New Classic Teams in NBA 2K21?

[Cold Snap]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rashidi

They only have 5 players: Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Fisher, and Luke Walton. The issue isn't that they were missing Bynum. It's that they weren't willing to pay role players like Shannon Brown or Sasha Vujacic, or end of bench guys like Adam Morrison and DJ Mbenga. Prior to this season, Josh Powell (10th man) reached out to 2K about being in the game, and never heard back from them.

Wow. With their silence, they may as well have told him "No one buys this game to be Josh Powell."

I hope it's not too soon to say this, given his tragic death in January, but it just reminds me of this Kobe Bryant quote, when asked why he held the ball so long to shoot it himself, instead of passing to a teammate:

"To who? Smush Parker?"

[Real2KInsider]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cold Snap

Wow. With their silence, they may as well have told him "No one buys this game to be Josh Powell." I hope it's not too soon to say this, given his tragic death in January, but it just reminds me of this Kobe Bryant quote, when asked why he held the ball so long to shoot it himself, instead of passing to a teammate: "To who? Smush Parker?"

Mathematically, let's break it down.

Let's say the standard rate for "Likeness Rights" scales by Overall rating (i.e. player role/importance).

90-99 Rating: $20,000
80-89 Rating: 10,000
70-79 Rating: $5,000
60-69 Rating: $2,500

2009 Lakers
90s (2): Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol
80s (4): Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Trevor Ariza/Ron Artest
70s (4): Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic
60s (3): Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga, Sun Yue/Adam Morrison
[b]Overall Cost[b]: $107,500 (40,000 + 40,000 + 20,000 + 7,500)

If we add Ron Artest (10,000) & Adam Morrison (2,500) to double-up and get the 2010 team, that's $120,000 per year.

There are 67 Classic Teams in NBA 2K21 and more will naturally be added with the passage of time. If each team costs $100,000 per year that's 6.7 million dollars per year. These are with GENEROUS figures that probably undersell how much the top players actually make.
(I ask again, how much money do the Classic teams/players bring in?)

The starting salary for a 2K developer is roughly $45,000, and the average is probably less than $100,000. When people complain about broken features, unbalanced gameplay, etc, they need staff to commit labor hours to these things. Game quality absolutely should take precedence.

[modinidagr8]

I won't put much equity into this version. I'm not even editing shoes. Holdin my breath for PS5 version. Now if that's just a copy&paste turnout then I'll lose my mind and go full" This was a waste of my gard earned money" mode. Ya boy claimed the next gen will be a "totally new game from the ground up". I only bought the $100 version so I'd have something to hold me over,plus I'm one those jokers who like having EVERY year game. I can't wait til that other Basketball game gets back in the market.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Operation Sports mobile app

[daveberg]

Don't hold your breath on 2K delivering any more past era teams. It's simply not their priority. If it's not current day/online or fantasy modes, it's not making them money. Us offline retro heads are a minority here.


If you can deal with stepping back to gameplay from 6 years ago, then go pick up 2K14 for the PC and install the UBR roster - it's the most comprehensive retro mod out there. Literally a gold mine for old school hoops fans.

[antdoggydogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rashidi

They only have 5 players: Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Fisher, and Luke Walton. The issue isn't that they were missing Bynum. It's that they weren't willing to pay role players like Shannon Brown or Sasha Vujacic, or end of bench guys like Adam Morrison and DJ Mbenga. Prior to this season, Josh Powell (10th man) reached out to 2K about being in the game, and never heard back from them.

They have Ariza too so that makes it 6 for the 08 or 09 team. They're so close

[antdoggydogg]

Bailey Howell is in MyTeam this year! That means they can include some of the late 60's Celtics team with him on it.

1967 Celtics rotation is 98.3% complete
1969 Celtics rotation is 92.5% complete

Before anyone says we already have one Bill Russell team, consider the fact that they won 11 titles and only have 1 iteration of their team in the game. We need a Cousy version of the team and later version of the dynasty. I can see 1968 and 1969 being an issues because Bill Russell was the coach and they'd have to somehow remove the coach from the sidelines/in-game menus so I'm leaning towards the 1967 team.

Here is a list of the other 60s teams that are close:

1969 Lakers 74.2% (Still in his prime Baylor/direct rival to 69 Celtics)
1967 Warriors 65.4%
1967 76ers 51.7%

[VDusen04]

Quote: Originally Posted by antdoggydogg

Bailey Howell is in MyTeam this year! That means they can include some of the late 60's Celtics team with him on it. 1967 Celtics rotation is 98.3% complete 1969 Celtics rotation is 92.5% complete Before anyone says we already have one Bill Russell team, consider the fact that they won 11 titles and only have 1 iteration of their team in the game. We need a Cousy version of the team and later version of the dynasty. I can see 1968 and 1969 being an issues because Bill Russell was the coach and they'd have to somehow remove the coach from the sidelines/in-game menus so I'm leaning towards the 1967 team. Here is a list of the other 60s teams that are close: 1969 Lakers 74.2% (Still in his prime Baylor/direct rival to 69 Celtics) 1967 Warriors 65.4% 1967 76ers 51.7%

That's a nice addition! Did he make the cut on the All-Time Pistons? I'm guessing not on account of everyone else already on the roster. Still, nice to know people are still being added.

As it pertains to those older teams, it'd be cool to see some of the old 2K12 options pop back up at some point. You can bend and meld the game with sliders in order to play through believable games with 1980's teams on forward. But once you get back into Cousy/Wilt days, you kind of need some help from 2K. 3-point line toggle, specific rules, maybe a couple more super basic dunk packages that don't break away the rim, etc.

I know, super classic customization is such a niche addition that it's hard to justify, but whatevs. I actually feel like those kind of unique additions could draw some folks into playing with those teams who otherwise wouldn't. Or, if the 3-point toggle or rule changes were available for all teams, it could put a twist on standard games. I think it could be kind of cool to be able to pit the modern Warriors against, say, Wilt and the 60's Lakers but with no 3-point line.

[daveberg]

Quote: Originally Posted by VDusen04

That's a nice addition! Did he make the cut on the All-Time Pistons? I'm guessing not on account of everyone else already on the roster. Still, nice to know people are still being added. As it pertains to those older teams, it'd be cool to see some of the old 2K12 options pop back up at some point. You can bend and meld the game with sliders in order to play through believable games with 1980's teams on forward. But once you get back into Cousy/Wilt days, you kind of need some help from 2K. 3-point line toggle, specific rules, maybe a couple more super basic dunk packages that don't break away the rim, etc. I know, super classic customization is such a niche addition that it's hard to justify, but whatevs. I actually feel like those kind of unique additions could draw some folks into playing with those teams who otherwise wouldn't. Or, if the 3-point toggle or rule changes were available for all teams, it could put a twist on standard games. I think it could be kind of cool to be able to pit the modern Warriors against, say, Wilt and the 60's Lakers but with no 3-point line.

I think this would be an amazing addition. Next gen has more scope to expand with such things. Seeing the subtraction of the trey line would be great, or for an alternative, it could be moved in slightly when playing with teams in 96 for example.

Seeing alternate rule systems would be something, too. Illegal defense. No 3 in the key etc etc

Sadly not enough folk care about the classic teams, as the game itself is widely catered to online players and folks who love the fantasy modes, using their own created players etc.

Unless 2k are keeping some rather large secrets for next gen, I don't expect to see any more old school teams included.