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Career stories

Every career in Basketball Career starts with a story. It sets your age, your starting rating and your road into the pros. There are 8 stories: five are open from the start and three unlock through achievements.

Five-star recruit

The default start and the one the Daily Draft always uses. You start at 16 with a 53 OVR rating.

You start as a top recruit, so the best high schools and colleges call. Use it to learn the game: the road to the draft is the most open from here.

Tip: Take the program where you start; minutes at 17 and 18 build the rating that decides your draft spot.

College route

Skip high school and start with three scholarship offers. You start at 18 with a 55 OVR rating.

Men are draft-eligible after one season; women usually stay four years. It's the fastest way to draft night.

Tip: Pick the offer with the biggest role, not the biggest name. A starter's stats move your draft range.

Overseas route

Turn pro abroad at 18 and get paid while you learn. You start at 18 with a 55 OVR rating.

You skip college entirely and play against grown men or women in a pro league overseas. You become draft-eligible at 19 (men) or 22 (women).

Tip: Your rating grows with minutes, and a strong season abroad can make you a high pick. You can also stay overseas for good.

Late bloomer

Start weaker at 16, but keep growing into your late 20s. You start at 16 with a 49 OVR rating.

Your rating starts low and climbs longer than anyone else's. Early offers are smaller, so patience pays.

Tip: Don't panic about a low draft pick or a bench role at 22. Your best years come later than everyone else's, so sign longer and stay healthy.

Undrafted grinder

Nobody called your name at 22. Prove them wrong. You start at 22 with a 60 OVR rating.

Men start with open tryouts in the development league; women start with offers from clubs overseas.

Tip: Two-way deals and 10-day contracts are your way in.

Can't-miss prodigy

You arrive early and fade early. You start at 16 with a 49 OVR rating. Unlock it by earning Rookie of the Year.

Your rating grows fast in your teens and peaks young. Crowds expect greatness from day one, so fans start cooler toward you everywhere and their love is harder to earn.

Tip: Win early: push for a big role and a contender while you're at your peak, because the decline comes sooner.

Legacy kid

Your parent was a pro star. You start at 16 with a 53 OVR rating. Unlock it by earning No. 1 Pick.

You start at the same level as a five-star recruit, but every crowd expects more, so fans start cooler toward you everywhere.

Tip: Stay put to win fans over: three or more seasons at one team is how fan love grows into your Hall of Fame score.

Second act

Two years lost to injury. Start over at 27. You start at 27 with a 71 OVR rating. Unlock it by earning Most Valuable.

You start older but already good, with tryouts in the development league (men) or offers abroad (women). Like a late bloomer, you keep improving for a while.

Tip: You have fewer seasons to build a score, so chase rings and the national team quickly.

Every story works for both men's and women's careers. Pick a playstyle and pace next, then see how each story scores on the Hall of Fame score.

More guides

• How to play: Stories, playstyles, paces, decisions and tips
• Men's basketball career: One-and-done, the draft lottery, supermax deals and the playoffs
• Women's basketball career: Four years of college, a three-round draft and winters overseas
• Hall of Fame score: How your 0 to 100 legacy score is calculated
• Daily Draft and Weekly challenge: One shared career a day, one a week, with leaderboards
• College basketball career: Recruiting, NIL, the transfer portal and one-and-done
• The Pro Draft: Eligibility, the lottery, rookie deals and going undrafted
• Games like BitLife for basketball: How Basketball Career compares
• Leaderboard: Today's and this week's best Hall of Fame scores
• Achievements: Every achievement and what it unlocks

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