History VideoGame / NBA2K

The '''''NBA 2K''''' series is the most popular franchise of video games based on basketball. The series started life as a pair exclusive basketball games for the Platform/{{Dreamcast}}, but later appeared on other consoles starting with ''NBA 2K2''. It's since surpassed [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA Sports]]'s ''NBA Live'' series, to the point where ''Live'' and ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise, had several installments cancelled all the way up to ''NBA Live 2020''.

The '''''NBA 2K''''' series is the most popular franchise of video games based on basketball. The series started life as a pair exclusive basketball games for the Platform/{{Dreamcast}}, but later appeared on other consoles starting with ''NBA 2K2''. It's since surpassed [[Creator/Electronic Arts EA Sports]]'s ''NBA Live'' series, to the point where ''Live'' and ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise, had several installments cancelled all the way up to ''NBA Live 2020''.

The '''''NBA 2K''''' series is the most popular franchise of video games based on basketball. The series started life as the exclusive basketball title for the Platform/{{Dreamcast}}, but later appeared on other consoles starting with ''NBA 2K2''. It's since surpassed EA Sports's ''NBA Live'' series, to the point where ''Live'' and ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise, had several installments cancelled all the way up to ''NBA Live 2020''.

The '''''NBA 2K''''' series is the most popular franchise of video games based on basketball. The series started life as the exclusive basketball title for the Platform/SegaDreamcast, but later appeared on other consoles starting with ''NBA 2K2''. It's since surpassed EA Sports's ''NBA Live'' series, to the point where ''Live'' and ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise, had several installments cancelled all the way up to ''NBA Live 2020''.

* ObviousBeta: ''NBA 2K20'' was infamously this at launch, even to the point of [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/kotaku.com/somebody-forgot-to-update-nba-2k20-s-taskbar-icon-1837983692/amp failing to update the PC version’s logo from the previous year]].

The '''''NBA 2K''''' series is the most popular franchise of video games based on basketball. The series started life as the exclusive basketball title for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, but later appeared on other consoles starting with ''NBA 2K2''. It's since surpassed EA Sports's ''NBA Live'' series, to the point where ''Live'' and ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise, had several installments cancelled all the way up to ''NBA Live 2020''.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn title ''NBA Action''.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

%%* AwesomeMcCoolname: The player character in 16 is a Spike Lee creation named Frequency Vibrations, though many also think that it's FailOSuckyname because no one would realistically name their kid that.

** Taken UpToEleven in ''[=2K22=]'', which features ''eight'' different commentators for the NBA games and three for WNBA ones. Also, all the NBA commentators freely rotate on each new game, making the commentary much less stale than your average sports game.

** As well as the other work involved in the game such as the progress of your player reflected by their performance on court and what to improve on, 2K11 was downright eerie in the work put in, from "[[Music/TheAlanParsonsProject Sirius]]" playing to [[UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan Jordan]] slapping powder in front of Jerry Krause to commentary that would have you fooled into thinking it's an actual broadcast. 2K14 takes this UpToEleven; your created player's performance rated down to performance in interviews and online fan reaction is impressive, but where it gets to almost a BigBrotherIsWatching level is through Kinect. It listens for play calling, picks, etc. However, if you swear the Kinect and in turn the referee will hear and you will be called for a technical foul.

* TheArtifact: The starting lineup for [=2K18's=] All-Time Heat had Chris Bosh at power forward and Alonzo Mourning at center. Since [=2K19=] didn't have Bosh, Mourning moved up a spot and Shaquille O'Neal became the starting center. This didn't change when Bosh was brought back in [=2K20=].

* CharacterBlog: In ''2K13/14'', your player has a Facebook or Twitter page where fans will cheer or call you out on your performance, opposing players will challenge you or say you came through, the media will cover how you played as well as your poise during interviews and superstars will tag you as a friend if...in Steve Kerr's case for example, you shoot a lot of 3 pointers.

* GameBreakingBug: One that was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot caused by]] [[UsefulNotes/CoronavirusDisease2019Pandemic real life circumstances]]. The "NBA Today" option for ''NBA 2K20''[='s=] [=MyLeague=] simply causes the game to slow down from trying to simulate games that don't exist until it crashes. [[https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/12/21177627/nba-2k20-coronavirus-season-suspended-canceled-shut-down-nba-today-error-glitch The NBA indefinitely suspended their 2020 season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had the unintended side-effect of rendering the "NBA Today" option non-functional.]]

* SeriesMascot: Former Philadelphia[=76ers=] player Allen Iverson was the cover star for almost the entirety of the Sega era of the series, from the original ''[=2K=]'' until ''[=2K5=]'', which replaced him with Piston's star Ben Wallace, and started the tradition of having a new player on the cover every year.

