Monday Tip-Off: Next Gen NBA’s Greatest

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with an attempt at crafting a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest mode in a future NBA 2K.

Although the original Jordan Challenge was the catalyst for a new era of historical content in NBA 2K, NBA’s Greatest was an innovative follow-up. Many of the classic teams that were added as part of NBA’s Greatest are still in the game today, setting a precedent for expanding the roster of retro squads to celebrate a variety of players. It wasn’t the first basketball game to feature throwback presentation – NBA Jam 2004 had utilised the concept almost a decade earlier – but NBA 2K12 did a spectacular job with it, ultimately paving the way for what we now have with MyNBA Eras.

As a game released in 2011, NBA’s Greatest celebrated fifteen of the most prominent players in league history to that point: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Oscar Robertson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Scottie Pippen, and Isiah Thomas. Needless to say, those players still deserve to be celebrated today, but after all these years, there’s a new class of all-time greats that a future NBA 2K could build a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest around. With that in mind, here are fifteen players that should be celebrated in such a mode, as well as my picks for their games.

Kobe Bryant: The 81-Point Game in 2006

I mean, can it be anything else? Sure, Playoff and NBA Finals performances outrank regular season games in terms of importance, and Kobe Bryant undoubtedly shone on the biggest stage. His 81-point outburst against the Toronto Raptors on January 22nd 2006 is iconic though, and scoring barrages often make for the most fun challenges on the virtual hardwood. Furthermore, the game was curiously absent from the Mamba Moments mode in NBA 2K24. Representing the 81-point game in a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest would make up for that, and avoid overlap. It’d also be an excuse to add an underdog Raptors team that normally wouldn’t be significant enough to include.

Tim Duncan: Game 6, 2003 NBA Finals

Replicating Tim Duncan’s near quadruple-double in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals would be a lofty goal indeed! The original NBA’s Greatest didn’t have any statistical goals – just win the game to unlock the teams – but if we were to add some to a new version of the mode, maybe we could stick to points and rebounds here. In any case, it’s one of Duncan’s best games as a young star already locking up a future induction in Springfield. On top of that, much as Tim Duncan made a cameo as an opponent for Karl Malone in his NBA’s Greatest challenge, including the 2003 Spurs would allow David Robinson to appear, providing a link to the previous generation and OG mode.

Shaquille O’Neal: Game 7, 2002 Western Conference Finals

Yes, it’s a controversial series. It’s also one of the most epic clashes in the history of the Playoffs, and a huge game for Shaquille O’Neal, who was on another level during the Los Angeles Lakers’ threepeat at the turn of the millennium. The 2002 Kings have been established as a classic team in NBA 2K, and for good reason. They absolutely fit the bill as a notable rival and fun team, so to me it’s a no-brainer. The 2000 Pacers would be great of course, but they don’t work without Reggie Miller. Obviously this is a fantasy scenario so I could just assume that all of the necessary players will sign on – as I did in my re-imagining of NBA 2K12’s mode – but I’ll stick with what’s likely.

Allen Iverson: Game 1, 2001 NBA Finals

We already have the 2001 76ers and Lakers in NBA 2K’s array of classic teams, so why not? On one hand, I’d like to avoid doubling up on teams and players in these suggested matchups. On the other hand, there’s a reason the original mode did just that! Allen Iverson’s 48-point outburst in the overtime victory that prevented the Lakers from completing a clean sweep of the 2001 Playoffs is one of the defining games of his career. His 60-point game against the Magic with Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, and Steve Francis is also an option that’d get another unexpected team into NBA 2K, but that Finals performance is what most fans remember, and would likely prefer.

Dirk Nowitzki: Mavericks vs. Heat, 2011 NBA Finals

While the challenges in the original NBA’s Greatest could feasibly represent specific games, they were intentionally vague in contrast to the Jordan Challenge, and later Mamba Moments. With that in mind, while I’ve nominated specific games so far, I’ll take a cue from the original mode and make Dirk Nowitzki’s challenge a general representation of the NBA Finals showdown between his Dallas Mavericks and LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2011. It could well be the title-clinching sixth game, though it wasn’t Dirk’s best outing in the series. Whichever game you choose, it’s a memorable NBA Finals, and undoubtedly the crowning achievement of Dirk’s career.

