Last year the NBA 2K series expanded its commentary and analyst team to 11 personalities that would rotate in and out for different games. Kevin Harlan was locked into the play-by-play role but would be joined by any one of Chris Webber, Steve Smith, Doris Burke, Brent Barry, Greg Anthony, and Clark Kellogg. David Aldridge handled sideline reporting duties while TNT's Inside the NBA Team of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith held down the studio show.
They all return for "NBA 2K18" with more former players joining the group. Kevin Garnett, who regularly appears on the TNT show, and Kobe Bryant will be welcomed into the booth for some games as special guest commentators.
#NBA2K18's Presentation gets even more authentic & bigger as legends @kobebryant & @KGArea21 join the booth in our latest trailer! pic.twitter.com/tG5DqapBoY
— NBA 2K 2K18 (@NBA2K) August 28, 2017
2K Sports previously announced a second year of The Prelude will release Sept. 8 for Xbox One and PS4. Acting as a free demo of sorts, The Prelude provides an opportunity to get a start on the MyCareer story mode with the progress made carrying over to the full game. With "NBA 2K17," it was the college portion of the story that played out. It has not been specified what the experience will be this time around.
"NBA 2K18" will let you play through a story as a general manager, joining its other story-based mode which is centered on being a player, and introduces 17 new classic teams and 30 all-time teams. The game will release Sept. 15 to those who preorder. Shaquille O'Neal is featured on the two pricey special editions of the game, which will be sold for $150 and $100, respectively.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and can be reached on Twitter@Pastapadre.