NBA 2K17: Best Young Stars to Build a Franchise Around in MyGM and MyLEAGUE

Chris RolingSep 21, 2016

Longtime fans of the NBA 2K series know heading into MyGM and MyLEAGUE without a plan is a quick way to fail.

This year's release of NBA 2K17 stresses this more than ever with users having the most control over the leagues in series history. Not only can users command up to 36 teams in a league, almost everything about them falls into customizable territory.

The most common winning strategy is piling promising young stars flaunting plenty of upside on a roster. Longevity is the name of the game, as it is a keeper league in which users must find success year after year or force a rebuild, which isn't fun in any way.

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Here are a few of the top young stars available in NBA 2K17 who form the best possible foundation building blocks.

Kawhi Leonard, F, San Antonio Spurs

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Sometimes it is easy to forget Kawhi Leonard is only 25 years old.

After all, Leonard is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs back in 2014, not to mention the NBA Finals MVP.

Yet when one talks about the most popular young stars in the league, Leonard isn't the first name to come up. He should be when it comes to NBA 2K17, though, because he slots in at a solid 93, tied with Kevin Durant and with only Stephen Curry and LeBron James in front of him.

A defensive specialist who averaged 21.2 points last year while shooting 44 percent from deep, Leonard is perhaps the most overlooked top young player to build around in MyGM and MyLEAGUE modes.

Kyrie Irving, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Folks seem to know all about Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving thanks to his shot in the Finals.

But do fans know he is still only 24 years old and more than capable of carrying a franchise on his own, especially in the video game landscape?

Irving lands at an 89 overall in NBA 2K17. He is by far one of the best court generals in the game, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise after he averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 assists per game last year.

In the digital realm, Irving doesn't need a guy like LeBron James on his team. His skill set—speed, elite passing, creative offense—lend to team-carrying abilities and users can't go wrong by grabbing him early.

Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

A 23-year-old center standing at 6'11" and 279 pounds has a way of dominating the digital landscape.

Andre Drummond isn't just big, though. Last year the Connecticut product proved himself, averaging 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

The breakout performance has Drummond sitting on an 87 overall in NBA 2K17, just below guys like Carmelo Anthony, John Wall and LaMarcus Aldridge.

While also not the biggest name, this is a list about the next generation of stars. Drummond will be a household name before long, and NBA 2K17 users can get ahead of the curve by slapping him in the paint and filling out the rest of the roster around him.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

When it comes to longevity and an already-proven superstar status while trying to craft a dynasty in NBA 2K17, it doesn't get any better than Anthony Davis.

Davis slots in at 90 overall and for good reason—over four years he averages 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game on 51.6 percent shooting from the field.

Unlike the New Orleans Pelicans in real life, users won't find it difficult to round out a roster around Davis. He is one of the most talented offensive big men in the league already, not to mention an enforcer on the defensive end of the court. Grab a pass-first point who can run a pick-and-roll, some shooters and away the franchise goes.

Davis might not get to prove this point on the real court in New Orleans anytime soon, but on the digital court it will prove apparent he is the best young player to build around. Davis is a monster in NBA 2K17, the can't-miss young superstar in franchise-building game modes who almost seems like a cheat code.