The NBA 2K League

The NBA 2K League is the official E-sports league that is a joint venture between the National Basketball Association and Take-Two Interactive. The first inaugural season of the NBA 2K League began on May 1, 2018 for 17 weeks ending in August during NBA 2K18.

17 NBA teams participated in the league and each had their own team with players selected from a series of 2K combines and events.Players that are drafted live in their home markets during the season and fly into one or two central studios each week to compete. Each player that was drafted will move to the city of the team and will be paid for their  housing and living expenses.

Teams will compete in 5-on-5 gameplay using unique customizable characters, not existing NBA players. The top eight teams advanced to the postseason while the semifinals and finals were best-of-three tournaments.

All NBA 2K League games and tournaments were streamed on Twitch as the multiyear partner to live stream all of the games.

At the end of the regular season, Blazer5 Gaming led the way with first place in the standings finishing with 12 wins and two losses. 76ers GC followed them closely finishing with 10 wins and 4 losses as they were the only two teams to reach ten or more wins.

According to the official NBA 2K League stats, Boo Painter of the Wizards District Gaming led all players in scoring at 32.3 points per game. Onewildwalnut of the Blazer5 Gaming out rebounded the entire league by averaging 13.8 rebounds per game. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Defensive Player of the Year awards of the NBA 2K League. Celtics Crossover Gaming point guard OFAB made the most plays to his teammates this season while leading the league in assists at 17.5 assists per game.

During the playoffs is when teams and players lock in and put up their best efforts in order to bring home the championship trophy for their respective NBA 2K league team. Heat Check Gaming center, HOTSHOT, was unstoppable at getting buckets as he led all players in scoring at 46.6 points per game. That was a 14.3 point per game difference between the leaders from the regular season and from solely the playoffs despite playing fewer games. Cavs Legion GC center SICK X 973 out paced all other big men by averaging 18.5 rebounds per game. Mama Im Dat Man, Blazer5 Gaming point guard, led all players in assists at 16.0 assists per game.

It was a very intense series in the Finals between Knicks Gaming and Heat Check Gaming. HOTSHOT averaged 41.0 points per game leading all players in scoring. Knicks Gaming power forward, GOOFY757, was the best rebounder after averaging 11.5 rebounds per game. IAMADAMTHE1ST, Knicks Gaming point guard, showed that he was the best passer as he led everyone in assists at 10.0 assists per game.

 

NBA 2K19 Best MyCareer Archetypes

NBA 2K19 has been out for almost two weeks now and many people have created their MyPlayer in order to grind to reach the top 99 overall rating in the game. This year’s story line profiles your player as he left college after his freshman year for the NBA Draft and ultimately going undrafted. He signs a deal in China in order to keep his professional career alive.

The Way Back story mode that the 2K developers created allows for players to actually be invested in MyCareer, unlike last year. Throughout the story, you can notice some growth and maturity in his character. He started off as a self-centered brat that thinks the world revolved around him. Over time, he changes his perspective on life and his career. The hardest part about the story mode is actually picking your players archetype.

The seven NBA 2K19 archetype builds are below:

1. Passing & Ball Handling: If this is your main skill, your biggest stat boosts are Steals, Ball Handling and Acceleration.
2. Shot Creating: Mid-range shots and Acceleration are exceptional when you start here.
3. Three-Point Scoring: Mid-Range and Three-Point scoring are the primary skill when you start here.
4. Driving & Finishing: Your player is a technician at Layups, Dunks, Verticals, Speed and Acceleration.
5. Defending: Steals, Blocks, Lateral Quickness, Speed and Acceleration.
6. Post-Scoring: Layups, Post Offense and Strength
7. Rebounding: Rebounding, Stamina and Strength

NBA 2K19 allows each player to pick two different skills with one as the primary build and the other as the secondary build. Each build comes with a certain set of badges that can be upgraded from Bronze, Silver, Gold and Hall of Fame.

Point Guard

For the point guard position, your player should be fast and a very good ball-handler. Your personal style of play will decide which kind of offensive style your point guard will be whether you want to be an outside shooter, playmaker, or an at the rim finisher.

My suggestion would be to make a Sharpshooting Playmaker. 

Height: 6’3″ – 6’5″

Gold Badges:

• Ankle Breaker
• Flashy Passer
• Break Stater
• Pick & Roll Maestro
• Lob City Passer
• Dimer
• One Man Fast break
• Free Throw Ace

This build will allow your player to have great speed and ball-handling along with an exceptional outside shot which is very key in the 2K community.

Shooting Guard

Pure Shot Creator

Height: 6’3″ – 6’5″

NBA 2K19 developers are really high on the shot creating build this year so if you have it anywhere in your build, then you will probably like it.  The speed and acceleration while dribbling along with the ability to hit tough shots from mainly from the paint and mid-range will be deadly in any single player mode.

Hall of Fame Badges:

• Mid-range Deadeye
• Difficult Shots
• Tireless Scorer
• Tear Dropper

Gold Badges

• Corner Specialist
• Catch & Shoot
• Acrobat
• Up & Under Specialist
• Free Throw Ace

Small Forward

Playmaking Slasher

Height: 6’8″-6’10”

Although shooting threes and outside shots is the new wave of the NBA, nothing is better than breaking your defender’s ankles and following it up with a dunk on their head. You will do plenty of that with this build. Driving and finishing along with ball-handling will be your best skills; however, your player will still be able to knockdown open outside shots when hot.

Hall of Fame Badges:

One Man Fast Break

Gold Badges:

Ankle Breaker

Flashy Passer

Break Starter

Pick & Roll Maestro

Lob City Passer

Dimer