You can mock Jay Z, rant on dunks (either too much or too little) but shoes are also important to the "sim" thing.
Simulation: (bolded is what we are talking about and need)
1. imitation or enactment, as of something anticipated or in testing.
2. the act or process of pretending; feigning.
3. an assumption or imitation of a particular appearance or form; counterfeit; sham.
4. a conscious attempt to feign some mental or physical disorder to escape punishment or to gain a desired objective.
5. the representation of the behavior or characteristics of one system through the use of another system, especially a computer program designed for the purpose.
Gameplay is important to Sim, don't get me wrong, BUT THE APPERANCE is also important to have a complete "sim-realistic" experience. You don't just wanna make a game either play or look good. You want a game play AND look good.
2K is taking the NBA Live 10 route (a Mike Wang-devolved game) where it's not only trying to make the players play like real life with easy to learn and perform controls, but it is also trying to get the culture and appearance of the NBA too.