The latest addition to the sacred NBA 2K the franchise is NBA 2K23 and with that comes a brand new version of MyNBA mode. The eras aspect allows players to take over the league at different times over the past decades, meaning you can rewrite history.
This set the table for some of the most creative players in the world. NBA 2K to come up with interesting ideas for how they want to play. Are they moving legendary players to teams they never played for? Are they trying to interrupt a dynasty? Possibilities are a great example of “what if.”
No injuries for some big players
Whenever the topic of “what if” in sports comes up, we always talk about great players whose careers were cut short due to injuries. In the NBA, this includes Grant Hill, Derrick Rose, Penny Hardaway, Brandon Roy and many others.
With MyNBA Eras, you can discover what their careers could have been like. If Rose never falls, will the Bulls topple the Big Three Heat before they win? Could Grant Hill have reached Jordan’s level? Maybe you could even make sure Paul George and Kawhi Leonard stay healthy on the modern Clippers. These are things you can discover or achieve.
Test players from different eras
The game features an interesting setup where you can place players in different eras. Some fans have already taken to YouTube to show what this experience would be like. For example, basketball fans have always wondered what LeBron James would be like if he played in the hard-hitting 90s.
There are many other things you can try and try. Would Stephen Curry be able to succeed in a championship without three-pointers? Would Michael Jordan still be the GOAT in today’s era of shooting and more versatile players?
Win titles with the best teams to never do so
NBA history is littered with teams that were among the best of all time, but narrowly failed to win a championship. MyNBA will let you try and rectify that, whether it’s the 73-9 Golden State Warriors of 2016 or the Sacramento Kings of 2002.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe you can bring Utah a title in a way the great teams of the ’90s couldn’t, or maybe you can turn things around for the 2007 Mavericks, who lost in the first round. There are so many teams you can help revisit their destiny.
Stop Michael Jordan’s dynasty
The Chicago Bulls are one of the greatest dynasties in sports, winning three straight titles in the early ’90s and three more in a row later in the decade. Teams like the SuperSonics, Suns, Jazz, Trail Blazers and Lakers all had a chance to stop them.
Now you have the opportunity to do just that. The beauty of this mode is that you can try to succeed with one of these teams or take a completely different path than other top teams from the 90s like the Rockets, Knicks, Pacers or many others.
More magic against the bird
One of the eras of the game is simply known as “Magic vs. Bird”. These two icons have had their careers intertwined since the day they were drafted and they met several times in the NBA Finals, adding to their history. The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics, the subject of HBO shows Winning time series.
They were friendly rivals and helped save the league, but what if they played each other even more frequently? The few years they didn’t face each other in the final could be changed and we could really see which of these legends had the upper hand.
Draft Michael Jordan elsewhere
When it comes to the NBA Draft, fans still feel for the Portland Trail Blazers, who missed out on two all-time great players. In 2007, they brought Greg Oden on Kevin Durant and in 1984, they chose Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan.
So what if they hadn’t made that decision and drafted Michael Jordan instead? It would change the course of history and maybe the Blazers would become champions. You could also have a completely different team with him since the game starts the season before its release.
Keep Kobe and Shaq together
The Lakers are the last team in major American sports to win three championship titles, from 2000 to 2002. They lost to the Spurs in 2003, then were defeated in the 2004 NBA Finals, ending their streak. the era of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O.’ Neal as a duo.
The two greats had famous arguments and issues that prevented them from growing together and eventually winning more. Well, you have the chance to win a fourth or fifth title in a row with them or even go further by keeping them together.
Win 8 in a row with Michael Jordan
As indicated, Michael Jordan’s Bulls have won three consecutive titles from 1991 to 1993, then from 1996 to 1998. The main thing that kept them from winning more was Jordan moving out to the middle to try his hand at baseball.
With MyNBA, you can see what would have happened if he had stuck around. You can control the Bulls and try to win those years when Jordan wasn’t fully there, winning eight straight titles, which only happened in the 60s with Bill Russell.
Mix and match eras
It’s one thing to place a player like Curry or James in a past era and even bring Hakeem Olajuwon and Kobe Bryan into the modern era. However, it’s a totally different case to move entire teams.
Doing this would allow you to play the games that everyone has only hypothetically discussed in the past. Kevin Durant’s Warriors vs. the ’90s Bulls or Kobe and Shaq’s team vs. the Showtime Lakers are possibilities. Maybe create a league of the 30 greatest teams of all time and see what happens.
Change the 2003 draft
There is always debate over which draft class is the best in NBA history, with 1984, 1996 and 2003 all being mentioned. In this case, you can modify the 2003 draft and completely change the modern era.
What if LeBron James doesn’t go to Cleveland or Dwyane Wade doesn’t end up in Miami? You could even turn things around and see if Darko Milicic can have a successful career. Maybe the Pistons, one year removed from an NBA title, select Carmelo Anthony and go for more offense.
