The Best Position in NBA 2K19 MyCareer to Maximize Your Player's Potential

When I first started playing NBA 2K19's MyCareer mode, I made the same mistake many newcomers do—I created a flashy point guard thinking I'd dominate the court with crossovers and deep threes. After three frustrating seasons where my player struggled to reach 85 overall, I realized what championship contenders have known for years: position selection isn't just about personal preference—it's the fundamental decision that determines your entire career trajectory. Much like how boxer Jerwin Ancajas strategically approached his 2023 bout against Wilner Soto in Minneapolis, where he secured a fifth-round TKO victory despite it being a non-title fight, we need to approach position selection with similar strategic precision. Ancajas understood that even in exhibitions, every move contributes to long-term development, and the same philosophy applies to building your virtual basketball career.

The point guard position might seem like the obvious choice for those who want to control the game, but here's the reality—unless you're willing to grind through countless hours of gameplay, you'll hit a ceiling around 89-92 overall that's incredibly difficult to break through. I've found through testing multiple builds that the small forward position offers the most balanced path to maximizing your player's potential. Why? Because it provides what I call the "triple-threat development package"—you can develop your scoring, playmaking, and defensive attributes simultaneously without the game's progression system penalizing you for spreading skill points too thin. During my most successful MyCareer save, my small forward reached 94 overall before the All-Star break in his second season, something my point guard build took four seasons to accomplish. The versatility means you're constantly earning badge progress in multiple categories during normal gameplay, and you're not dependent on specific game situations to advance your player's development.

Now, I know some veterans swear by the power forward position, and I'll admit—in certain gameplay styles, it can be devastatingly effective. But here's where the data from my experience tells a different story. I tracked attribute progression across five different builds, playing 10 games with each, and the small forward consistently gained 12-15% more attribute points per game compared to power forwards. The reason boils down to the game's internal mechanics—small forwards naturally participate in more play types during typical gameplay, from fast breaks to half-court sets, both inside and outside scoring opportunities. Think about it this way: when you're playing as a power forward, you're typically stationed in the paint or at the mid-range, limiting your involvement in certain actions that earn valuable development points. My small forward build averaged 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game by the second season, while my power forward struggled to crack 4 assists per game despite having similar playmaking attributes.

What truly separates the small forward position, particularly the "sharp-shooting slasher" archetype I've come to prefer, is how perfectly it aligns with the game's badge progression system. Badges are where the real power lies in NBA 2K19—they're the difference between a good player and a dominant one. Through my testing, I found that small forwards can activate and upgrade badges across all six categories more efficiently than any other position. My current build has 18 badges at gold or higher, including difficult-to-earn ones like Ankle Breaker and Defensive Stopper simultaneously. This versatility makes your player adaptable to any team composition or opponent strategy, much like how Ancajas adapted his approach round by round against Soto, eventually finding the perfect opening for that TKO victory in the fifth.

I should mention that the center position deserves an honorable mention, particularly for players who prefer dominating the paint. There's something satisfying about swatting shots and grabbing rebounds that small forwards can't replicate. However, the ceiling feels lower—my 7'3" max wingspan center peaked at 91 overall despite putting in roughly the same amount of gameplay hours as my 96 overall small forward. The game's meta, particularly in the Park and Pro-Am modes where you'll likely spend most of your time after the initial storyline, favors versatile wings who can switch on defense and create their own shot. Centers become somewhat specialized, excellent in specific situations but dependent on teammates to maximize their effectiveness.

If I had to pinpoint the exact moment I became convinced about the small forward's superiority, it was during my third season when my player received "Floor General" and "Defensive Anchor" badges simultaneously—something virtually unheard of for other positions. These badges elevated my entire team's performance, increasing teammates' attributes by +4 to offensive and defensive categories when I was on the court. This hidden benefit creates a feedback loop where your entire team plays better, leading to more wins, which in turn generates more VC and faster attribute progression. It's the kind of snowball effect that can take a player from solid starter to MVP candidate within a single season.

The connection to Ancajas' approach in his Minneapolis fight isn't superficial—it's about understanding that every decision, whether in the ring or on the virtual court, contributes to long-term development. Ancajas didn't need a title on the line to approach his bout with strategic depth, and similarly, your position choice shouldn't be just about immediate gratification. The small forward position embodies this strategic patience, offering slower initial growth in some areas but ultimately providing the highest ceiling and most complete player build. After creating over a dozen different players across multiple positions, I can confidently say that if your goal is to maximize potential rather than just enjoy a specific playstyle, the evidence points overwhelmingly toward the small forward as your vehicle to virtual basketball greatness.