, I'm playing with the Warriors, we're 11-8. I believe my career high is 34. I'm a Shooting Guard, 3pt specialist, i'm currently working on my defense..on ball, steals..rebounding..

I'm very glad they fixed the Trading Logic
 
# 2 _-King-_ @ 12/22/11 06:16 PM
Did they ever fix having like 40 key games a season?
 
# 3 OGKing @ 12/22/11 06:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by _-King-_
Did they ever fix having like 40 key games a season?
Yes, i have about, 4-5 key games.
 
# 4 Louizzle @ 12/22/11 06:26 PM
I'm going to restart my My Player mode simply because the roster changes that happened pre-patch have caused most teams to be unrecognizable due to all the crazy trades. It's just not realistic anymore. I haven't been able to test My Player after the patch, but hopefully the patch does indeed stop all the crazy trades that happen.

I also want to play against the REAL rookies haha
 
# 5 shindiana @ 12/22/11 06:35 PM
I know there are a lot of discussion about attribute like speed that did not matter in the game. I have a similar problem with myplayer.

My center has 85 vertical, 80, def rebound and 80 block for the moment. Yet he's barely able to leave the floor. Old washup McDyess was able to jump higher and grab offensive rebounds against me. I also have a hard time blocking shot.

Can this be related to stamina? Because this dumb coach barely put my player on the bench.
 
# 6 UnbelievablyRAW @ 12/22/11 06:46 PM
Its not fun to play when the AI just forces themselves to win. I don't think its very possible Javel McGee can hit a fadeaway jumper from the freethrow line contested by 2 people to win a game, or Kyrie Irving doing a no contact up and under over 4 players....
 
# 7 OGKing @ 12/22/11 07:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by UnbelievablyRAW
Its not fun to play when the AI just forces themselves to win. I don't think its very possible Javel McGee can hit a fadeaway jumper from the freethrow line contested by 2 people to win a game, or Kyrie Irving doing a no contact up and under over 4 players....
I'm sorry to hear that, but that doesn't happen to me at all. If you find the CPU to cheese, just lower the difficult to all star / simulation. A lot of people play on default..default is not fun, make sure you turn the settings on simulation.
 
# 8 panthersfanstev @ 12/22/11 10:02 PM
Hate to restart My Player (again), but I have to have all the Rookies and correct Rosters. Only 3 Rookies before all of the updates.
 
# 9 William J Alvarez @ 12/23/11 11:52 PM
I played this mode when the game very first released. I had to start over again so I can have the rookies and all the updates 2k has come out with. I have to give a huge two thumbs up for the consistency NBA 2k has given us
 
# 10 I Djm @ 12/24/11 03:30 AM
guys when you update the rosters some key games will be missing if your are sg your key games against other good shooting guards are bos gs lal mia sas and i think sac. the only key games i have right now are rivial games
 
# 11 noah1212 @ 12/27/11 11:37 AM
when i try to download rosters from 2kshare it always says theres an error
 
# 12 Xx Qontrolz xX @ 12/27/11 12:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by noah1212
when i try to download rosters from 2kshare it always says theres an error
options > reset roster .. for the latest update
 
# 13 doc_bizzy @ 03/20/12 05:20 AM
Do you guys play the entire season? Or do you only play the Key Games?
 
# 14 funkworthy @ 03/20/12 09:35 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by doc_bizzy
Do you guys play the entire season? Or do you only play the Key Games?
I played every game of the first two seasons since I wanted every skill point I could get. Now, in my third and up to an 84 ovr, I only play key games and usually play 12 min quarters and pursue milestones. Whereas before I was pulling like 1K per game, now with key game and milestone etc I can pull 10K in a good game. In simulation the cpu has been putting up realistic stats for MP (even the turnovers!) so my playoff/all star campaigns aren't damaged in simulation. Also nice about playing key games only is you get mad drills to do, which gives you more points, and you develop your player faster.

It's a matter of your personal preference and strategy.

Make sure you check out the "official My Player thread" here. IMO it should just be a sub forum, it's like 400 pages! Lots of help over there.
 
# 15 mgavis1 @ 04/10/12 08:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by OGKing
Yes, i have about, 4-5 key games.
how can i update my player mode, i was recently went to the all star game and lost my minutes for some reason and i was hoping they had a patch, also i have a 99 mid range, 3 point and consistency and yet i find that i almost never make contested shots what should i do?
 
# 16 Southcolumbus52 @ 04/15/12 04:26 AM
Hey guys I have a question? My player is a center and if I get traded to Detroit is the computer smart enough to start me at center and put Greg Monroe at center. Detroits my favorite team and it would just suck if we couldn't both be in the starting lineup.
 
# 17 ace1387 @ 04/15/12 11:38 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Southcolumbus52
Hey guys I have a question? My player is a center and if I get traded to Detroit is the computer smart enough to start me at center and put Greg Monroe at center. Detroits my favorite team and it would just suck if we couldn't both be in the starting lineup.
It's unlikely. I was drafted by the knicks and after 19 games I was starting at SF and Anthony was benched instead of either of us playing slightly out of position.
 
# 18 Southcolumbus52 @ 04/15/12 07:54 PM
That sucks. They should really fix that
 
# 19 soxroks247 @ 06/16/12 11:13 PM
I'm a 6'7 all around SG. I got drafted 8th (first round) to the Bucks. Sadly, I was behind Ellis so I requested a trade to the Pacers. Currently we are 23-17 and I am the leading scorer in the league with 33.6 points per game. I just had the franchise record 80 points in a single game.
This game mode is once again addicting
 
# 20 derekj2020 @ 07/02/12 09:51 AM
I'm a 6'3 PG for the Lakers and my team makes very stupid trades for guys like chris Anderson and Dexter Pittman
 

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