Now That J. Cole Is A Professional Basketball Player, He’s Even Getting His Own ‘NBA 2K’ Cover

J. Cole’s hoop dreams have been well-documented, but I don’t know if even he thought he’d get this far. After playing professionally for two different teams — one in the Basketball Africa League and one in the Canadian Elite Basketball League — he’s achieved many a hoop star’s ultimate dream of appearing on the cover of NBA 2K. That’s right, the latest edition of the long-running basketball simulation video game, NBA 2K23, will be released with a special Dreamer Edition cover featuring none other than Mr. Dollar And A Dream himself, J. Cole.

Cole is also set to appear in the game’s popular MyCareer story mode and as a playable character model, harkening back to the days when players could dunk on opponents with the likes of Nelly and the St. Lunatics in NBA Street Vol. 2 (hopefully, this just means we’re one step closer to Cole, Drake, and Kendrick appearing in a reboot of Def Jam: Fight For NY). Cole’s longtime partners and fellow Dreamville artists Bas and Elite will apparently also appear in the story mode to help the player earn the rapper’s respect. Naturally, there’ll be plenty of Dreamville representation on the soundtrack, which has always featured the hottest contemporary artists in hip-hop — a box Cole and crew certainly check.

j cole 2k dreamer edition cover
2K Sports
j cole 2k in game
2K Games
bas 2k mycareer in game
2K Games

In a statement, Cole says, “NBA 2K has long been a place to discover new musical talent through their game and continues to be a gold standard for showcasing all things basketball culture. It’s been an amazing journey to not only appear on a cover of this year’s game but to be part of the MyCAREER storyline, and soundtrack and bring the Dreamer brand into NBA 2K.

NBA 2K23 is out September 9. The Dreamer Edition will be available at Gamestop in the US and Canada, then presumably on StockX or some other third-party site for double the price.

NBA 2K23 Announces New Gameplay Features and Updates for The W, Including WNBA All-Star Game

NBA2K23 The W Key Art

New features and enhancements for The WNBA in NBA® 2K23 for PlayStation® 5 (PS5TM) and Xbox Series X|S gamers were announced by 2K today. The W will provide further brand-new content, community challenges, and new ways to manage the league’s growth.

“The WNBA is quickly growing and evolving, and we are ensuring that we also expand the breadth and scope of The W mode to bring fans of the WNBA more ways to experience it,” said Felicia Steenhouse, Senior Producer at Visual Concepts. “This year The W provides an even more authentic WNBA experience that players can enjoy, from choosing how to expand the league to leading the community to new heights.” 

The W mode will have community goals, which the community can cooperate to achieve six weekly goals. Every NBA 2K23 player will be rewarded if the community meets the objective in four of the Season’s six weeks.

For full details on the new updates coming to The W in NBA 2K23 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, check out the latest Courtside Report.

You can see glimpses of The W in NBA 2K23 below.

NBA2K23 The W Player Boosts
NBA2K23 The W Player Boosts
NBA 2K23 The W Screenshot 2
NBA 2K23 The W
NBA 2K23 The W Screenshot 1

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NBA 2K23 Announces New Advancements in the Jordan Challenge Mode

NBA 2K23 Jordan Challenge Screenshot 9

The Jordan Challenge mode for NBA® 2K23 has been updated with additional information and features, according to 2K. 15 selectable moments from Michael Jordan’s career are included in the game mode, allowing players to experience his history from his days as a collegiate star up until his game-winning jumper in the 1998 NBA Finals.

“The Jordan Challenge is an immersive experience unlike anything NBA 2K fans have seen, completely rebuilding the challenges from 2K11 and adding five new moments,” said Erick Boenisch, VP of NBA Development at Visual Concepts. “Our team took everything into consideration when constructing this game mode; the arenas, the players, the uniforms, the broadcast, and the play style of the era have been accounted for in an effort to give fans a truly authentic and unique playable Jordan experience.”

The Jordan Challenge features magnificent recreations of bygone eras, from the 1982 NCAA National Championship to the 1998 NBA Finals, as well as classic NBA moments and in-game advancements. Each challenge includes a pre-game interview with a famous person who contributed to what makes each game unique. A comprehensive presentational package that recreates the television experience of these games as they were originally broadcast during the 1980s and 1990s, showcasing the look, feel, and sound that transports players back to the original game, is available. This presentational package includes a complexly designed video filter system.

In addition, there are new distinctive style upgrades for legendary greats like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, as well as increased physicality modeled on the court and in the paint, are included. These upgrades include all-new jump shot, layup, and slam packages.

For full details on the new Jordan Challenge, visit here, and you can see images from the game below.

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NBA 2K23 Announces New Gameplay Enhancements for Fans of the Video Game Franchise

NBA 2K23 Gameplay Enhancements

The newest gameplay improvements for NBA 2K23 were unveiled by 2K today, focusing on new skill moves, animations, and player builds that offer a more genuine and hyper-real experience.

“We value community feedback when deciding how to bring each version of NBA 2K to life, and this year’s gameplay enhancements reflect many of the changes our community was calling for the most,” said Mike Wang, Gameplay Director at Visual Concepts. “From focusing on how players can attack the basket, to more realistic on-ball defense and a new tiered badge system, all the features we’ve brought to life in the game this year will create a more authentic gameplay experience that is enjoyable for everyone.”

NBA 2K23 Gameplay Screenshot 3

The new gameplay innovations include raising the competitive intensity in shooting, pro stick enhancements, skill moves & adrenaline boosts, defense, badges, takeovers, AI gameplay, and more.

