So this is supposed to simulate the career of a rookie coming into the NBA.
So do you think a rookie should level up fast?
A rookie would not get much more than 15-20 mins a game unless they were say top 10 picks.
In that 15 to 20 mins a game I would hardly expect you to be able to get enough VC to get good quick.
IMO it's fine how it is, the only people who will have a problem with it are people new to the series.
Just set screens non stop, get rebounds, don't pass into the paint and get your grade up.
Better grade = more VC and more play time.
Me personally, I stockpile my VC for the first year, get my player to a 72ish and leave him there. I like being the 6th man instead of unrealistically starting as a 16th pick SF after 12 games.
This time round I'm trying to play as realistically as possible.