Don't take this the wrong way. I don't think 2K20 is a bad game. It had a terrible launch, but currently it's decent. Especially when compared to EA's sports games. That said, 2K16 just did everything better. I wouldn't call 2K17-20 great, which is why I think 2K16 is the last great 2k.

Unfortunate that 2k decided to change the 2k franchise from a basketball simulation to a casino simulation after this game.

Let’s be honest 2016 was the greatest year in general

that animation with curry, harden, AD, and MJ is so nostalgic

Gameplay felt weighty yet smooth. Big guys would bang realistically while wing players would move just as real. The lighting was pretty good.

RIP Vic Van Lier, he was the FOF, friend of Freq, I was actually kinda sad when he died ngl

*This guy knows what up. The dribbling was perfect.*

2k doesn’t have soul anymore.. the same can be said for a ton of other gaming company’s..

The community back then wasn't as back as it now, people would still play even if your a pro or rookie but now no one with each other unless your a high rep player or with friends.

2k is just as greedy as EA right now.

To top it all off, the menu presentation was phenomenal. When you choose an option in the main menu one of AD, Harden, or Curry dribbling, shooting etc. was awesome. Especially when you look at 2k15s boring menu. Literally the only improvement on presentation is different commentators. The menu has been boring ever since

Why everybody acting like you couldn’t skip cut scenes in this game

100% agree with this. 2k16 and 2k11 will forever be gems. Don't know which one I'd give the crown too, but either one is deserving of it.

I remember playing MyCareer. In the national championship, I made a shot to take the lead in the last few seconds. Then I got posted up and faded on for a buzzer beater. It was the worst sports game moment of my life.

Almost cried from the nostalgia of having a competent sports game

I literally played every mode in 2K16:!!! I always tell people this is the 🐐 2k 💯

This game is still better than 2k23

Facts when they dropped patch 6 it was 2k downfall 🤦‍♂️ it’s sad how they went from being the best on this gen to everyone hating it

2K16, 2K11, and 2K13 are the best 2K’s

This was my first 2k game and it was in 2018,thank god i didn't get 2k18.this was the game that got me into basketball.This game will be remembered as one of my favorite games of all time.

2K16 is a game I still play. The presentation was arguably the greatest, the gameplay was extremely fluid, the CPU was intelligent, MyPark was at its peak, the graphics were arguably at the peak, and that Soundtrack not only introduced me to rap but it's something I listen to on KZfaq on the regular. The only thing that wasn't great was editing players and the dribbling wasn't as great. However, everything else was absolutely perfect.

Ok for starters, I would just like to say 2k13 has the greatest soundtrack ever, period. Second 2ks soundtrack now is just a bunch of modern pop crap, like they don’t go look for the old good stuff

imagine if Mike said "Alright we get it...we will be remastering 2k16"

Not just NBA 2K16 but 2016 was the last great year I remember

3:50 Meanwhile two players run into an invisible wall

It’s so sad that the last great 2k was 4 years ago and the last great Madden was triple that amount of years ago

2k16 was amazing and I fear it’s only down hill from there, 2k has lost their passion and they change to many things 2k16 was straight fun great times.

so were not gonna talk about how no one mentioned 2k17 being a good game

2k16 had one of the best soundtracks ever in a sports game

I hope 2k starts with high school again and let's you choose a college, it just needs to be more detailed, such as an NCAA tournament

you’re telling me “FOF” wasn’t cheesy. bro that storyline was whack. but still, this was the last quality 2k

This man be making you wanna re-download/play the games he reviews

2K11 was the best, 2K16 comes in second. It still gets on my nerve with some BS AI, but overall it's pretty enjoyable. I'm still playing 2K16 in MyLeague; now in the 2021-2022 season. The only reason I bought 2k19 was because it was only $2.99 on PSN but the game is straight booty and I don't even play it.

you should do the rise and fall of NHL 2k.

I know nothing about Basketball strategy, but 2k16’s movement and physics feel so fluid that I still have tons of fun playing it.

Sadly 2k17 was my first 2k game so I wasn’t able to play this game 😢

The Top 5 2Ks 1: NBA 2K16 2: NBA 2K11 3: NBA 2K17 4: NBA 2K14 5: NBA 2K15

I feel like they should turn back the online servers For now

Would literally give anything for the servers of 16 to come back, or have the next 2k’s gameplay revert back to this

2k16 was the peak and it was truly amazing game. To me 2k17 was the last playable one imo I never touched a 2k after 17. 2k18 completely went off the rails, I really miss the pre 2k18 days 17 was a decline but one I could tolerate when I first played 18 I didn't know what to think they wrecked the game and ever since then it was over.

The only 2k I've bought. Used my b-day money befor 17 came out. Still amazing.

Imma stop you right there, the MC story in 16 was trash.

1 minute in.. Im gonna love this video. I can already tell this man took his time with this one.

