Beginner guide · 13 picks · 82-game sim
How to Play Build a Hooper
The complete loop
Choose a mode and position, spin a team-season roster, then steal one unfilled attribute from one player. Repeat until all 13 attributes are locked. Your finished hooper then plays an 82-game simulated season.
Build a Hooper rules, step by step
01
Choose a mode and position
Classic lets you choose PG, SG, SF, PF, or C. Blind rolls and reveals your position, Chaos hides it, and Daily gives everyone the same seeded setup for the date.
02
Spin a team-season roster
Each round deals a current or all-time team-season. Read the roster, then decide which player has the attribute your build needs most.
03
Steal one open attribute
Pick one player and lock exactly one still-empty attribute from their grades. That slot stays filled for the rest of the run.
04
Finish 13 picks and sim 82 games
Once every attribute is filled, the game calculates a position-weighted OVR and simulates each game of an 82-game season for a record, playoff seed, and title odds.
Choose the right mode
The four choices use the same 13-attribute finish line, but they change how much information you receive. For a deeper comparison, use the full mode guide.
Ratings visible · Choose your position
Classic
Best for a first run because every grade and roster choice is visible before you lock a pick.
Ratings hidden · Position revealed
Blind
Tests player knowledge: you know the role you are building, but not the letter grades until the reveal.
Ratings hidden · Position hidden
Chaos
Offers only a small set of open attributes each round, so balanced picks travel better than a narrow plan.
Same date seed · Shared starting setup
Daily
Uses the same seeded setup for the day so players can compare decisions. Your picks and reroll use still shape the result.
The 13 attributes you must fill
Every slot is used once. Position weights differ, so a point guard usually gets more value from handle and passing, while a center leans harder on rebounding, interior defense, blocks, and strength.
Scoring
3PT · MID · FIN · DNK
Creation
HAN · PAS
Defense
PDEF · IDEF · BLK
Physical & winning
REB · ATH · STR · CLU
Need the full names and role-by-role meaning? Read the attribute guide, then compare the best-build priorities by position.
Reroll strategy for a first run
You have 3 rerolls. A reroll changes the current roster; it does not erase a locked pick or consume a round. Early in a run, many open attributes can make an average roster usable. Later, when only a few slots remain, a bad board is more likely to justify spending one.
Before rerolling, ask whether any available player improves a high-value open slot for your position. If the answer is yes, keep the board. If every useful attribute is already filled or the remaining grades miss your build's job, reroll and preserve the round.
Beginner mistakes that sink a season
- Picking the name, not the fit: take the grade your position needs, not automatically the biggest star.
- Spending all 3 rerolls early: late rounds give you fewer useful open slots and less room to recover.
- Building offense only: perimeter or interior defense, rebounding, and physical tools keep a good scorer from becoming a fragile season build.
- Treating 82-0 as expected: the engine simulates every game, so even an elite OVR can lose; a perfect season is possible but rare.
Build a Hooper FAQ
How many picks are in Build a Hooper?+
There are 13 picks. Each pick fills one different attribute: 3PT, MID, FIN, DNK, HAN, PAS, PDEF, IDEF, BLK, REB, ATH, STR, or CLU.
How do rerolls work?+
Every run starts with 3 rerolls. A reroll replaces the current team-season roster without filling an attribute, so save one for a board that cannot improve an important open slot.
Which mode should a beginner play first?+
Start with Classic. You choose the position and can see every rating, which makes it easier to learn why a useful position fit can matter more than the most famous player on the roster.
What happens after the 13th pick?+
The game calculates your position-weighted overall rating, simulates 82 individual regular-season games, and returns a win-loss record, playoff seed, points per game, and championship odds.
Is the Daily challenge the same for everyone?+
Everyone receives the same date-based seed and starting setup. Different picks or reroll decisions can still produce different builds and season results.