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Start with Play Now, learn basic movement and passing, then choose a mode that matches how you want to play. NBA 2K24’s official overview lists Play Now, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and MyNBA; the best starting point depends on whether you want to control a whole team, guide one created player, build a roster, or manage a franchise. One important 2026 caveat: 2K says NBA 2K24 was discontinued on December 31, 2025, and would no longer be available for purchase.
1. Start with Play Now to learn team controls
Play Now lets you play games as current NBA stars, making it a straightforward place to get familiar with moving, passing, shooting, and defending as a team. “Low-pressure” is a useful way to think about it, not an official difficulty label. Once you understand the basics, you can decide whether a career, roster-building, or franchise mode suits you better. NBA 2K24’s official overview describes the available modes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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NBA 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition - PlayStation 5 | $17.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition (PS5) | $20.73 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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NBA 2K27 - PlayStation 5 | $65.95 | Buy on Amazon |
2. Learn the controls before a full game
Controls vary by platform, so use the manual for the version you play rather than assuming button labels carry over. Here is a PS5 starting point from the official PS5 manual:
- Left stick: Move your player.
- Right stick: Use the Pro Stick for dribble moves, shooting, and passing.
- R2: Sprint.
- L2: Post up, protect the ball, hard stop, or play intense defense.
- R1: Icon pass on offense and icon swap on defense.
- L1: Call plays or use pick controls, and make defensive adjustments or call a double team.
- Face buttons: Handle actions such as passing, shooting, lobbing, stealing, blocking, and rebounding.
These are PS5 labels only. Check the matching platform manual for Xbox, Switch, PC, or PS4 controls.
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- POWERED BY ProPLAY: Dominate every possession with immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into realistic gameplay. Feel more connected to every dribble and crossover with revamped size-ups and experience fast-paced, dynamic movement with all-new ProPLAY features.
- SQUAD UP IN THE CITY: Build a transcendent MyPLAYER and climb the competitive ranks to reach the pinnacle of NBA stardom in an all-new MyCAREER journey. Team up with friends in a stunning, streamlined City, earn recognition and increase your REP, and battle rival squads for Park supremacy.
- UNITE STARS IN MyTEAM: Collect and compete with past and present legends of the game in MyTEAM. Assemble a star-studded roster, put your dream team to the test in new single-player and multiplayer modes, and acquire new cards to make your MyTEAM fantasy a reality.
- YOUR TEAM, YOUR STORY: Lead an NBA franchise as a General Manager in MyNBA. Choose from all 30 teams, experience 30 unique MyGM storylines with real-world inspiration, and chase the ultimate goal: to win a championship. Influence the future of the sport and leave an indelible mark on the league.
3. Pass to the open teammate
Passing is a dependable way to learn how possessions work without trying to beat every defender yourself. Practice the basic pass first, then try icon passing so you can select a specific teammate. On PS5, the manual identifies R1 as the icon-pass control; consult your platform’s manual for its equivalent.
4. Add Pro Stick moves gradually
The right stick handles several different actions, including dribbling, shooting, and passing. Learn one kind of input at a time: first get comfortable with basic movement and passing, then experiment with a dribble move or shot. The control map explains what the Pro Stick can do, but it does not establish a universally best input or setting.
Rank #2
- MAMBA MOMENTS: Channel your inner-Mamba Mentality as you recreate Kobe’s most dominant and captivating performances during his rise to global superstardom. Revisit his early career triumphs as a young phenom, and progress through his transcendent journey from elite scorer to one of the greatest players of all time.
- THE GAME IS CHANGING: Introducing PROPlay – a groundbreaking new technology that directly translates NBA footage into NBA 2K24 gameplay. PROPlay delivers animations and movements via on-court NBA action for a generational leap in authenticity.