Now that I’m thinking about it 2k smart asf, they are making bad games so that the last game is viewed as decent(for example a lot of people hated 2k17 but then made 2k18 absolutely atrocious which makes 2k17 look good in comparison)

Video Idea: Chris Smoove’s Impact on Sports Gaming

The blacktop mode was so fun in nba 2k16. I still play it till this day.

The last 2k where blacktop used jerseys

2k16 is my very first nba game that I played PS4. I started to develop an interest on basketball because of 2K16. This game really changed my whole perspective of basketball till the point I started playing basketball because of 2k16. I even started to learn and follow all of the the nba matches, news and other related to basketball contents because of 2k16. This game is really special to me. I won’t forget how hard it was to beat the OKC, CAVS and GS in 2k16.

Crazy. I have this game, I bought it a year ago to try and get into 2k without buying a brand new one. I haven't really played it, am I sitting on a gold mine??

I remember selling 2k18 and just playing 2k16 instead. The gameplay and presentation felt so much better.

2016 is also called "the year before the world became chaotic"

2k16 is the greatest basketball game I’ve ever played.

This and 14 is still pretty damn good ,too bad graphics from 14 wasn't carried over to 15-16

2K11 ❤, last game in the series you could do legit Mj Mids, rise up use your vertical and release late intentionally as the defense goes back down to earth...

The beauty of the My Team 3v3 mode was that you could randomly get great cards to play with. It made the gameplay varied and made you want to play just to get a chance to test out a new card. There were only a handful of demigod cards as well. Otherwise you had role players and had to build a genuine team. Not like it is today where you can get do it all players within damn near a week of release and everyone feels the same. This mode had actual progression. They had dynamic cards whose stats changed based on how the player performed in the season. It was truly and amazing my team experience.

I think we all want the servers back up

For me, 2k16 had da best soundtrack while Madden 16’s soundtrack was not that bad

🥇NBA 2K11 🥈NBA 2K16 🥉NBA 2K17

I love how he used Chris Smoove and Troy Dan as examples

Agree completely. Great game, and I keep going back to it despite not even liking basket too much. Just so much better than anything EA has ever put out. If anything even close to this was in a hockey or football game...

I have to disagree with you on the storyline in MyCareer being great; in fact, it was absolutely awful. For starters, the pacing is way off. The high school and college games are a novel idea in theory, but they’re way too short and they’re followed up by 10-20 minute cutscenes. You’re watching the movie more than actually plauing the game, which would be okay if the story was actually at all compelling. The main focus of the story is the contentious relationship between your player character and Vic, your player character’s best friend. Upon entering the NBA, Vic causes nothing but trouble for your player character. However, these moments never affect the gameplay, and as a result, there’s a dissonance between the story and the game. I can’t feel the consequences of Vic’s actions outside of the lumbering cutscenes and as a result it breaks the immersion and believability of the story and the game. It’s as if I’m playing through 2 completely different experiences at once. It wouldn’t be so bad if the characters were at least interesting or likable enough to connect and relate to, but that’s an issue as well. Vic is an unlikable and annoying asshole for most of the game, a completely selfish and entitled individual who thinks he is the reason for your player character’s success. Vic’s character could have worked as a foil if the player character’s backstory and relationship with him were fully-developed and realized, but unfortunately it’s half-baked at best. The player character is completely devoid of any personality and completely unrelatable. He’s a humble kid from Harlem who just happens to be an exceptionally gifted athlete and model student with a perfect 4.0 GPA. 2K tries to give us some sort of player choice by allowing us to choose what college he goes to, but that choice has no real weight and is nothing more than a theme change. It’s like 2K tried to find the middle ground between having a silent character (like Link in The Legend of Zelda) and having a fully realized protagonist (Niko Bellic in GTA 4), but in trying to have the best of both worlds, they succeed in nothing. We can’t create our own player character to live through because he already has his own backstory and life but 2K wants us to live through him as if he’s our own character. It’s an awkward mismatch of ideas that enhances the flaws of each approach while minimizing its advantages. The story even limits the gameplay during the rookie season: you’re only allowed to play 8 games during your rookie season, and it’s in limited action. You’re not allowed the freedom to become a dominant basketball player. Whereas in other MyCareer modes where you quickly started to dominate, you’re forced to maybe play a MAX of 8-16 minutes and then are forced to watch a 15-20 minute cutscene. If your team makes the playoffs during your rookie season, you’re only allowed to play in ONE game, because the story takes all the focus and restricts the game.

2K19 was pretty solid too

This was the first 2k game I ever played. Didn't realize I wasn't the only one to really love it. Wish they were this fun still.

Idk why ppl say 17 was great. But man this 2k was just perfect man. I miss this game i really do. They need to bring the servers back up or something

We want 2k to go back to the day when we don't need to pay additional bills for essential protector gear.

