Why 2K Calls You "MP" in MyCareer
Wondering why the commentators and characters in NBA 2K23 MyCareer mode all refer to you as "MP"? It‘s basically a generic placeholder nickname until you personalize your baller.
MP stands for "My Player" and gets used when your custom character doesn‘t have a set nickname. But don‘t settle for this boring default – you can choose your own secondary nickname!
As a longtime 2K gamer and content creator, I‘ve got the inside scoop on changing up your tag to stand out from the MP crowd. Keep reading to learn all about picking a unique nickname plus why 2K falls back on calling you MP in MyCareer dialogue.
What Does MP Stand For?
Let‘s break this down acronym-style:
- My
- Player
So MP is simply shorthand for referencing your created player character. It replaces having to say something generic like "this guy right here that I‘m talking to."
Using MP provides flexibility for the MyCareer conversation system to work no matter what gamertag you give your baller.
MyPlayer Nicknaming in 2K Games
Nicknaming has been a staple of the MyPlayer mode dating back to earlier 2K installments:
- 2K15: Introduced basic nickname customization
- 2K19: Added jersey nickname personalization
- 2K21: Brought back official secondary player nicknames
So the series has continually expanded options for standing out from default names like Frequency Vibrations in 2K17 or AI in 2K18.
| Year | MyPlayer Default Nickname | Nicknaming Features |
|---|---|---|
| 2K15 | Frequency Vibrations | 4 nickname options |
| 2K17 | DJ | Jersey custom nickname |
| 2K19 | AI | Jersey custom nickname |
| 2K21 | Junior | Secondary player nickname |
Adding alternate nicknames gives gamers creative license while keeping general commentary dialogue straightforward to produce.
Why Not Use My Custom Player Name?
With all the personalization choices during MyPlayer creation, why doesn‘t 2K just use your custom name from the start?
- Thousands of possible name combinations
- Difficult to record pronounciations for every variation
- Easier for commentators to use one default MP nickname
- Nickname changing allows flexibility later
The MyPlayer Name Game
In my experience, 2K players get extremely creative with their MyPlayer builds. After all, the customization is a major part of the fun!
Based on community polls and name data, here are some of the trends in crazy MyPlayer names:
- Pop culture references (from LeBron‘s Taco Tuesday to Dragon Ball Z characters)
- Funny puns and jokes (Mark Madsen Dance Remix, Sue Chef, etc.)
- Intimidating handles (Death Reaper, Ice Cold, Sheriff)
- Interesting phonetic mixes (Shaquandolyn or Carmelodious)
When you combine first and last names plus number choices, there are practically unlimited naming possibility combos. More creative player names means more chance for wild pronunciation challenges.
Sure, the broadcast teams could try tackling Kikzilla Makaveli 69. But can you imagine the playback in commentary? MP simplifies things on the dialogue production side.
How to Change Your Nickname
Though generic, I get that most gamers don‘t exactly want to rock a basic MP handle for their whole streetball career.
Luckily, NBA 2K23 now allows choosing secondary nicknames for your MyPlayers.
Here are the steps to personalize your tag and stand out from the MP pack:
- Go into MyPlayer Builds from the main menu
- Select your existing player build
- Choose Profile from the options
- Pick Nickname to bring up nickname customization
- Enter your desired nickname (15 characters max)
Once you save changes, that nickname will get used by commentary instead of MP during NBA games. Keep it short though, as longer names seem to get chopped off.
Choosing Your Nickname
Brainstorming nickname ideas for your baller is seriously fun. Go for something:
- Intimidating (The Destroyer),
- Descriptive (Magic Hands),
- Punny (Young Bullet),
- Referential (Like Jordan), or
- Humorous (Buckets McGee).
I decided to change my rising rookie point guard from MP to The Trickster as a play on his slick dribbles and court vision. Love hearing the commentators react to my handles now!
While picking a secondary nickname doesn‘t change your jersey name, it does add personal flair to MyCareer cutscenes and gameplay dialogue. After grinding from high school gyms to the NBA hardwood, shouldn‘t you stand out from the MP pack?
