NBA 2K27 MyTeam: How to Evolve Cards and Claim Five Free Evolution Picks

Evolutions are back in NBA 2K27 MyTeam, and the mode hands you enough resources to start building without spending a thing. Evolution cards carry their own upgrade path, so you can push their stats, rarity, and badges higher just by playing games. On top of that, you get to pick five free Emerald cards to kick off your collection.

Quick answer: To evolve a card, put it in your active lineup, meet the requirement listed in its Evolution tab, then return to that tab and confirm the upgrade. To claim the five free cards, open MyTeam, go to Hone Your Skills, scroll to the evolution challenge section, and complete all four challenges.

What evolution does in NBA 2K27 MyTeam

Evolution lets you upgrade a card you already own with stat boosts and rarity increases. It is not a universal system, though. Only cards built as Evolution cards can be upgraded this way, and they use a separate design so you can spot them in your collection.

Each Evolution card lists its own requirement. The harder upgrades are usually tied to higher base rarity, so a low-rarity card asks for something simple while a stronger card demands more from you on the court. Any progress you make counts across separate games, so you do not have to finish a requirement in a single match.

The Walker Emerald card is a clear example. Its first evolution only asks you to play one game with the card in your lineup. The second step raises the bar to 20 assists, which you can rack up over multiple games rather than all at once.

How to evolve a card

Open the Evolution tab on the card you want to upgrade. This is where the exact requirement for the next stage appears, whether it is playing a game or hitting a stat total.

Add the card to your active lineup. Requirements only track while the card is actively in your team, so it needs to be on the floor to earn credit.

Play games until the requirement is met. Stat-based goals like assists or points build up across separate matches, so you can chip away at them over time.

Go back to the Evolution tab and confirm the upgrade once the requirement is complete. The card then jumps to its next stage with improved stats, rarity, or badges.

Note: These evolution boosts stack with other upgrade systems in the mode, including Player XP, Dynamic Duos, and Coach Cards, so an evolved card keeps benefiting from those on top of its new stage.

How to claim your five free evolution cards

MyTeam gives new collections a strong starting five by offering five Emerald cards for free. All five can be upgraded to improve their stats, rarity, and badge quality, and completing the full challenge set lets you grab every one of them rather than settling for a single choice.

Open MyTeam from the main menu.

Head to the Hone Your Skills challenges.

Scroll right until you reach the challenge section dedicated to evolutions.

Complete all four required challenges. Finishing them unlocks five different picks, and clearing the entire set means you can take all five free Emerald cards.

How to confirm it worked

You know an evolution is finished when the Evolution tab lets you confirm the upgrade and the card moves to its next stage with higher stats or rarity. If the tab still shows an unmet requirement, the card either was not in your active lineup during those games or has not yet hit the listed total.

For the free cards, completing all four evolution challenges in Hone Your Skills unlocks the five picks. Once you claim them, they land in your collection ready to be added to a lineup and evolved the same way. Take each one through its requirements and you will have a solid Emerald five to lean on during the early grind.