This Was the last great sports game in general

Rip my dawg Vic van lier

The gameplay just feels perfect to me in this game, I still play it to this day. The newer 2k games gameplay is all animation and I hate it

11 and 16 are the only 2k’s I truly enjoy

To be fair 2K20 had a horific launch, but it’s very decent now

What's your favorite soundtrack in 2k? I'd go for 2k14, even though 11 and 12 were incredible, 14 had so many different styles and genres and it all went together beautifully.

Nothing beats 11

Madden is the fortnite of sports gaming and 2k is the call of duty

I never understood why everyone always seems to forget about 2K16 when talking about the best 2K. I miss Frequency Vibrations.

The 3 point specialist absolutely broke the game which might I add my favorite game and build ever

Just bought Nba 2k16 for ps4, after not having played for like 4 years. Compared to the last 4 2k's this thing is fucking gold

I mean, the unification of an OFFLINE mode like MyCareer to ONLINE modes like Park and ProAM it's what is killing the neweer 2ks, you simply can't describe this like a good point. For MyLeague, wasn't perfect, but probably better than now. For Gameplay, agree with you

2k16 the best 2k ever don’t @ me💯

Worst thing 2k has done was making blacktop players have fatigue

I live in Kansas so the Jayhawks and Wildcats colldege is probably where I will be going

Since 2k10: S Tier: 2k11, 2k16 A Tier: 2k17, 2k15, 2k14, 2k13 B Tier 2k10, 2k12, 2k19 C Tier: 2k20 D Tier: 2k18

NBA 2k16, Nba 2k13, and nba 2k11 are the best

It was immersive how in my career mode it would highlight the person you’re guarding and detail their strengths and weaknesses

After 2K16, NBA 2K Series went completely downhill until things went back on track in 2K23, only to get downhill again in 2K24 and probably 2K25.

I love this game , still do and still own it , it plays beautifully . But having no playoff mode really sucks . The my career storyline did nothing for me , and trying to play it a second time and not being able to skip the bull shit and being referred too as "freeq" is very annoying . Was gutted when the servers dropped for custom rosters and franchise mode. Great fun to play Iverson and Penny were my fav players to use .

NFL 2K5 NBA 2K11 NBA 2K16 QWOP The Mount Rushmore of sports games.

2k14 -best graphics, 2k16- best gameplay/mechanics. We need these elements combined !

I still play 2k 16 I wish the servers were still up 😔

I brought NBA2K16 2 weeks ago lol

The sound track was lit my favorite song was Aeo Mv

Back when they didn’t limit your player to being strictly a shooter or athletic like everyone in the league can’t do both

I feel like 17 was the last great 2k game

The greatest 2k and just so many memories I had on it😭😭

FOF- Friend Of Freq Vic Van lier- 2016

We’ll always say 2k11 was better because of nostalgia but pound for pound 2k16 is the best 2k, it’s not even close. All the innovations on the multiplayer side gave the game that “you won’t get bored soon” feel. It was the pinnacle of 2k multiplayer with clans and youtubers taking off. The 2k community was at it’s most creative and toxic (and we loved it).

I remember 2k16 those were the golden era days for 2k I remember going on 50+ streaks in the park 😔

I had came to 2k for tge first time in 2k16 after years of disappointing madden. I was finished and needed a alternative game. I genuinely thought 2k16 was the best game ever. If online servers were still up, I would rather play it then any other sports game. Now, I play NHL 20 which is a game that is great and has unlimted depth. I only like 2k16 more than NHL 20 because of the career mode which is lacking in NHL20

This was the last game Kobe played in the NBA before he retired from professional basketball for good.

3:45 this has to be the greatest of all time The guys on the left side of the screen running into air

Tbh, I think this also applies to mobile versions of NBA 2K games as well. From 2K17 to 2K20, I noticed that they cut a lot of cool features (like nicknames, choosing where you came from, layup and dunk packages, secondary playstyles, etc.) and MyPlayer customization (tattoos, jersey numbers, accessories, etc.), and just copied them to the next one. Your teammates' AI in basically any game mode is rather kinda... dumb and stupid. You can't call plays and they would just be standing looking at you, they would not recover the ball if it was on loose. In Nba 2K20 MyCareer mode, players can't perform putback dunks whatsoever (the opposing team can, however), and although there are badges to earn, they don't have much effects on the game, thus not really worth it despite the grind; they even mixed up the icons for Layups, Free Throws and Rituals in the Upgrade section. Players can't even see Season and Career achievements anymore, only In-Game achievements. Player models and photos haven't been updated as well. Players like KLove, DRussell, etc. still use models from 2K14, and most rookies don't even have their photos and look like any other generic players. Run The Streets are pretty cool, but can get quickly boring. And yeah, you cannot edit Legend players anymore like in 2K17. I understand that there are a lot of technical and technology-wise limitations on the mobile platforms, but I wish they just wouldn't perform such lazy work, copy everything into the next game and charge money for that.