History VideoGame / NBA2K

* GameBreakingBug: One that was caused by [[RealLifeWritesThePlot 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.]]

* AnnouncerChatter: Unlike many sports games, 2K records their talent simultaneously in the same room, allowing a lot of way for the commentators to banter amongst each other instead of trading canned lines. ''[=2K17=]'' pushed the trope to a new level with a rotating third member of the virtual booth; instead of being stuck with the same three voices, each game would randomly slot in a third broadcast talent next to the two leads, from the likes of former players like Chris Webber and current broadcasters like Doris Burke, to give the game a more realistic talent turnover from game to game. ''[=2K18=]'' upped the ante even further with the addition of NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, who occasionally appear for Lakers and Celtics games, respectively.

* HateSink: Vic Van Lier in ''Livin' Da Dream'', an odd example as despite his extrene antagonistic behaviour up to including blackmailing the player and threatening to send them to jail over an accidental murder when called out on said behaviour, the ending intends for you to feel sorry for him.

* PermanentElectedOfficial / PresidentForLife: Some editions have included a cutscene in career mode where the league champions travel to the White House to meet UsefulNotes/BarackObama. These cutscenes remain unchanged even after the game chronology passes January 20, 2017, the date when Obama's term expired.

* TheBusCameBack: A December 2019 [=MyTeam=] event in 2K20 brought back Chris Bosh after he was absent in 2K19. A later update added him to the '12-'13 Heat.

* 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.

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 ''NBA Elite'', a planned refresh of the ''Live'' franchise was canned.

* 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, will [[BreakingTheFourthWall look at the player and ask if they're ready to play]], before joining the rest of the Bulls.

* 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, will [[BreakingTheFourthWall look at the player]] and ask if they're ready to play before joining the rest of the Bulls.

* 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 last year]].

* AnnouncerChatter: Unlike many sports games, 2K records their talent simultaneously in the same room, allowing a lot of way for the commentators to banter amongst each other instead of trading canned lines. ''[=2K17=]'' pushed the trope to a new level with a rotating third member of the virtual booth; instead of being stuck with the same three voices, each game would randomly slot in a third broadcast talent next to the two leads, from the likes of former players like Chris Webber and current broadcasters like Doris Burke, to give the game a more realistic talent turnover from game to game.

* AnnouncerChatter: Which has been praised by fans as being downright realistic and actually pretty accurate to how commentary on any given NBA game would sound like. Unlike many sports games, 2K records their talent simultaneously in the same room, allowing a lot of way for the commentators to banter amongst each other instead of trading canned lines. ''[=2K17=]'' pushed the trope to a new level with a rotating third member of the virtual booth; instead of being stuck with the same three voices, each game would randomly slot in a third broadcast talent next to the two leads, from the likes of former players like Chris Webber and current broadcasters like Doris Burke, to give the game a more realistic talent turnover from game to game.
* AscendedMeme: 2k16 once released a 90 overall Brian Scalabrine, aka '''The White Mamba''' for a limited time.

* AscendedMeme: 2K once released a 90 overall Brian Scalabrine, aka '''The White Mamba''' for a limited time.

* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: Your character's name in 2k16's MyCareer mode, despite you ''naming them in the creation screen'' is, for some reason, "Frequency Vibrations."

* DidntThinkThisThrough: A meta example exists in [=2K16=]'s story mode, ''Livin' Da Dream'', 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.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: [=2K16=]'s story mode, ''Livin' Da Dream'', 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.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: On PS 2 version, a defender may resist from ball handler's charge by ''pushing his hips rapidly towards him''.

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

* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: Your character's name in the MyCareer mode, despite you ''naming them in the creation screen'' is, for some reason, "Frequency Vibrations."

* AnnouncerChatter: Which has been praised by fans as being downright realistic and actually pretty accurate to how commentary on any given NBA game would sound like. Unlike many sports games, 2K records their talent simultaneously in the same room, allowing a lot of way for the commentators to banter amongst each other instead of trading canned lines.

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: The other negative in using bad language, in that after the technical is called you and your team slide in a big way and the opponents step up their game like it was game seven of the finals, fourth quarter, scores are tied. In other words the game makes you pay for the technical by ramping up the difficulty to insane levels.
** 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.

* PermanentElectedOfficial / PresidentForLife: Some editions have included a cutscene in career mode where the league champions travel to the White House to meet UsefulNotes/BarackObama. These cutscenes remain unchanged even after the game chronology passes January 20, 2017, the date when Obama's term will expire.