I still remember the first time I hit “open” on a Series 1 pack — my palms were sweaty, the clock was thin with the game’s launch-day glow, and one card could tilt my whole starter lineup. You can feel that tiny pressure: pick wrong and you grit through hours of grinding; pick right and you skip the awkward early matches. I’ll walk you through the choices I’d make on day one so you don’t waste that moment.
I’ve played MyTeam across launches, tested lineups, and logged hours in 2KTV quizzes for free VC. You’re not choosing a forever roster — you’re buying a head start — and a few smart selections change how quickly you begin winning.
At a midnight launch players argue in chatrooms: which Series 1 pack actually sets you up to compete?
Here’s the simple truth: pick a pack that gives you usable cards across positions and a couple of meta pieces you can build around. I favor teams that hand you flexible scorers and defenders, because early matchmaking punishes one-dimensional squads. Think of a Series 1 pack as like a Swiss army knife for your starter bench — a toolset that keeps options open.
Which Series 1 pack gives the biggest early advantage?
If you want to chase immediate wins, prioritize teams with multiple Rubies or an Amethyst starter. Those cards have enough ratings and badges to carry you through online tiers and reward schedules. Picking a team full of Golds is fine for collection completion, but not for winning right away.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers pack hands you four Rubies and an Emerald. That’s a rare density of usable, high-rating cards at the start — enough to field a competitive five and a real bench. You’ll land marquee pieces that matter for matchmaking; I found Joel Embiid and a James card (both meta-friendly) anchor lineups that win early and let you trade up or sell for MT later.
If your aim is straight competitiveness, this is the pick I recommend most often.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs give you three Rubies and an Emerald, plus an Amethyst Bob Sura when you finish the collection. That Amethyst is the glue piece for a balanced rotation — guard scoring, ball movement, and perimeter defense. If you prefer a tidy mix of scoring and playmaking, Cleveland is a reliable pick.
How should I spend my VC early to build momentum?
You’ll want to spend VC on targeted single-card flips or extra Series 1 packs if they’re on sale. I recommend saving some VC to buy into the Auction House market once you’ve identified a gap in your squad. Complement that with steady 2KTV quiz runs and quick play sessions — free VC compounds faster than you think.
Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx pack pushes the density even higher: four Rubies, an Emerald, and a Sapphire. That’s excellent value if you want a deep bench straight away. Complete it and you get an Amethyst Rachel Banham — a dependable scorer who can stabilize starting lineups while you chase bigger cards.
New York Liberty
The Liberty are heavy on talent: three Rubies, a Sapphire, and two Emeralds. That mix gives you strong starters and a few role players for matchups. Finish the collection and you add Amethyst Michaela Onyenwere — a forward who fits into many systems and reduces early roster fragility.
Pick for flexibility. If you want to build and flip in the Auction House, choose the pack with Amethysts and multiple Rubies. If you just want to win early competitive games, go with the densest Ruby counts.
For free VC, run 2KTV quizzes, complete daily challenges, and play the limited-time modes on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC (Steam). Those platforms matter because event timings and rewards sometimes differ between consoles — keep an eye on Twitter and Reddit threads for community PSA and quick market moves.
If you were choosing only by loyalty, pick the team you care about and enjoy the ride; if you want to shortcut the learning curve and grab wins, choose a Sixers, Lynx, or Liberty pack and use the Auction House to tune the gaps.
I’ve shown you the math and the tradeoffs — do you want a pack that plays like a toolbox, or one that reads like a secret map to early wins?