Everything We Know About NBA 2K22: Updated With New MyTeam Details

Last year, Visual Concepts’ NBA 2K series saw a season of highs and lows, as it made the move to new-gen hardware and tried to keep last-gen users happy. For NBA 2K22, the mission hasn’t changed: a new-gen and current-gen version are both in development with new features to keep players on both hardware invested. “We have two unique experiences again this year,” says executive producer Erick Boenisch. “We made two brand-new games again. That's something that I feel really solid about. It worked really well for us last year; our fans resonated with the different experiences they could play. "

After revealing the main cover athlete Luka Dončić among other special covers, Visual Concepts is finally pulling back the curtain on what to expect from NBA 2K22, providing information drops through Courtside Reports. In addition, we attended a presentation from the Visual Concepts team, where it dished more on new features and answered a few questions. Here’s what we know so far.

This page was updated on 9/2 to give more details on drafting and My Team additions

On-Court Gameplay Improvements

As seen in the trailer above, Visual Concepts is promising more impactful changes on both sides of the game. Last year, Visual Concepts worked on elevating dribbling, allowing you to change up the speed of your dribble and size-up moves. It looks like more improvements to this key area of the game are coming in NBA 2K22 to provide a unique feel and rhythm when sizing up, tighter navigation, and a significantly faster overall pace.

The action should also feel a bit different thanks to some new moves on the court and a new shooting meter. Offensively, the goal is to give players more control over how they score. Post play has also seen some enhancements, including new movement and a new arsenal of back-to-basket moves. New R2/RT fakes allow you to chain multiple fakes together to keep defenders guessing, while new disengage faceup moves, new hop shots/fades/hooks, and a better pull chair mechanic give you more options for success. 

For the shooting game, a new shot meter should change things up; it dynamically expands when players take high-quality shots with skilled shooters, but this will shrink when they're heavily contested, shooting with a less skilled shooter, or fatigued. Shot IQ will matter more in NBA 2K22, forcing you to make good plays and work for open looks. Forcing up bad shots isn't going to work as it has sometimes in the past. If defenders are crowding the shooter and making good shot contests, more bricks and airballs should ensue. 

As you can see, basketball IQ and stick skills will play a bigger role in your success. You can expect precision jump shooting, dunking in traffic, and pulling off alley-oops to be more skill-based alongside new signature moves and combos to break down defenders off the dribble.  Gameplay director Mike Wang said, "If you don't make the right play, then that's going to be on you."

Defensively, a revamped shot contest, stealing, and blocking system bring more realism to the game. For blocks, expect more variety here, such as several new snatch blocks and volleyball spikes. Elite defenders should also make much more of an impact, being able to play suffocating defense on the perimeter. Defensive A.I. is also said to be improved, and you can expect a significant update to the fundamental defensive rotations.  New on-ball defensive positioning logic is also said to give defenders A.I. more consistency in their positioning regardless of their distance from the basket.

Some other tweaks include a new dunk-style creator for more customization. In addition, the badge count has been increased to 80 (see all the new ones below), and new-gen versions will introduce Takeover Perks, which you unlock to strengthen your existing Takeover abilities. You can learn more by reading the recent Courtside Report, which highlighted faster-paced gameplay, tighter and more responsive movement, more skill-based offense, and changes to the player builder.

New Badges

• Fast Twitch - Ability to get off the floor quicker for standing layups and dunks

• Grace Under Pressure - Ability to convert standing layups more effectively

• Limitless Takeoff - Ability to soar from further away on driving dunk attempts

• Mouse in the House - Ability for bigs to finish over shorter players more efficiently

• Unstrippable - Ability to secure the ball better when gathering for a layup/dunk in traffic

• Chef - Ability to knock down Steph-like off-dribble deep 3’s

• Limitless Spot-up - Ability to hit logo-range 3’s off a catch and shoot

• Lucky #7 - Boosts your ability to score when shooting early in the clock

• Mismatch Expert - Ability to successfully shoot over taller defenders on a switch

• Glue Hands - Ability to make difficult catches and quicker branch out to a shot or dribble

• Hyperdrive - Boosts the speed and effectiveness of moving dribble moves

• Quick Chain - Boosts the ability to quickly chain dribble moves together

• Post Playmaker - Boosts the effectiveness of both shots and moves when playing in the post

• Triple Threat Juke - Increases the effectiveness of triple threat fakes, jabs, and go moves

• Ball Stripper - Ability to strip layup and dunk attempts more effectively

• Hustler - Ability to get to those scrappy 50/50 balls quicker than opponents

• Menace - Significantly drops the offensive ratings of opponents when you smother them

Seasons Are Going Game-wide

Seasons are back, and they’re expanding. They are going game-wide and will be making their way into other modes beyond MyTeam. Visual Concepts says to expect more content, rewards, and more ways to play. "It's free for all NBA 2K22 gamers; there's no pay, no battle pass, this is all free content," Boenisch confirms. "It's going to be playable in MyTeam on both gens, it's gonna be playable on MyCareer mode on both gens. And also on The W on the next-gen consoles. This brings more constant more rewards, more ways to play for gamers all year long. " 

Seasons run every six weeks, providing new content and rewards each time. Every mode will offer different rewards and ways to claim them during the season. For instance, in MyCareer, you have the chance to gain new apparel and banners for your MyPlayer. Each season will hold its own Grand Prize to chase. In MyCareer Season 1, the Grand Prize is go-karts to use in either the Neighborhood or City. This will let you reach unexplored regions, but you need to reach level 40 to obtain this prize. If you don't quite get there, you can redeem inline skates at level 30.  If you reach level 40 in four different seasons, you then earn "Legend" status.