The NBA 2K series is back with the 2K18 edition. As mentioned in our review of NBA 2K18, the game has added several new features, including the ‘Neighborhood' and 'Road to 99′ options, along with a new storyline associated with MyCareer mode.
Since MyCareer is one of the most popular modes in the game, this article will point out a few basic tips on things you should and shouldn't do to maximize your virtual currency earnings. We hope these tips can assist you in using your time more efficiently and making your "journey to 99" as enjoyable as possible.
1. Don’t earn VC in MyPark
MyPark is probably one of the most fun game modes in the NBA 2K series. However, it is not the best place to earn your VC. You should probably avoid going here early on, especially if your player has a low rating (75 or below).
For one, it will take you a long time to get into a game, as most people are hesitant to tarnish their personal record in the park and avoid playing with lower-rated players. Chances are it may take you as long as 15 minutes just to find a game, and you will likely play on a team with very weak players. In that regard, you will likely lose most matches against much stronger teams, resulting in a very low payout.
For example, if you lose a game and get a teammate grade of C, you will only earn around 40-50 VC. Frankly, it not the best use of your time considering you get less than 100 VC for around 25 minutes of work. As such, you are only making the better players richer by adding to their win streaks in MyPark.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: If your NBA 2K18 rating is low and you want to earn VC fast, stay away from MyPark until you upgrade your player to a respectable level (75 or above).
2) Don’t skip your team practice facility sessions
If you want to earn your badges as fast as possible, don’t skip the practice session drills! These drills take place at the 'Team Practice Facility', as per the picture below:
The practice facility is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to grind for your badges early in the game. Some drills like the '2 on 2' allow you to work on multiple badges at once and are quick and easy to do; it takes around five minutes to complete three drills.
Practice sessions also add to your 'overall level increase', which will earn you extra slots for your player's overall upgrade when you reach 100%. As you can see in the picture above, one '2 v 2' drill helped me earn points for six badges and added 695 experience points towards my overall upgrade.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: If you have a low 2K rating, practice sessions are probably the easiest and most efficient way to work on your badges early.
3) Visit the Fresh Squeezed station for bonus practice sessions
One new trick few may know about is the Fresh Squeezed station, located just outside of your team’s practice facility. Traditionally, you only get three practice sessions and have to play a MyCareer game before you can unlock the gym again. However, after you have finished your three drills you can quickly get one extra practice session by going to the fresh squeezed station just outside the practice facility.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: Take advantage of this simple feature to help earn your badges faster.
4) Don’t earn VC playing in 'Play Now' mode
The ‘Play Now’ mode is rather addictive, especially with its new All-Time team feature this year.
I must admit it’s pretty cool to play with some historic teams like the 1999/00 Toronto Raptors, which includes players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry.
Fun aside, it is not the most efficient way to earn virtual currency in NBA 2K18. If you do the math, it takes around 25-30 minutes to complete one game, but sometimes games may take as long as 45 minutes if your opponent likes to go to the line frequently or call plenty of timeouts.
In that time, you are only making around 550-650 in VC for 40 minutes of work. The payout is not bad, but not great either. Instead, your time is probably better spent playing two MyCareer games, which can earn you double the amount of VC and get points for your badges.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: The Play Now mode can fulfill your basketball fantasies but it doesn't earn you any points for your badges and it’s not the most efficient way to earn VC either.
5) Use the NBA 2K18 app
Finally, this is a must-know for beginners or anyone looking for a simple way to get free VC.
Download the MyNBA2K18 app on Android or iOS! With this app, you get 100 worth of VC for free daily just by logging on and another 500 VC for playing mini-games in the app. You can do this on your phone, on your commute, lunch break, at the gym or wherever you can get Wi-Fi.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: The MyNBA2K18 app is an easy way to earn free VC when you are away from your console.
6) NBA Daily Pick ‘em
Another feature of the NBA 2k18 app many people overlook is the Daily Pick ‘em tab in the app. It allows you to pick the winner of every real life NBA game during that day, and each correct pick earns you 50 VC.
This is probably one of the easiest and most effortless ways to earn VC in the game. It literally takes you less than a minute to login and make your picks every day. On very busy nights in the NBA, you can easily earn around 500 VC, which isn't bad for one minute of work.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: Daily Pick ‘em can be found in the NBA 2K18 app or in the “2K zone” on your MyCareer map as well (see picture below).
7) 2KTV
2KTV is often one of the most overlooked ways to earn VC in the game.
In the past, I would skip 2KTV segments when MyCareer games were loading, which turned out to be a huge mistake. I was basically turning down hundreds of free VC every week.
NBA 2KTV is basically a weekly segment hosted by Rachel Demita, who interviews different guests around the NBA. In the episodes, trivia questions appear that allow you to earn 50-100 VC for every correct answer. Sometimes, you earn VC just for answering the question.
Overall, the episodes aren’t long (around 15-20 minutes), and Demita brings on interesting guests like Shaq, Kevin Garnett and Kyrie Irving, so time goes by fast.
I usually come out of every episode with at least 300-500 VC. But if you are keen and want to maximize your earning potential, you can find answers to every episode on YouTube.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: Don’t skip NBA 2KTV, especially when you are waiting for your game to load in MyCareer. You can also access all 2KTV episodes in the mobile app, or your character’s house in MyCareer.
8) Don’t skip your objectives
If you are like me, you may have made the mistake of ignoring your objectives in MyCareer. In retrospect, I probably missed out on thousands of VC because of that.
Not long into your MyCareer story, your agent, Bryan, will message you with sponsorship offers with sneaker brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Under Armour and other commercial opportunities with brands like Gatorade.
Reply to his text and try to negotiate a contract ASAP!
Don’t ignore them or negotiate for too long, or else you will miss out on a lot of free VC. Once a player signs the endorsement deals, he will be paid VC for every game played, whether it is in the park or in MyCareer. Before long, you will receive a message from Bryan telling you to collect your check for your sponsorship, which is passive income generated from all your endorsement deals.
This is literally a case of doing the work once and getting paid forever.
NBA 2K18 MyCareer tip: Don't hold off on your objectives for too long. Execute early and reap the benefits in the long term.
Do you know of any other tips to upgrade your player faster? Let us know in the comments section below.