There are countless reasons why the NBA 2K franchise is arguably the best when it comes to sports video games. From a wide array of classic teams to a ridiculous amount of customizable options, there are so many to choose from. Two major highlights are the MyGM and MyLeague modes.
Both allow the gamer to take a team and control them (MyGM lets you simply run a franchise while MyLeague lets you do that and also basically be the league’s commissioner). This list won’t cover the best and worst teams as any NBA fan knows who those are. Instead, it looks at the franchises that are ideal and the ones that are inadequate to control for decades.
10 Avoid: San Antonio Spurs
It might sound odd to anyone who has watched basketball for the past two decades but the San Antonio Spurs aren’t in an ideal spot. Often, the worst place for a franchise to be when taking over in a game like this is to be mediocre and that’s just what the Spurs are.
They’re typically a brilliantly run organization that gets the most out of its players. Alas, they don’t have a ton of talent, they have expensive veterans, and they play a style that feels way out of place in a league that seems to have passed them by. Turning them back around would be a chore even with an all-time great coach in Gregg Popovich.
9 Worth Using: Atlanta Hawks
One of the most important aspects of managing a team in these modes is having financial flexibility. The Atlanta Hawks might be the best team to use when it comes to that. They start the game with plenty of cap space, opening the door to add a prime free agent or give a major extension to a current star.
The possibility of adding a top-level player to the team’s existing youthful core is a great one. Trae Young is one of the best young talents in the game, while the likes of John Collins and De’Andre Hunter have talent. There’s also a slew of veterans like Rajon Rondo and Danilo Gallinari to move if need be.
8 Avoid: Charlotte Hornets
Looking at the NBA standings this season, it’s clear that the Charlotte Hornets have been a solid surprise. They’ve hovered around .500 for the most part and are in the playoff hunt. Despite that, this is a franchise that has been lackluster for a long time.
Not only that but they’re in a weird financial situation. They paid hefty prices for the likes of Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, while their overpaid vets (like Nicolas Batum and Bismack Biyombo) are difficult to move. The only true positive of picking them is playing as LaMelo Ball.
7 Worth Using: Seattle Storm
The WNBA may not be as popular as the NBA but playing as the females offers a varied aspect of gameplay in the series. It features an added level of skill and a different pace from the three-ball dominated NBA. There are a lot of teams from the league worth choosing.
Still, i’s clear that the best is the Seattle Storm. They are basically the toast of the WNBA and have been for a while. Seattle has the legendary Sue Bird, veteran Lauren Jackson, and arguably the best player currently in Breanna Stewart. They’re a dynasty and those are fun to play as.
6 Avoid: Washington Wizards
This team is such an enigma to see on the court. When you have Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal on the same squad, there’s a good chance that the team will be exciting, high-scoring, and probably successful. However, that’s not at all the case with the Washington Wizards.
Those two guys are talented but they haven’t clicked all that well together, even if Beal is a top-notch scorer. They both make a lot of money and therefore are hard to trade away. Throw in the fact that their only standout young player is probably Rui Hachimura and it’s a franchise in trouble.
5 Worth Using: Brooklyn Nets
A lot of these picks were done because they offer possible long-term success. Brooklyn is a little different though. They’re probably not built to be a powerhouse dynasty but for a few years, they can be unstoppable. They’ve come out as a title threat and are loaded with talent.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden form an absurdly good offensive squad, and adding Blake Griffin only adds to that. Playing as them in this game, regardless of how it might handcuff you financially, is honestly too good to pass up. There’s also a slew of talented role players on this team.
4 Avoid: Houston Rockets
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Just a few short years ago, the Houston Rockets felt like a legitimate threat to the Golden State Warriors dynasty, nearly beating them even when they had Kevin Durant. The highlights of that squad are gone like James Harden and Chris Paul. Even Russell Westbrook is already also gone.
John Wall remains but he hasn’t been healthy for a while until this year and makes a ton of money. Victor Oladipo is a good piece to build around if healthy but that’s it. The team doesn’t have any other really promising players or major draft picks to form a core.
3 Worth Using: Oklahoma City Thunder
There is no team more loaded with future draft picks than the Oklahoma City Thunder. They own at least three first round picks in each draft until 2027, except for 2022 when they have two. That’s not counting second-round selections either. That’s a ton of potential to build the future.
There’s also the fact that one of those picks is Houston’s in 2021 and that should be a high one. They have a few veterans that can be moved like George Hill and Trevor Ariza, as well as a young stud as a centerpiece in the incredible Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
2 Avoid: Detroit Pistons
No offense to them but there’s not a more boring team in the league right now than the Detroit Pistons. They got rid of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin for next to nothing even though they were initially supposed to be the combination of big men that turned the franchise around.
Without them, only Jerami Grant has really stepped up in a major way. Otherwise, there are a lot of guys who have been somewhat disappointing in their careers like Josh Jackson, Mason Plumlee, Killian Hayes, and Jahlil Okafor. This is a team that isn’t going anywhere for a long time.
1 Worth Using: New Orleans Pelicans
In terms of being competitive right now, having a bright future, and featuring veterans who can be moved for other pieces, the New Orleans Pelicans have it all. Obviously, the biggest selling point is Zion Williamson, who is a blast to control and dunk all over opposing teams.
The Pelicans also boast All-Star Brandon Ingram and the ever-improving Lonzo Ball, who are both 23 years old. That’s a fantastic trio to build around. Eric Bledsoe and Josh Hart keep them competitive, as do JJ Redick and Steven Adams, who could also be moved if need be.
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