Above: Here are the statistics from a slightly above-average game for this build.
On offense
First of all, make sure your gameplay settings are set to 12 minute quarters and a difficulty you feel comfortable with. I like to set all playcalling to auto and show all diagrams on the court, but that’s optional.
Your main goal is to create as many dunks as possible. You are going to accomplish in two ways: pick-and-rolls and the Reggie Miller technique.
The pick-and-roll system allows you to control the offense. Simply run up to the player guarding the ball handler on your team and hold the set screen button (Circle on PS4). More often not, you will flatten the defender. This allows your ball handler to push to the basket, where the big dude guarding your character will have to stop him. Run towards the basket and tap X to call for the ball, and you will typically have a pretty easy look at the basket.
Make sure you set your screen a few steps away from the defender. If you walk right up to him, the idiot A.I. controlling your teammate will start the pick-and-roll too early. This will often cause your player to steamroll the defender without setting his feet, which is a foul and gives the other team the ball. Give the play space to develop.
If your ball handler wants to run a play and doesn’t take the pick, press Circle again. You will eventually cancel the play, and the ball handler will do his job.
If a defender is in your way after you receive the ball during the roll, you have a few options. I prefer to just hold the sprint button and the shot button (Square on PS4). This will have your player attempt to dunk on the opponent. With enough points in athleticism, this works more often than not. If you don’t pull off the dunk, you will typically get fouled. That’s almost as good.
You can also slightly tap square to pump fake. You may get the defender to jump in the air. If that happens, start your shot while he’s on the way down.
Above: You should be able to lead the league in per-minute points, rebounding and blocks almost immediately.
Being Reggie Miller
Your second scoring option is the Reggie Miller technique. I call it that because Miller was an expert at pushing off players to get a shot for himself.
Walk straight into your defender under the basket. The controller will start vibrating, and both characters will be jostling for position. Once you have pushed him to either the left or right side of the basket, slam that sprint button while simultaneously moving the left stick to the opposite side of the basket. Then call for the pass.
You will usually get the ball a step ahead of the defender and within a few feet of the rim. I like to tap the pump fake here, as the defender will almost always try to jump and block your shot. You can get an easy foul or shot attempt if they do.
The points in athleticism will also make you an option in the transition game. Always hold sprint to run down the court after a rebound or opposing turnover. You never know what will happen.
Once you get some points in inside scoring, you can mix things up with some post moves. Hold L2 to back your player into the defender and call for the ball. I prefer a simple hookshot, which is achieved by pressing the right stick either left or right and towards the basket. You can also press square while moving laterally toward the basket.
Vary this with some pump fakes, but try not to do one more than once — the second and third lead to turnovers. Instead, pass the ball back to a teammate and reset.
The final way to score is by offensive rebounds. Remember that you can’t stand inside the painted area for more than three seconds. Watch what your other players are doing. If they are wide open or the shot clock is winding down, run straight to under the basket. You can step out of bounds if you need to.
Rebounding and playing defense
This brings me to rebounding. It is all about timing. If you time things properly (and are 7 feet tall), the attributes don’t matter. This takes practice. Later is better when it comes to rebounding. If you are too early, you have no shot. But if you are a little late, your player may automatically grab one by sheer size alone.
The same is true for blocking shots. A 7-footer can block a 6-footer’s layup attempt without jumping. Blocking shots is also a timing thing. You’ll learn when the opposing players get that look in their eyes and are going to try to score over you.
A final tip for playing defense: Try not to rub bodies with your matchup. Stay far enough away from him to where your bodies won’t touch. That friction will slow you down when you are running to the basket to block a guard’s dunk attempt. He will beat you if you get tangled up.