** As well as the other work involved in the game such as the progress of your player reflected by their performance on court and what to improve on, 2K11 was downright eerie in the work put in, from Sirius playing to Jordan slapping powder in front of Jerry Krause to commentary that would have you fooled into thinking it's an actual broadcast. 2K14 takes this UpToEleven, your created player's performance rated down to performance in interviews and online fan reaction is impressive, but where it gets to almost a BigBrotherIsWatching level is through Kinect. It listens for play calling, picks, etc. However, if you swear the Kinect and in turn the referee will hear and you will be called for a technical foul.

* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: Your character's name in 2k16's [=MyCareer=] mode, despite you ''naming them in the creation screen'' is, for some reason, "Frequency Vibrations." The name you gave them is used in the opening credits and outside of the cutscenes.

* AbsenteeActor: Since retired players have to allow 2K to use their likenesses, some Classic and All-Time Teams will have a few glaring omissions, like Charles Barkley or Reggie Miller.

** The Rookie Showcase (used from ''2K12'' to ''2K14'' has you trying to perform and impress the teams so you can get a high spot in the draft. There's just one problem: every other player on your team is so geeked up to do the same they become utter ball hogs, going against five on one odds and not allowing you a look on even if they have no chance of scoring. Your only hope is to dominate defensively as well as work on getting high numbers in points and assists. Thankfully being drafted means your team is much more focused on winning games rather than putting on a one man show, allowing you to play more to your strengths.

* AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent: The "My Player" mode in recent titles, where you control nearly every aspect of your player's basketball career.

* CharacterBlog: Your player has a Facebook or Twitter page where fans will cheer or call you out on your performance, opposing players will challenge you or say you came through, the media will cover how you played as well as your poise during interviews and superstars will tag you as a friend if...in Steve Kerr's case for example, you shoot a lot of 3 pointers.

** The Rookie Showcase has you trying to perform and impress the teams so you can get a high spot in the draft. There's just one problem: every other player on your team is so geeked up to do the same they become utter ball hogs, going against five on one odds and not allowing you a look on even if they have no chance of scoring. Your only hope is to dominate defensively as well as work on getting high numbers in points and assists. Thankfully being drafted means your team is much more focused on winning games rather than putting on a one man show, allowing you to play more to your strengths.

* TheCameo: Michael Jordan himself in 2K11. The very first time you boot up the game, and go through the ColdOpening (described below), Jordan, actually voiced by [[UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan the real deal]] in this cutscene, [[BreakingTheFourthWall will look at the player, and ask if they're ready to play]], before joining the rest of the Bulls.

* TakeThat: Among the lowest rated staff members in [=MyGM and MyLeague=] is basketball personality [=LaVar=] Ball.

* OddNameOut: ''NBA [=2K4=]'' is, to date, the only game in the series not to be numbered. Instead, it was called ''ESPN NBA Basketball'', due to Sega having the ESPN license at the time.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: A meta example exists in [=2K16=]'s story mode, ''Livin' Da Dream'', which features the story of a player created character [[ButThouMust named Frequency Vibrations.]] However, Spike Lee didn't take into account the idea that the player might make a non-Black character, as his family is all Black, with Freq's mother even bringing up that she came up with the name while pregnant with him, discrediting the idea that he's HappilyAdopted. The implications of this are never brought up in story, and a non-Black Frequency Vibrations' race goes completely unnoticed.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: On [=PS2=] version, a defender may resist from ball handler's charge by ''pushing his hips rapidly towards him''.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: A meta example exists in [=2K16=]'s story mode, ''Livin' Da Dream'', which features the story of a player created character [[ButThouMust named Frequency Vibrations.]] However, Spike Lee didn't take into account the idea that the player might make a non-Black character, as his family is all Black, with Freq's mother even bringing up that she came up with the name while pregnant with him, discrediting the idea that he's HappilyAdopted. The [[YourCheatingHeart implications of this]] are never brought up in story, and a non-Black Frequency Vibrations' race goes completely unnoticed.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: A meta example exists in [=2K16=]'s story mode, ''Livin' Da Dream'', which features the story of a player created character [[ButThouMust named Frequency Vibrations.]] However, Spike Lee didn't take into account the idea that the player might make a white character because his family is all black with Freq's mother even bringing up that she came up with the name while pregnant with him discrediting the idea that he's HappilyAdopted. The [[YourCheatingHeart implications of this]] are never brought up in story, and a white Frequency Vibrations' race goes completely unnoticed.