Complete Kobe Era

[ServerSavage]

I’ve put together an edit of the Kobe Era roster in NBA 2K25, called "Complete Kobe Era (In-Progress)." It’s called "In-Progress" because I couldn’t figure out how to change the name, but rest assured, the roster is fully finished.

I’ve updated all contracts and player likenesses using info from BasketballReference.com, RealGM.com, and other online sources, so everything should be accurate. I’ve also included a bunch of notable free agents to keep things interesting.

Big thanks to MJWizards for the CAPS of Rasheed Wallace, Anthony Mason, Reggie Miller, and Tayshaun Prince, and a shout-out to Hazy LaCrumb for so many solid CAPS I was able to build from. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to edit the staff. It's tricky to navigate, but I’m happy to make updates if anyone’s interested!

Let me know what you think!


https://youtu.be/gQuXfayqrx4

[aussie_pride]

Quote: Originally Posted by ServerSavage

I’ve put together an edit of the Kobe Era roster in NBA 2K25, called "Complete Kobe Era (In-Progress)." It’s called "In-Progress" because I couldn’t figure out how to change the name, but rest assured, the roster is fully finished. I’ve updated all contracts and player likenesses using info from BasketballReference.com, RealGM.com, and other online sources, so everything should be accurate. I’ve also included a bunch of notable free agents to keep things interesting. Big thanks to MJWizards for the CAPS of Rasheed Wallace, Anthony Mason, Reggie Miller, and Tayshaun Prince, and a shout-out to Hazy LaCrumb for so many solid CAPS I was able to build from. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to edit the staff. It's tricky to navigate, but I’m happy to make updates if anyone’s interested! Let me know what you think! https://youtu.be/gQuXfayqrx4

This looks awesome! Thanks for your work! Do you have any plans to do scenarios for different seasons from the Kobe Era?

[8KB24]

Do you have accompanied association settings/mynba settings?


Roster looks great!

[Real2KInsider]

Working on a Kobe 2003 roster myself.

2003 was my first 2K and the season I started publishing 2K ratings

The OVRs and positions are really bad in the default 2K roster. The top players are fine but the mid-tier is a mess (per usual for 2K).

Basketball-Reference is position estimates are just that - estimates (they use Height). Combing player Lineup data is going to be more accurate.

As an example:

SIXERS
94 (NC) Allen Iverson (SG/PG)
82 (+2) Eric Snow (PG)
81 (-1) Keith Van Horn (SF/PF)
78 (NC) Kenny Thomas (PF/C)
78 (NC) Aaron McKie (SG/SF)
77 (-2) Derrick Coleman (C)
75 (NC) Todd MacCulloch (C)
75 (+2) Greg Buckner (SF/SG)
75 (NA) Brian Skinner (C/PF)
74 (+1) Tyrone Hill (PF/C)
74 (+3) Monty Williams (SF/PF)
73 (NA) Samuel Dalembert (C)
72 (NA) John Salmons (SG/SF)
69 (NC) Kenny Satterfield (PG)
69 (NA) Efthimos Rentzias (C)

McKie at SF was a red flag for me because I remembered him being a career SG. BBR has him at SF over Buckner in lineups because he was an inch taller.

If you check their actual lineup data, all of Buckner's lineups come with two other guards (two of Iverson, Snow, McKie), while McKie does have lineups w/ only 1 of Iverson/Snow (and excluding Buckner).

KVH was the starting SF after the first month, they figured out quickly he wasn't going to work at PF on a team that traded Mutombo for him. I liked KVH as a player (esp w/ the Knicks in 04), but his contract was a killer, he was a Max player making the same as Iverson. Tons of brutal contracts like this back in the day.

I didn't recall Snow at the time being 2nd best player good (KVH had the contract/rep) but it was his career offensive season, and he made All-Defense.
McKie had slipped some from his Sixth Man of Year season two years prior, he ended up declining further and amnestied a few years later.
MacCulloch/Monty medically retired after this. Mac I expected to rate a little higher, but his performance also declined due to his foot issue. With NJN the year prior he probably would have been 78-79 range.
Coleman/Hill faded quick due to age.
Most of the long-term players (Skinner, Salmons, Dalembert) are actually CAPs which leaves the roster barren without those guys.

Rentzias only played one year and 144 mins in the NBA but had a 9-year International career. He was a stretch-5 which the CAP doesn't reflect.

Rentzias and Satterfield are examples of players who were essentially 2-Way / Non-NBA caliber players. IMO the existence of those guys doesn't make or break a roster, it's how accurate the top players / rotations are because those are largely the reasons players are going down nostalgia alley.

