The thing about playing NBA 2K is that players who are avid fans of the National Basketball League will always want to honor and get the chance to see the old teams that made their mark in the league.
With NBA 2K16, there will be 12 new legendary teams present, meaning players will get the chance to use these classic teams in MyLeague and MyGM modes.
For now, there are only 10 confirmed. Each are detailed below together with a bit of history.
2004-05 Phoenix Suns
This was the year that the Suns topped the regular season with a 62-20 win-loss record. This was the start of the Steve Nash-era who has the likes of Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson. This was the year that Mike D’ Antoni also got feted, taking the Suns up to the Western Conference Finals where the team lost to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
2005-06 Miami Heat
Who could ever forget the Heat’s first NBA title when they got their hands on the big guy Shaquille O’ Neal. The tandem of Shaq and Dwyane Wade led that squad which also had old hands in Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning. Wade was at his best that year, one of the key moments in his colorful NBA career.
2012-13 Miami Heat
Like it or love it, this was the Miami Heat team that rebounded after falling to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh did it that year and is certainly one of the best triumvirates the NBA has had since.
2003-04 Detroit Pistons
The Pistons were the surprise team this year, upending a souped up Los Angeles Lakers and denying them a chance at another championship. Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince led the team that year, a surprise that went down as perhaps one of the unforeseen upsets in NBA history.
2007-08 Houston Rockets
Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady did become teammates that season but for some reason the Rockets still faltered. The team may have limited stars but having a duo like this is definitely worth having for NBA 2K16.
1999-00 Toronto Raptors
Remember the time when Vince Carter got a lot of attention? The team of that season did come in with a mix of new and old, which included Tracy McGrady, Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis, a team that certainly carried a lot of spunk. Will we see Vince do some of his classic jams too?
2007-08 Boston Celtics
The Celtics had their own version of the big three as well. With Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce needing help, Boston made some big moves in getting Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the fold. Apparently that was one classic team that gave the Celtics their last NBA title.
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
It is always nice to see how the Lakers rolled with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’ Neal and apparently that team is also included.
2002-03 Dallas Mavericks
Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash? That trio is a big three in its own and would have come up with something but unfortunately didn’t. Lack of manpower support perhaps?
1999-2000 Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have had their share of talented lineups and this one was certainly one of them. Scottie Pippen, Damon Stoudemire, Arvydas Sabonis, Detlef Schrempf, Steve Smith, Brian Grant and Jermain O’ Neal? How could such a powerful lineup not win an NBA title? Blame Kobe and Shaq for that one.
So who will the last two be? There are a lot of teams worthy to be added but there are reportedly only two slots free.
The Bleacher Report does single out several teams worthy such as that of the 1992-93 Phoenix Suns, the 1999-2000 Indiana Pacers, 2002-03 New Jersey Nets and the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves. For the first two there seems to be some legal issues tied up that could hinder their addition. Could it be the last two?
The last two teams will be announced Thursday so watch out for it!