To me, at least, the gameplay since 14 has been a lot better than in 11.
There's no doubt in my mind that 2K17 will be better than 2K11..not even close, not even a question.
But.
When I (personally) look back on 2K11, the reason it holds such a special (?) place in my heart lol is because it was just so much fun.
My Player in 2K10 began a whole new era of how I played and enjoyed sports games. Before then I'd take control of singular (sometimes created) players during a whole game.
In 2K11, Crew once again changed my perspective. My friends got the game and we just started playing one day. Before then, I was really the only one into 2K. They liked basketball just not playing it online..
I just had a great time, even against cheesers and cheaters with 8 foot tall hacked players...don't know why, but I did.
I think the exclusion of Crew and online centered My Player modes after kinda left me bitter towards 12 and 13. But 14 had amazingly polished gameplay. And Next-Gen games offered the whole package.
If 17 can start off like 16 did, and not (imo) become extremely easier and more lenient due to patches it'll be the best ever.
See, I did not have good time against those cheesers lol.