- CROSSPLAY IS HERE: Grab your friends and enjoy the ultimate basketball experience in NBA 2K24 thanks to crossplay between new generation consoles
- MANAGE YOUR MyTEAM: The classic card-collecting mode is back and loaded with endless hours of customizable fun. Draw from the past and present using today’s All-Stars and all-time legends to form a squad capable of dominating single player and multiplayer modes. MyTEAM features a collection of innovative improvements, including an all-new salary cap mode, while maintaining its signature competitive feel.
5. Sprint deliberately
Sprint is a separate control, which makes it easy to treat it as something to use intentionally rather than hold constantly. Practice moving into position at a controlled pace, then sprint when you want to accelerate. This is a beginner-friendly way to get comfortable with movement, not a claim about a hidden stamina mechanic or an optimal tactic.
6. Learn positioning before chasing steals
On defense, start by staying between your assignment and the basket and using hands-up defense. Once you can follow the play and stay in position, try more aggressive actions such as steals or blocks. The PS5 manual lists hands-up defense, steal, block, and rebound controls; use the corresponding manual for your platform’s exact buttons.
Rank #3
7. Pick MyCAREER for a created-player journey
MyCAREER is the mode for following an NBA career with a created player. It is a different experience from controlling a full team in Play Now: your focus is on that player’s path. Because NBA 2K24’s online features have been discontinued, do not assume that online-dependent parts of the mode remain available.
8. Pick MyTEAM if roster-building is the draw
MyTEAM is built around assembling a team from players you like. Its official description establishes the roster-building concept, but it should not be read as confirmation that any particular cards, seasons, rewards, or online functions are available now. Service status is covered below.
Rank #4
- THE CITY: Put The City on your back and lead a new era of MyPLAYERs fueled by basketball. Let your passion power your unique style on and off the court, team up with friends to form a Crew, and dominate the courts at The REC, Park, and beyond.
- MyCAREER: Create a MyPLAYER and experience a legacy-defining story in MyCAREER, where you’ll be tested on your path to becoming the greatest player of all time. Shatter expectations, compete against legends of the sport, and leave your mark on NBA history.
- POWERED BY ProPLAY: Master your skills with lifelike gameplay animations directly translated from real NBA action. Use an array of ProPLAY features to cook defenders with ankle-breaking crossovers, show off your range with enhanced shooting mechanics, and become a matchup nightmare every time you step on the court.
- MyTEAM: Collect your favorite NBA and WNBA stars with ease and build a fantasy squad for the ages. Grow your collection and assemble endless lineup combinations; take control of your MyTEAM and put it to the test in single-player and multiplayer modes.
9. Pick MyNBA for franchise management and eras
MyNBA is the option for running an NBA franchise, with management play across five eras. The official mode description also identifies MyNBA Lite as a streamlined version. Choose this mode if team and franchise decisions interest you more than a single-player career or roster collection. The MyNBA overview provides the mode details.
10. Check platform and service status before buying or following old advice
NBA 2K24 was discontinued as of December 31, 2025, according to 2K Support; it would no longer be available for purchase. In 2026, a physical-copy listing should be treated as resale or remaining stock, and availability should be checked with the seller. The PS5 manual says online features were scheduled to be available until December 31, 2025, while reserving 2K’s right to modify or discontinue features earlier. The cited sources do not establish whether every offline feature, save, or platform-specific function works today, so verify the details relevant to your copy and platform rather than assuming they do.
Platform also matters for features: ProPLAY, which translates NBA footage into gameplay animations and movements, is described for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S—not as a feature available on every version. Button mappings differ as well, so use platform-specific guidance when learning controls.
Which mode should you choose?
| Mode | Best fit | Officially described purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Play Now | Quick games and learning team controls | Play as today’s stars in games |
| MyCAREER | A created-player career | Realize an NBA career |
| MyTEAM | Building a roster | Assemble a dream team |
| MyNBA | Franchise management or historical eras | Run an NBA franchise across five eras; MyNBA Lite is streamlined |
Mode descriptions come from 2K’s NBA 2K24 overview and its MyNBA page. They describe what the modes are for; they do not confirm current online service availability.
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