NBA 2K27 MyCAREER Co-Op Running Mate Trace Miller
Co-op is not two MyPLAYERs on the same team. Your friend controls Trace Miller, a custom NPC Running Mate you meet in the G League. Here is how to unlock invites, finish the D-pad quests, and pick a template that does not feel like dead weight.
Co-op is not two MyPLAYERs. Your friend controls Trace Miller, a custom NPC Running Mate you meet in the G League. Trace stays on your roster for the rest of the career, story quests force Running Mate plays, and a lot of people just want to know how to unlock invites, finish the D-pad quests, and pick a template that does not feel like dead weight.
1What Co-Op Actually Is
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You progress the Fire and Concrete story until the G League chapter
You meet Trace, pick one of 9 templates, and he stays with you into the NBA.
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A friend who owns NBA 2K27 can drop in and control Trace on a game-by-game basis
Cutscenes can play together if they are in.
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If they leave, AI takes Trace immediately. You are never locked out of games.
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Both of you get full separate VC and Season XP
The guest as Trace does not get badge progress on their own MyPLAYER. Host keeps story and MyCAREER progress.
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Crossplay: PS5 to Xbox Series X or S. Friend must own the game.
Co-op is optional. Trace still exists as AI if you never invite anyone.
2Unlock Trace and Invite
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Start or continue MyCAREER (Fire and Concrete). Play through high school into the G League.
Trace is introduced in-story. You cannot toggle him on from the main menu on a fresh save.
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When the builder appears, pick a template immediately
Physicals are locked to that template. Heights called out by players: Curry about 6'2, Luka about 6'7, Giannis about 7'0 plus with long wingspan, Jokic about 6'11, KD about 6'11. You upgrade attributes, badges, and playstyle with points earned in games.
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Finish the first Running Mate quests so Trace is in the starting lineup with you
Community videos and posts say invite unlocks after that quest line, not the second you meet him.
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From MyCAREER or My Court menu, open menu, My Career, Fire and Concrete, and use the invite or co-op option once Trace is eligible
Friend joins as Trace as you built him.
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Toggle co-op per game. Skip it whenever you want to grind solo.
3Running Mate Plays (the quest everyone gets stuck on)
G League and early NBA games give objectives like: run plays with Trace on ball, you on ball, and neither on ball. Press Up on the D-pad to open the Running Mate mini-menu (about 4 actions: PnR, floppy, iso-style, and more).
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Trace has the ball: Pass to him, Up on D-pad, pick a play, finish the action
Score or assist off that play.
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You have the ball: Hold the ball, Up on D-pad, PnR or floppy, score
Many people just spam PnR or floppy for themselves.
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Neither has the ball: Call the play off-ball, then execute
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The game tracks points generated from the called play, not just I pressed Up
If a floppy 3 from Trace drops, that 3 counts toward the goal. Keep calling the same play until the meter fills.
4Key Decision: Which of the 9 Templates
Pick the one that fills the hole on your build, because Trace takes a real roster spot and you cannot drop him. You cannot change the template later in a way players have found. Decide before you confirm.
Fight Demonstration
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Expecting two MyPLAYERs. That is not the feature. Friend is always Trace.
- Ignoring the D-pad plays. Story and 3-star objectives stall until they register.
- Picking a template that clones your position. You then have two similar players and Trace looks worse as AI.
- Assuming the guest farms your badges or their MyPLAYER badges. They get VC plus Season XP only.
- Thinking you can cut Trace from the roster or skip him in current-era MyCAREER. Players keep asking 2K for a toggle. As of now he stays. Eras mode is the usual workaround if you want real NBA rosters without him.