Dwyane Wade: Game 6, 2006 NBA Finals

Similarly, Dwyane Wade’s challenge could feasibly represent the 2006 NBA Finals as a whole, in particular Games 3-6 where he exploded and led the Heat to their first championship. Wade capped off the series in spectacular fashion on the road though, so if you’d prefer a specific contest, let’s say Game 6! In addition to nicely mirroring Dirk’s challenge, the 2006 Heat and Mavericks provide us with a fun assortment of players, including Shaq, Jason Williams, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and Devin Harris. There was more success to come for Wade, but 2006 solidified him as one of the league’s best.

Tracy McGrady: Career High 62 Points vs. Wizards in 2004

You might be wondering how I could go past Tracy McGrady’s 13 points in 30-something seconds (some say 33, some say 35). While that was indeed one of the wildest finishes in NBA history, the matchup itself isn’t necessarily very exciting to play without that exact scenario. Since a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest would be a fine opportunity to add some more unorthodox classic teams to NBA 2K, I’m going to go with T-Mac’s career-high 62-point game against a rebuilding Wizards team featuring emerging All-Star Gilbert Arenas. Magic T-Mac is often overlooked if not underrated, and there are other ways to represent his run with the Rockets in a new retro mode…

Yao Ming: Rockets vs. Nuggets, 2007-2008 Season

…and that’s with Yao Ming! Yao and T-Mac’s five years together produced a handful of strong regular seasons, first round disappointments, and some wistful What Ifs due to injuries. Still, I believe that Yao should be one of the spotlighted players, and I’ve opted for the 2008 season. Yao was an All-Star that year while T-Mac wasn’t, though T-Mac ended the season higher in MVP voting. The Rockets also won 22 games in a row that year, with a roster that included Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, and a returning Steve Francis. A Nuggets team featuring Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, and Marcus Camby, strikes me as the ideal opponent for them.

Jason Kidd: Nets vs. Celtics, 2002 Eastern Conference Finals

Just how good was Jason Kidd? He was Mr. Triple-Double in an era when that was still a difficult stat to achieve, especially for a point guard! His arrival took the New Jersey Nets from the lottery to two straight NBA Finals; unfortunately for them, they ran into two powerhouses in the Lakers and Spurs. Kidd was a brilliant playmaker who could throw dazzling passes, defend, and even shook the label of not being able to shoot. He absolutely needs to be featured in a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest, and I believe the Nets’ 2002 Eastern Conference Finals meeting with a Celtics team led by Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker is an overlooked series that would be a blast to play.

Steve Nash: Suns vs. Nets, 2004-2005 Season

It only makes sense to set Steve Nash’s challenge during one of his MVP seasons. While Nash had better numbers in his second MVP campaign, the 2005 team – the first iteration of the Seven-Seconds-Or-Less Suns – is the lineup that people recall most fondly. The Nets made a big move of their own that year, acquiring Vince Carter early on in the season. Admittedly we didn’t see it in either clash between the Suns and Nets in 2005, but the trio of Nash, Shawn Marion, and Amar’e Stoudemire going against Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson is a marquee matchup. There’s no iconic rivalry here, but it’d still be an enjoyable showdown on the virtual hardwood.

Kevin Garnett: Timberwolves vs. Pistons, 2003-2004 Season

This may seem like an odd choice, given that the Timberwolves didn’t end up facing the eventual champion Pistons in the Finals. Like Reggie Miller, Rasheed Wallace is also presumably still absent in this scenario (though the team is already in the game despite that). However, Kevin Garnett was in his prime in 2004, being named MVP and leading the Timberwolves to the best record in the West. Minnesota defeated Detroit twice during the regular season, making for an interesting “What If”. With Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince all in action, it should be a fun game.

