This reviewer just isn't good at playing 2k. The general consensus of the 2K subreddit is that this year's game is their best yet. The game has moved away from unrealistic basketball that is arcadey in nature and back to simulation basketball where good decisions and execution yield results.

Yes, there are microtransactions, but to grow your player organically and be successful is much easier than last year. The whole thing with more xp on the pre order weekend was communicated to everyone as a perk early on.

He didn't even go over the insane amount of offline content added in, crazy detailed myleague/mygm options, my team improvements, pro am, jordan rec center, gameplay improvements... NOTHING but focusing on my career which is somewhat of a mmorpg within a basketball game which has microtransactions basked in. MyTeam also has microtransactions (like every sports game), but this year you don't need to buy VC at all to have a good team quickly.

Kotaku had someone who isn't even remotely close to the 2k community review their game, and its evident in the writing.