How to Get Drafted in the First Round of NBA 2K23 MyCareer Mode

by Falagar / Articles, NBA 2K23 Guides / 30 Apr 2022

Getting drafted in the first round is challenging, but not impossible. The goal is to make you a priority pick for the top teams, and this guide will teach you how to achieve that goal.

MyCareer mode in NBA 2K23 lets you live your fantasies as a soon-to-be-famous NBA player who improves with every game played. Getting drafted is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey, and we have several NBA 2K23 guides that will help you become a better player by bringing out your true potential.

HOW TO GET DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND IN NBA 2K23

Here are three factors that affect your chances of getting drafted in the first round:

Winning the NCAA championship.

Maintaining an overall high player rating.

Entering the NBA Draft Combine.

We will not be focusing too much on player rating because it relies on spending VCs. However, the NCAA championship and the Draft Combine are all about practice and we will be discussing how to maximize your efforts in those areas.

MyCareer begins in high school, where you pick a college of your choice. The players are randomized so it does not matter which team you play for at this stage.

You must play ten games in college before being drafted, and winning all your games gets you a solid first round pick.

You can technically “declare” for the draft after only five college games, but if you want to be drafted in the first round, you must play all 10.

These games not only improve your stats, but also increase your draft stock, so try to score at least an A-.

Do not play the game right away and always opt for the practice round first. It may not boost your draft stock, but the increase in stats for only a few minutes of grinding is a big bonus.

Moreover, you can do another practice match with your coach every time you play a game, which is also great for improving your skills.

These games are not that difficult, but if you find yourself in a pinch, note that you can restart the game at any time during the match, even if it finishes on a buzzer-beater. Simply load the save file to start over.

Your draft stock will rise after each game, and at certain milestones, you will be asked for media interviews or other story-building questions, which will also affect your draft stock.

Players in NBA 2K23 cannot be undrafted. However, if you want to give yourself the best chance to be drafted in the first round, you must complete the NBA 2K23 Draft Combine.

HOW TO INCREASE DRAFT STOCK BY ENTERING THE NBA 2K23 DRAFT COMBINE

Once you’re done with the NCAA championship, you’ll have the option to skip to the NBA 2K23 Draft or go to the NBA 2K23 Combine. You are not guaranteed a first pick even if you win all your games and decide to skip the Draft Combine.

The NBA Draft Combine is yet another opportunity to increase your draft stock, even if you aced all your games and especially if you failed to maintain a perfect record. However, you should also note that a poor performance in the Draft Combine decreases your draft score, so approach it with the utmost sincerity.

The Draft Combine consists of three stages:

Physical Drills

Shooting Drills

Scrimmage

The physical drills consist of vertical standing jumps, vertical running jumps, bench press, shuttle, lane agility, and sprint.

To perform vertical standing jumps, start by pressing LT/L2 or RT/R2 alternatively as prompted on the screen. As soon as you’re ready, press Y (or Triangle) to jump. The mechanics are the same for vertical running jumps.

The bench press is a little difficult. As soon as the left and right analog icons show up, hold down both analog sticks. Your goal is to balance a ball on top of the weights by flicking the left/right analog sticks. If the ball moves left, flick the left analog stick upwards once and immediately hold it down. Do not let go of the right analog stick while you’re flicking the left. Repeat the same if the ball goes right.

Shuttle is the easiest of the drills. Hold down LT/L2 and use the left stick to move left and right. Finally, end the drill with a sprint.

Lane agility is a combination of sprinting, shuffling, and backpedaling. Hold down RT/R2 and use the left stick to move as directed by the arrows.

The sprint drill is a bit difficult to time properly. Press LT/L2 and RT/R2 as prompted on the screen. Be careful — at the end you have to press both at the same time to successfully finish the drill.

The shooting drills are next. It consists of spot up shooting (19 ft & 3 point range), shooting off the dribble, and finally shooting on the move(top and elbows). You should consider using the Pro Stick for better accuracy.

In the last phase of the Draft Combine, you’ll have a 5v5 match against players in the same draft class. This is your last chance to increase your stock so give it your best shot.

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Falagar

He is the founder and editor of Magic Game World. He loved gaming from the moment he got a PlayStation 1 with Gran Turismo on his 7th birthday.

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