Check out the most recent Courtside Report for complete information on the most recent gameplay improvements coming to NBA 2K23. Keep an eye out for more in-depth analyses of the new features in the upcoming updates of the most popular NBA basketball simulation video game.

The PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms will all receive NBA 2K23 on September 9. Visit the NBA 2K23 official website for more details.

NBA 2K23 Gameplay Screenshot 1

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Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi Featured on the WNBA Edition Cover of NBA 2K23

NBA 2K23 WNBA Cover Art

Diana Taurasi, the three-time WNBA champion, all-time leading scorer, and five-time Olympic gold medalist for the Phoenix Mercury, and Sue Bird, the four-time WNBA champion, thirteen-time WNBA All-Star, and five-time Olympic gold medalist for the Seattle Storm, will be featured on the cover of the NBA® 2K23 WNBA Edition, according to a 2K announcement today.

The NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition is the second cover in the history of the NBA 2K brand to honor WNBA athletes, and it is only available at GameStop in the United States and Canada. With one more significant cover athlete announcement scheduled for tomorrow, Diana and Sue will join Michael Jordan as the current NBA 2K23 cover players.

NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition Vertical
NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition

“It really is an incredible feeling to see your hard work memorialized on the cover of a game like NBA 2K23,” said Taurasi. “There are so many kids that dream of pursuing a professional basketball career, and they can now ​​also dream of being on the NBA 2K cover, whether they want to play in the NBA or WNBA.”

“The response to NBA 2K’s first WNBA Edition last year was overwhelmingly positive and a testament to the W’s growing audience and prominence,” said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. “Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have achieved greatness both individually and together, cementing their status as two of the best players in the WNBA’s history.”

NBA 2K is teaming up with the WNBA players to donate $100,000 to Every Kid Sports in honor of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi’s lifetime dedication to ensuring equitable opportunities for women athletes. This will allow kids to participate in grassroots basketball programs all around the country. By paying the registration costs for more than 550 girls from low-income families, the donation will boost the number of kids who have access to youth basketball. A national nonprofit organization called Every Kid Sports exists to support kids’ participation in recreational youth sports.

“It’s amazing to see myself on the cover of a video game that has such a cultural impact,” said Bird. “And by partnering with NBA 2K and Every Kid Sports, Diana and I have the opportunity to open doors to hundreds of young girls in this country who want to express themselves on the court. I’m honored to be on the cover, and even more honored to use my legacy to provide these opportunities for the next generation.” 

“This partnership with 2K and the phenomenal athletes involved is an exciting opportunity for our organization,” said Natalie Hummel, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Every Kid Sports. “We are truly humbled by their support and commitment to our mission to close the gap in access to recreational youth sports. I look forward to working together towards our goal of increased equity in sports by providing a pathway for underserved girls to reap the benefits of play.”

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi’s WNBA jerseys will be included as in-game extra content in the NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition. When pre-orders start on July 7, stay tuned for further cover reveals and information on pricing.

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Michael Jordan Unveiled as NBA 2K23 Cover Star on Two Special Editions of Forthcoming Game

NBA 2K23 MJ Edition Wide

Michael Jordan a 14-time NBA All-Star, five-time Kia NBA MVP, six-time NBA World Champion, and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be featured on the covers of both the NBA® 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition and the NBA® 2K23 Championship Edition, according to a 2K announcement.

NBA 2K23 Logo 1

Because of Jordan’s career, the NBA became a worldwide phenomenon, and he became well-known and had a lasting influence on basketball. Jordan, the GOAT of the NBA, is the ideal representation of this year’s advertising theme, “Answer the Call,” for NBA 2K‘s 24th anniversary. Jordan comes back to star on two NBA 2K23 covers as an athlete who always rose to the occasion, providing an opportunity for both old and new fans to honor a talent who awed the globe throughout his career.

NBA2K23 Michael Jordan Cover Art
NBA2K23 Michael Jordan Cover Art

“After making 23 the most recognizable number in sports, it was only fitting that for NBA 2K23 we introduce the Michael Jordan Edition,” said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy for NBA 2K. “Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce a brand new premium edition of the game with the NBA 2K23 Championship Edition, as no other player embodies the word ‘champion’ like Jordan. This limited-edition version will also offer players the opportunity to catch on-court action throughout the season with a 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass* included. We look forward to celebrating this game with the community when it’s released on September 9.” 

NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan 1992 Screenshot
NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan 1986 Screenshot

The Jordan Challenge, which challenges players to replicate 15 memorable moments from Michael Jordan’s brilliant career, will be brought back in NBA 2K23 along with Jordan’s return to the game’s cover art. For a brand-new generation of players to experience, all ten of the original Challenges from NBA 2K11 have been entirely rebuilt from the ground up and will return this year, along with five new classic Jordan moments. These Challenges, each with its own game style, make use of more than ten years’ worth of technical advancements to offer a totally new way to experience Jordan’s accomplishments.

The Jordan Challenge also highlights a variety of mesmerizing performances from Jordan’s college, NBA, and Team USA Basketball careers, which players can experience across all 15 Challenges. It also features original video vignettes with special commentary from a variety of NBA greats, including Jordan’s teammates, rivals, and other sports figures who witnessed him perform live and can help a new generation of NBA fans understand his legacy. Later this summer, further information about The Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K23 will be made available.

One of the most renowned sportsmen in NBA and NBA 2K history, Michael Jordan is featured on the cover of NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition and NBA 2K23 Championship Edition for the fourth time overall. Prior to NBA 2K16 Special Edition, he appeared on the covers of NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, and NBA 2K16. When pre-orders start on July 7, stay tuned for more cover athlete announcements in the following two days as well as price.

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