The makers of the video game NBA 2K are honoring the late Kobe Bryant with the latest iteration in the series by releasing not one but three distinct editions of NBA 2K24, each centered around the five-time champion. As the game’s marketing frontman Ronnie 2K recently told USA TODAY Sports Media Group, pairing Bryant with 2K24 was a no-brainer.
Bryant’s impact on this version of the game will run deeper than cover art. NBA 2K24 will launch a new game mode called Mamba Moments, allowing players to recreate some of the most iconic games from Bryant’s career. Erick Boenisch, the vice president of NBA development at the game’s parent company, Visual Concepts, explained in a press release that this process was centered around showcasing the very best from Bryant’s career.
“The Mamba Moments were selected to celebrate Kobe and remember how he was the most unique competitor the world had ever seen,” Boenisch said. “Our team took great care in building a realistic and authentic experience to inspire and educate a new generation of basketball fans on the legacy of the lifetime Laker that left his mark on the sport.”