I guess one more note is the Shooting Tendencies aren't using the Modern Era scale. I haven't seen how this affects the gameplay, but from my data tracking Mid-Range shots were significantly more prevalent, but were almost predominantly catch and shoot.
Iverson for example is the only Sixer with a Mid-Range AST% below 70% (and 49% is still higher than you'd think for a shot creator of his rep - he was actually shooting a lot off screens). Today's mid-range shots are mostly off the dribble rather than C&S, players like Luka/Trae will be around 5 AST%

[aussie_pride]

Quote: Originally Posted by Real2KInsider

Working on a Kobe 2003 roster myself. 2003 was my first 2K and the season I started publishing 2K ratings The OVRs and positions are really bad in the default 2K roster. The top players are fine but the mid-tier is a mess (per usual for 2K). Basketball-Reference is position estimates are just that - estimates (they use Height). Combing player Lineup data is going to be more accurate. As an example: SIXERS 94 (NC) Allen Iverson (SG/PG) 82 (+2) Eric Snow (PG) 81 (-1) Keith Van Horn (SF/PF) 78 (NC) Kenny Thomas (PF/C) 78 (NC) Aaron McKie (SG/SF) 77 (-2) Derrick Coleman (C) 75 (NC) Todd MacCulloch (C) 75 (+2) Greg Buckner (SF/SG) 75 (NA) Brian Skinner (C/PF) 74 (+1) Tyrone Hill (PF/C) 74 (+3) Monty Williams (SF/PF) 73 (NA) Samuel Dalembert (C) 72 (NA) John Salmons (SG/SF) 69 (NC) Kenny Satterfield (PG) 69 (NA) Efthimos Rentzias (C) McKie at SF was a red flag for me because I remembered him being a career SG. BBR has him at SF over Buckner in lineups because he was an inch taller. If you check their actual lineup data, all of Buckner's lineups come with two other guards (two of Iverson, Snow, McKie), while McKie does have lineups w/ only 1 of Iverson/Snow (and excluding Buckner). KVH was the starting SF after the first month, they figured out quickly he wasn't going to work at PF on a team that traded Mutombo for him. I liked KVH as a player (esp w/ the Knicks in 04), but his contract was a killer, he was a Max player making the same as Iverson. Tons of brutal contracts like this back in the day. I didn't recall Snow at the time being 2nd best player good (KVH had the contract/rep) but it was his career offensive season, and he made All-Defense. McKie had slipped some from his Sixth Man of Year season two years prior, he ended up declining further and amnestied a few years later. MacCulloch/Monty medically retired after this. Mac I expected to rate a little higher, but his performance also declined due to his foot issue. With NJN the year prior he probably would have been 78-79 range. Coleman/Hill faded quick due to age. Most of the long-term players (Skinner, Salmons, Dalembert) are actually CAPs which leaves the roster barren without those guys. Rentzias only played one year and 144 mins in the NBA but had a 9-year International career. He was a stretch-5 which the CAP doesn't reflect. Rentzias and Satterfield are examples of players who were essentially 2-Way / Non-NBA caliber players. IMO the existence of those guys doesn't make or break a roster, it's how accurate the top players / rotations are because those are largely the reasons players are going down nostalgia alley. I guess one more note is the Shooting Tendencies aren't using the Modern Era scale. I haven't seen how this affects the gameplay, but from my data tracking Mid-Range shots were significantly more prevalent, but were almost predominantly catch and shoot. Iverson for example is the only Sixer with a Mid-Range AST% below 70% (and 49% is still higher than you'd think for a shot creator of his rep - he was actually shooting a lot off screens). Today's mid-range shots are mostly off the dribble rather than C&S, players like Luka/Trae will be around 5 AST%

Really looking forward to this! Are you doing the 02-03 season or 03-04 season?

[Real2KInsider]

Quote: Originally Posted by aussie_pride

Really looking forward to this! Are you doing the 02-03 season or 03-04 season?

02-03, but with End of Season Rosters, rather than start of season.

It will be a slow trickle though as I collect data on each team here and there.

[ServerSavage]

Quote: Originally Posted by aussie_pride

This looks awesome! Thanks for your work! Do you have any plans to do scenarios for different seasons from the Kobe Era?

Hi aussie_pride,

I appreciate your kinds words! It was a lot of fun to build out.

I did not have any plans to create scenarios, but I'd definitely consider it if folks are interested.

[ServerSavage]

Quote: Originally Posted by 8KB24

Do you have accompanied association settings/mynba settings? Roster looks great!

Thanks, so much! I haven't worked out settings, but I'd be happy to do so if that is something folks are interested in.