Building a competitive MyTeam lineup in NBA 2K26 can feel like a second job, and the game does everything it can to push you toward microtransactions. While dumping loads of dollars into that system can make you competitive at a faster rate, remember that NBA 2K releases games annually, meaning there's less than a year for you to enjoy them, including its other modes such as MyCareer or MyGM, all while getting the cards you truly want. Would it be worth it? In my opinion, not anymore, and you absolutely don't need to spend real money anyway.
MT Points are the lifeblood of this game mode, and if you know where to look and what to prioritize, you can stack up a healthy balance through consistent grinding and smart decisions. It doesn't matter if you're new to MyTeam or a seasoned veteran, since the strategies I'm going to show you will help you earn MT quickly without ever needing to use your credit card.
Daily Log-in Rewards, Weekly and Seasonal Challenges
The easiest MT you'll ever make in NBA 2K26 is by simply logging in every day. I know, it might seem like an obvious method to list here, but it's also worth pointing out that a lot of people who grind VCs for their MyCareer tend to step away for a bit to at least give themselves a chance at the roulette. Granted, you might not always win MT, but freebies are freebies, and those are worth getting each time.
On top of that, try to challenge yourself by completing Daily and Weekly Agendas. These short challenges often require just a few minutes of gameplay, and each completed agenda can get you MT and sometimes even free packs. Right now, you can earn up to 5,000 MT per day just from completing daily challenges.
Domination Mode
Domination mode is one of the most consistent ways to rack up MT without spending any real money. This mode lets you deploy a 13-man lineup against different opponents from different regions in varying difficulties. Small achievements, such as scoring a set number of points, blocks, or steals nets you 1,500 MT, while earning stars through victories will allow you to acquire more MT as you progress through the tiers. A full Domination run can net you around 200,000 MT along with badges, shoes, and other rewards.
MT Showdown
MT Showdown is a head-to-head mode that pits you against players of your level. Winning 10 games here can easily get you 5,000 MT, but if you have a competitive lineup, you can push further to unlock card packs and up to 200,000 MT in total.
Breakout Mode
If you skipped last year's NBA 2K, Breakout is the new offline mode for your grind. This game mode contains 3v3 Triple Threat, 5v5 Clutch Time, and Full Lineup games with short 2-minute halves. Breakout can net you anything from 5,000 up to tens of thousands of MT, depending on how you manage your lives and prize points. Whether you're playing Gauntlet or regular Breakout, this mode is great because you can also earn an assortment of different card packs.
Locker Codes
Every once in a while, 2K drops free Locker Codes, and NBA 2K26 is no exception. These codes usually have expiration dates that give you access to card packs, MTs, or VCs. All you need to do is follow and check NBA 2K's official X (formerly Twitter) account for announcements on Locker Codes.
Become a Master of the Auction House
The Auction House is a free market where you can get the most MT by auctioning off your own cards. However, before you step inside this place, here are a few tips I'd like to share:
Sell Jerseys, Shoes, and Other Cosmetics
Player cards aren't the only items that you can sell. You can auction off shoes, jerseys, ball cards, franchise cards, and other items, and as long as you're constantly selling things, you'll always be making MT. If you play long enough, there'll be a lot of things in your collection that you probably won't use or need that might fetch a decent price.
Don't Be Too Trigger-Happy on Quick-Selling Cards
Silver and Gold cards can quickly accumulate in your inventory, and a lot of these are cards that you might not want or even use. You're free to quick-sell some of these cards, of course, but if you can afford to wait, then it's sometimes not bad to have a couple of Gold cards sit in your inventory if it means you can profit a little more than their quick-sell value.
For example, franchise cards are one of those things that you don't see being auctioned often, but if you search and look more closely, you'll notice that there's an actual demand for Lakers Franchise cards, and you can profit by a margin of 1,000 or more, which will beat their very low quick-sell value.
Study the Market
Remember that the auction house is a free market, and just like in real life, the market value of the cards doesn't stay still. A Lebron Shoe card might be worth just 2,500 MT today, but hang on to it for a while, and it might be worth even more in the future. The same goes for player cards. It will take good knowledge of the market and a strong sense of what will sell, but once you've got the hang of it, you'll be able to immediately distinguish which cards tend to go higher in market value. After all, we're talking about tens to hundreds of thousands of MTs when the market drives the prices up, so it can be a constant stream of MT revenue once you're able to get a stack of auctionable items.
There's no doubt that NBA 2K26 aggressively pushes for microtransactions. It has been that way for a while, and there's nothing to suggest it's changing anytime soon. That said, enjoying the game and being competitive is still completely up to you. In my opinion, the best way to approach MyTeam and be successful at it is by avoiding a "grinder's mentality" because that would wear you out sooner, before the next season even starts. Instead, play the game as you would normally, enjoy it, and make the right choices at auctions. Your dream squad is closer than you think, and it's truly possible to get to a high level without spending any more dollars on this game.
Stay tuned to realsport101.com: The Home of Sports Gaming News, Guides, Leaks, and Reviews!