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Men's basketball career simulator

Basketball Career lets you play a men's basketball career from high school to the Hall of Fame, free in your browser. It follows the American path: recruiting, one-and-done or more college, the Pro Draft and its lottery, rookie deals, free agency and the playoffs. One career takes about 5 to 15 minutes. Every team and league is fictional.

How a men's career works

  1. High school and the summer circuit. Start as a recruit. A shoe-company travel team, official visits and the All-American Game decide which colleges call.
  2. College, or skip it. Commit to a program, use NIL deals and the transfer portal, or turn pro overseas or in the development league instead.
  3. One-and-done. At 19, after one college season, you can declare. If scouts project you high, the game asks the one-and-done question directly.
  4. The Pro Draft. Two rounds of 30 picks, with picks 1 to 14 in the lottery. First-rounders get a four-year rookie-scale deal, second-rounders two years. Undrafted? A two-way deal, the development league or a club abroad.
  5. The pro years. A long season with an in-season cup, the play-in and the playoffs. Sign extensions, request trades, hit restricted free agency (your team can match an offer sheet) and chase rings.
  6. The national team. Get called up for the continental championship, the World Championship and the Summer Games.

Moments you'll meet in a men's career

Men's vs women's careers at a glance

Men's careerWomen's career
CollegeOne-and-done possible at 19Usually four years
DraftTwo rounds, lottery picks 1 to 14Three rounds
SeasonLong season, play-in and playoffsShort summer season and playoffs
Off-seasonSummer League, free agencyWinter overseas, winter 3x3 league or rest

Want the other side? Read how the women's basketball career works. For the details of draft night, see the Pro Draft guide.

How to start

Open the game, keep Men's basketball on the first screen, then pick a name, jersey number, home state, position, a starting story and a playstyle.

Looking for an NBA career simulator? Basketball Career plays like one, but it is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the NBA or any team.

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