NBA 2K15: Analysis, Review and Tips for MyLeague and MyGM Experience
Are you a franchise-mode guy or girl when it comes to sports video games? If so, then you'll undoubtedly appreciate the depth and customization provided in NBA 2K15's MyLeague and MyGM modes.
The two are similar, but they have some distinct differences that will determine which mode is best for you.
In the video below, I break down the differences between MyLeague and MyGM. However, if you're more Excel than PowerPoint, there's a chart just beneath the video.
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| Import Custom Rosters | Yes | Yes |
| Control All 30 Teams | Yes | No, just one |
| Watch or Play Any Game on the Schedule | Yes | No |
| Simulate Games | Yes | Yes |
| SimCast Games | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Injury Settings | Yes | No |
| Turn Injuries on or Off | Yes | Yes |
| Fantasy Drafts | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Quarter Lengths for Played and Simmed Games | Yes | Yes |
| Customize League (Use of Classic or Euroleague Teams and Realignment) | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Playoff Series Length | Yes | No |
| Contract Negotiations | Optional | Yes |
| Salary Cap on or Off | Optional | Yes |
| Hard Cap | Optional | Yes |
| Adjustable Hard Cap Value | Yes | No |
| Trade Logic On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Trade Deadline On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Financial Trade Rules On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Trade Override On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| CPU Trade Offers On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| CPU-CPU Trades On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Trade Approval On or Off | Yes | Always Off |
| Progressive Fatigue On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Team Chemistry On or Off | Yes | Always On |
| Lineup Management | Optional | Optional |
| Gameplay Difficulty | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Simulator Difficulty | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Trade Negotiation Difficulty | Adjustable | Static |
| Contract Negotiation Difficulty | Adjustable | Static |
| Morale Difficulty | Adjustable | Static |
| Morale Effects | Adjustable | Static |
| Trade Frequency | Adjustable | Static |
| Blockbuster-Trade Frequency | Adjustable | Static |
| CPU-Injury Frequency | Adjustable | Static |
| User-Injury Frequency | Adjustable | Static |
| Career-Ending Injury Frequency | Adjustable | Static |
| User-Injury Effects | Adjustable | Static |
| CPU-Injury Effects | Adjustable | Static |
| Player Non-Financial Ambitions Factor | Adjustable | Static |
| Normalize Played to Sim Minutes On or Off | Yes | No |
| Conversation Cut Scenes | No | Yes |
What's the Difference Between MyLeague and MyGM
Excellence of Execution
Concepts and ideas are awesome, but without the proper execution, there's little value. As a franchise-mode junkie, I can say with 100 percent confidence, MyLeague and MyGM is everything I expected it to be, and in some cases more.
It all begins even before you start your MyLeague and MyGM. Setting up your rosters to include the exact players you want in your league is the first step toward maximizing the experience. It goes beyond simply picking a few players, trading some guys and moving a number of free agents.
The roster creator option that lives outside of the mode, but is tied to both MyLeague and MyGM, lets you alter just about everything about every player. You're able to change names, height, weight, accessories, wingspans and more for each player in the game.
You can even alter their contract-signing motivations, temperaments and intangible qualities. Pulling in legends on any number of players from the 25 Euroleague squads and the included classic teams is also possible.
Getting the roster with the concept that you want takes a little work, but if you love franchise modes and customization, it's almost as much fun as actually playing the game.
Once the season starts, there's a whole new brand of fun in store. If you're playing a franchise in MyLeague or MyGM, players will age and decline in skill level. Young players will peak and then regress.
This isn't a new concept, but the manner in which it happens in NBA 2K15 is the most authentic I've ever seen in a basketball game. Only MLB The Show's outstanding franchise mode even comes close.
Players not only see their numbered attributes drop, but they also see a decline in their skill badges.
These are special skills that help to differentiate each player. For example, players adept at dunking on opponents have a badge called the Sprite Posterizer. When those players get into their mid-30's, that skill begins to erode.
The badge comes in gold, silver and bronze. After simulating a number of seasons, I saw LeBron James' SP badge decline from gold to silver, to bronze and then leave altogether by the time he was 35 years old. It nearly brought a tear to my eye.
Other badges based purely on athleticism reacted the same way for every player in the league. Injuries that occurred to the player also had an impact on this aspect of the game. If a guy seriously injures his knee, the overall health of that body part may never return to 100 percent. Thus some of his athleticism and related badges may be gone.
This may not seem like a big deal, but because the mode is designed to be enjoyed over a number of virtual seasons, the way players progress and regress is essential to the realism and personality of the game.
