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1971 Atlanta HawksĪnother team that was added for NBA’s Greatest, the 1971 Atlanta Hawks were the opponent for Jerry West’s 1971 Los Angeles Lakers. It’s still a shame to have lost them, but they were always an unusual choice. Malone is now back in the game and appears on the All-Time squads (including Philadelphia), but the ’85 76ers have not been restored, nor does he appear on any other retro teams. With 2K also briefly losing the likeness rights for the late Moses Malone in 2016, the ’85 76ers were ultimately removed from the game’s roster of retro teams in NBA 2K17. Barkley and Visual Concepts remain at an impasse as far as him appearing in the games, so it was always going to be an issue. Several of the key players from the 1983 championship team also played for the 1985 squad, so it would’ve been quite feasible to feature that squad instead.ĭoing so would’ve also avoided spotlighting the absence of Charles Barkley, who was a rookie on that 1985 76ers team. The 1983 squad seemed like a much better choice however, given that they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, and The Doctor was a little closer to his prime years. It was certainly a notable squad, going 58-24 in the regular season before losing to the Boston Celtics in the Conference Finals, and Dr. One of the strangest choices for NBA’s Greatest was the 1985 Philadelphia 76ers, a team included for Julius Erving’s challenge. It’s an oddball team, and I miss having it in 2K. Key players like Luc Longley, Steve Kerr, and Toni Kukoc have arrived, but Will Perdue and B.J. Horace Grant is gone, but Dennis Rodman isn’t there yet. Apart from being the season of MJ’s first comeback in which he briefly wore number 45, its roster is basically the bridge between the first and second threepeats. The uniqueness of that ’95 team makes it stands out, though. Obviously, there is no shortage of Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls squads among NBA 2K’s retro teams, with four of their championship teams along with a few from earlier on in MJ’s career accounted for in NBA 2K19. It made more sense than simply repeating the matchup from NBA 2K11, but it would’ve been nice to keep the ’95 Bulls in NBA 2K12 as an extra. They wouldn’t appear in NBA 2K12, as the 1995 New York Knicks were instead used for Patrick Ewing’s NBA’s Greatest challenge, squaring off against Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway, and the rest of the 1995 Orlando Magic. Originally included as part of The Jordan Challenge, specifically the Double Nickel game against the New York Knicks, the 1995 Bulls were one of the first retro teams to be cut. We’ll begin with what is perhaps the most disappointing omission: the 1995 Chicago Bulls. Over the years, a total of ten retro teams have been cut after being included in at least one game, though four of them would be replaced by a squad from around the same era. While it does seem like the concept of retro teams is here to stay – and there are plenty of ideas for new ones that could be added – not all of the previously included squads remain in NBA 2K.
#1993 charlotte hornets roster license
Indeed, a few years before 2K made it a reality, EA Sports made some preliminary steps towards including retro teams in NBA Live 08, ultimately scrapping the idea when they couldn’t license all of the players. There was a time, however, when it didn’t seem likely due to the hurdle of likeness rights. They’ve been a staple of the games since the introduction of The Jordan Challenge back in NBA 2K11, to the point where a lot of gamers no longer consider them bonus content they’re something we expect to see in the games. It’s easy to take the retro teams in NBA 2K for granted.
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This week, I’m taking a look back at the retro teams that we’ve lost in NBA 2K. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia.
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