NBA 2K24’s MyCareer mode is the most streamlined yet

2K promises more freedom than ever, too

2K built NBA 2K24’s MyCareer mode with player freedom and fun in mind, VP of NBA development Erick Boenisch tells GLHF, after fans pointed out how disjointed the sports game’s mode was in previous years. Where MyCareer used to limit when you could play games and forced you into activities you probably didn’t want to do, Boenisch says you have the flexibility to do pretty much whatever you want this year.

Boenisch said one of the most common pieces of community feedback was annoyance over having to run around or do other activities after games before MyCareer let you back on the court again.This time, “if you just wanna hoop, you’re gonna hoop all you want to,” he says.

Quests and other activities are still a key part of the MyCareer experience and come with worthwhile rewards, but they’re entirely optional now. You can do them whenever you feel like it, or never. If you want to grind improvement in the arena, you can do that, and if you’d rather just run around and level up stats, that’s completely viable too.

2K Games/Visual Concepts

2K and Visual Concepts also cut down on how long it takes to finish a career. You play as the most promising generational prospect since 2003, a rising star who’s determined to unseat the reigning GOAT, Michael Jordan, and become the best player of all time. A full career consists of hundreds of games over several years, but NBA 2K24 includes a simulation system that plays some matches for you. You’ll still have to play key games, such as playoff matches, but you can let the system take care of ones you’re not interested in or don’t have time to play.

Boenisch says it took the team a lot longer than they expected to get this system just right. It analyzes how you played in previous games and uses that data to predict what would have happened if you manually played the match. If you’ve been on a losing streak, for example, don’t expect the simulated match to play out any differently.

NBA 2K24 launches for PC, PS4 and PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on Sep. 8, 2023. If you're looking for more NBA 2K24, check out our coverage of 2K24's MyNBA, changes coming to the WNBA and MyTeam, a rundown of Mamba Moments, and what's new with skills.