Offseasons are big in any franchise mode, and neither MyLeague nor MyGM drops the ball in this regard. The ability to fully customize draft classes totaling 150 players is great. At some point—if you play long enough—these guys will become the stars of your league.
This year, there's a draft combine and an in-depth scouting system that will expose inaccurate heights and injury concerns for players. For example, a scout would point out to you that Joel Embiid has foot problems and may advise that you not draft him.
There's also reports of vertical leap and other player details from the NBA Combine.
There's also free agency. It last 13 days and you're allowed to bid on anyone who is a free agent. The process comes equipped with a realistic salary cap, player and team options, Bird years and more. This is the kind of depth that will keep a franchise mode fan buzzing.
In MyGM, you'll likely enjoy the more detailed conversations that can be had between you and prospective signees.
Last year, the salary cap was a major struggle for NBA 2K14. It didn't function properly and it made trying to be a virtual GM more frustrating than anything. Those issues have been remedied and you're free to have at it in NBA 2K15.
In MyGM, the experience is even deeper because you get an opportunity to converse with players, other general managers, the team owner and the media. The interactions affect player morale, owner confidence and media relations.
All of the above can indirectly or directly affect what happens on the floor.
In MyGM in NBA 2K14, the incorporation of virtual currency muddled the experience. You had to earn the ability to do standard things like set lineup rotations. This year, you have access to rotations specific to competing against every team from the very beginning.
The specialty badges are centered around intangibles that influence players, coaches and the media. These are the things you can purchase with the VC. It's a far more sensible approach.
In almost every way, these two modes accomplish just about every goal the developers set. There's still a few small tidbits that would be nice to have that aren't available.
The ability to create teams would be excellent. The NBA 2K series used to have that functionality on the last generation of consoles, but it hasn't made it to the PlayStation 4 or Xbox 360 just yet. Being able to create logos (like in NCAA Football's Team Builder) and arenas (like in WWE 2K14) would be certified golden for MyLeague and MyGM.
Also, there's currently a limitation that caps created players' height at 7'2". That seems odd considering there are legends like Gheorghe Muresan who are unlockable in MyTeam.
If you had designs on creating someone like Muresan, Manute Bol, Shawn Bradley or Mark Eaton, then you may be a bit disappointed.
Lastly, it would be great if your saves carried over from this year's version of the game to the next, and so on from there. This is a feature MLB 14 The Show introduced and hopefully becomes a staple of every sports video game franchise.
Quite honestly, those are the only three gripes I can make about MyLeague or MyGM. The developers in charge of these two modes hit a home run.
Tips to Better Enjoy MyLeague and MyGM
Embrace the Community
MyLeague and MyGM are offline modes...for now. Most gamers who love franchise modes rarely venture online, but don't let your offline bias prevent you from taking part in one aspect of NBA 2K15 that can augment your enjoyment of MyLeague and MyGM.
You can actually download the roster and draft class creations of others online. Every year I create a draft class based on the prospects projected to be in the upcoming NBA draft and share it online.
Also, I've taken the time to create and share legends rosters that go beyond the classic teams included in the game. Here's a glimpse of the roster currently under construction.
If you don't have the time or patience to do such a thing, you can benefit from the hard work of others in the community. There are some excellent creations online—besides mine.
You should check them out, even if this is your only foray online.
Bring out Your Inner Creator
Who is that guy? It doesn't matter who that is?
This is your MyLeague and MyGM experience. You don't have to stick to a realistic angle if you don't want to. You can make little guys, big guys little, young players old and vice versa.
You can even make a fictitious draft class or roster to inject a different kind of flavor into the game. What's the use in having so many options at your fingertips without pushing the envelope a little.
Be Real With Yourself
All of the options available can be tantalizing, but in order to really have a chance to enjoy MyLeague or MyGM fully, you have to get through multiple seasons.
Unless you're a jobless, school-less and child-less person, you'll never get through multiple seasons if you play 82 games. You don't have a choice in MyGM, but you can simulate a portion of the games in both modes.
Don't lie to yourself. You're not going to get through more than a season and a half playing all 82 games. Reduce the games in MyLeague to say 59 games, or simulate some of the less compelling contests.
You'll get over the missed games when you are able to enjoy multiple offseasons.
NBA 2K15 is a deep and enjoyable gaming experience, but for gamers like myself, the MyLeague and MyGM modes are the straw that stirs the drink.
Follow Brian Mazique aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
