Do You Need "NBA 2K20" If You Have "NBA 2K19" or Older?

The eternal question!

The average basketball fan will tell you that the typical NBA season lasts from October to April, but an NBA intellectual will correctly point out that it’s actually 12 months long, baby.

When the Playoffs end, a new kind of game emerges, and though it doesn’t feature much hooping, it’s just as delicious to watch. From the promise of draft night to the chaos of free agency, the offseason has all the drama, heartbreak and twists of the regular 82-game playing period.

Plus, there’s the annual release of the new NBA 2K game every September.

It becomes the first place for you to check out the newly-shapeshifted NBA teams and their draft picks. Still any discerning buyer needs to ask themselves an important question before purchasing: "Do I really need another 2K?"

If you already invested in NBA 2K19, or a previous iteration from the last few years, you might question the sense in shelling out for an updated version simply to see a slight change to the teams (especially if your fave players—like LeBron, Giannis and Steph—are all staying put for now).

2K Games supplied Student Edge with a complimentary copy of NBA 2K20 (on the PS4) for us to evaluate, and though we’ve already explained how to get bonus VC, how to shoot, how to dunk, how to defend, how to dribble, how to trade, how to Eurostep and how to pump fake, it’s time we tell you how to decide… if you should to add this latest instalment to your collection.

If you already have NBA 2K19…

The biggest change in gameplay since last year’s edition is the enhanced motion engine and advances in player imitation, not to mention some enhancements to how certain players move the ball up the court. These will only be noticeable if you’re a die-hard fan.

The real reason for owners of NBA 2K19 to upgrade is for the other bells and whistles 2K20 provides.

For instance, there's the most notable addition to the game in yonks: the inclusion of the WNBA.

For the first time ever, NBA 2K20 allows players to take on teams from the American women’s league, including Sue Bird’s Seattle Storm, future Space Jam 2 star Diana Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury, and highest ranked Australian baller Liz Cambage’s Las Vegas Aces. (2K’s rival, EA Sports’ NBA Live, has included WNBA rosters since 2017.)

Unfortunately, you can’t draft these female players in MyTeam, nor can you create a WNBA star in MyCareer (which includes a story mode featuring Idris Elba and noted swinger Thomas Middleditch; we haven’t played that through in full to deliver our verdict quite yet).

However, there are still the updated NBA rosters to enjoy, including Russ to the Rockets and Kawhi to the Clips. There’s even a fully-fit Kevin Durant getting a run with the Nets; something you may not witness in reality for another full year due to KD’s long road to recovery following an Achilles injury. If you want to put some miles on them without worrying about load management, NBA 2K20 is the place to do it.

Recommendation: Worth it for the WNBA roster, and the fact the league has changed enough in the past year to render 2K19's line-ups ancient. Whether or not you'll need 2K21, given the lack of upcoming free agents, is a question for another day...

If you already have NBA 2K18…

Famously—or should that be infamously—the pre-existing shooting function was dramatically changed for NBA 2K18, which saw the game evolve from an arcade-esque experience to something supposedly more accurate.

It sucked.

The team at 2K fixed most of the issues for 2K19, providing us with, get this, a shot meter you can see. Still, longtime fans of the game yearned for the days of yore, when shooting didn’t require the gift of zen and a heightened sense of touch (vibrating gamepads indicated when to release the ball) just to get the rock in the basket.

If you’re seeking a total reinvention of the shooting functionality, you’re not gonna get it in 2K20. At least this time around, the game has married its simulation aspirations (the chances of you sinking a shot are closely aligned to the real-life styles of your particular players) with the ease of, y’know, a fun video game. Ben Simmons shouldn’t be relied on to score any threes, but generally speaking, you’ll have more fun out there on the court than you ever did with 2K18.

Recommendation: Worth it for the improvements to shooting functionality alone.

If you already have NBA 2K17 or older…

You may prefer to play with 2K17's easy and user-friendly shooting function, but if you haven’t bought a copy of NBA 2K since KD left OKC, you’re probably due.

Recommendation: Upgrade, but don't throw away those older editions!

NBA 2K20 is now available. (Affiliate disclosure: Student Edge may earn a commission if you click that link and buy a product from our partner's page.)

Read More:

Here’s How to Dunk in NBA 2K20 (Because It's the Only Way to Fly)

Here’s How to Shoot in NBA 2K20 (Because It’s Never Been More Scarily Accurate)

Here's How to Defend in NBA 2K20 (Including Steals, Flops and Intentional Fouls)

Here’s How to Do Dribble Moves in NBA 2K20 (From Spins to Crossovers)

Here’s How to Pump Fake and Fake Pass in NBA 2K20

Here’s How to "Eurostep" in NBA 2K20 (and Play Like Giannis)

How to Trade Players in NBA 2K20 (and Always Get Who You Want)

How to Get Bonus VC in NBA 2K20

Header Image: 2K Games