Paul Pierce: Celtics vs. Lakers, 2008 NBA Finals

Controversy over leaving Game 1 in a wheelchair aside, the 2008 NBA Finals saw the peak of Paul Pierce’s career, as he netted a championship and series MVP honours. He also shares the spotlight with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, as Boston’s Three Party take on a legendary rival in the form of the Lakers led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. One could argue that this challenge should be balanced out by the 2010 rematch for Kobe’s game, but it’s impossible to go past his 81-point performance. For those of us who started watching the NBA after the Celtics and Lakers’ last meeting in the 80s, it was special to see the iconic rivalry renewed; a perfect milestone for a mode like this!

Vince Carter: Raptors vs. Bucks, 2000-2001 Season

Even though his Nets years produced some Vinsanity, Vince Carter’s challenge in a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest really should be set during his Raptors stint. There’s a game from early on in the 2001 season that I believe fits the bill. On November 18th 2000, Carter and the Raptors played host to a Milwaukee Bucks team led by fellow rising star, Ray Allen. Allen and Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson combined for 54 points in that game, but Carter nearly matched them with a season-high 48 of his own. 2001 was the peak for those Raptors and Bucks teams, and while they didn’t become powerhouses, it was fun to see new names and different teams emerging during the early 2000s.

Carmelo Anthony: Knicks vs. Bulls, 2011-2012 Season

I went back and forth here. A Carmelo Anthony vs. LeBron James game makes a lot of sense, as it was the marquee matchup coming out of the 2003 Draft. His career high of 62 points might be a candidate, but even allowing for some unorthodox choices, the 2014 Bobcats are a huge stretch! And so, I’ve chosen a game that’s heartbreaking for me: the April 8th 2012 win over the Bulls, in which Melo scored 43 points and hit the game-winning three. That 2012 Knicks team also featured Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis – as well as an inactive Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin – while the Bulls had Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, and Richard Hamilton.

Tony Parker: Spurs vs. Cavaliers, 2007 NBA Finals

Let’s wrap up this vision for a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest with Tony Parker. The 2023 Hall of Fame inductee became a starter as a 19-year-old rookie, and by 2007, was making All-Star teams and leapfrogging Tim Duncan to be named Finals MVP as the Spurs won their fourth championship. A blur on the court that was adept at finishing inside despite his small stature, Parker was one of the league’s best point guards in his prime, and had impressive longevity. The 2007 NBA Finals setting also ensures that a young LeBron James can be featured in this updated mode, much as Jerry West’s challenge in NBA 2K12 was able to get Pete Maravich and the Hawks into the game.

Hey, what about…

Steph Curry? Kevin Durant? Luka Doncic? Nikola Jokic? Giannis Antetokounmpo? LeBron James?!? Well, in the spirit of the original NBA’s Greatest, I’ve stuck with players that are retired, and all of those stars – and a few others you might be inclined to name – are still active as of the 2025 season. Of course, depending on when we’re seeing this theoretical NBA’s Greatest 2.0 mode, a couple of them might quality. Until then, I’ll leave them for a potential third list comprised of active players who would be candidates for a mode like this. LeBron could certainly be part of this generation of players though, and if so, I’d probably switch him with Tony Parker. Sorry, Tony!

There was a time when I doubted that NBA 2K would seek to include a historical challenge mode ever again. It seemed that anything that didn’t generate recurrent revenue was unlikely, and the general backlash against nostalgia made me wonder if the interest would be there. The revamped Jordan Challenge and Mamba Moments clearly proved me wrong though, so a Next Gen NBA’s Greatest isn’t unthinkable. I’d suggest we’ll start seeing more nostalgia for the stars of the 2000s and 2010s in the near future, just as it was there for 80s and 90s players some 15 years ago. With many of these players in NBA 2K already, it’d be an enjoyable walk down memory lane.

The post Monday Tip-Off: Next Gen NBA’s Greatest appeared first on NLSC.