:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56348919/screenshot.5.0.jpg)
Attempting to imagine how good a basketball team featuring Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal would be is almost enough to break someone’s brain. NBA 2K decided to go even further than that and give such a dream a shot, releasing the Los Angeles Lakers’ All-Time roster for it’s upcoming 2K18 videogame.
The Lakers’ All-Time roster features the names listed above and several more, with Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rounding out the Lakers’ starting lineup.
As if that team wasn’t stacked enough, the most overqualified bench mob in history features Lakers greats Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, George Mikan, Pau Gasol, oh, and some guy named Wilt Chamberlain who once scored 100 points in a game (albeit not with the Lakers).
Bringing up the end of the roster are the best 11th-15th men ever, with Gail Goodrich, Jamaal Wilkes, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Derek Fisher all ready to give quality minutes if one of the all-time greats ahead of them should get hurt or if you want a different look.
Check out the Lakers’ full roster with their ratings here:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9109231/Screen_Shot_2017_08_24_at_10.55.19_AM.png)
That team is stacked, and arguably one of the best in video game history, even if some still aren’t happy with everything:
I don’t know how I feel about Kareem only being a 96.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) August 24, 2017
Actually, I do know. It’s ridiculous.
I feel like 2K said to themselves, “okay, the Lakers have to be somewhat fair. We can’t give out all 98s and 99s across the board."
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) August 24, 2017
Those quibbles aside, 2K also announced that one of the more interesting new features from the game will work for the all-time teams as well:
#NBA2K18's All-Time teams will see the new "Player Accessory Frequency" too. One of my favorite, new features about the game. pic.twitter.com/mCyiav6uY8
— Chris Manning 2K18 (@LD2K) August 24, 2017
For example, MIA All-Time LeBron always has a headband, where as CLE LeBron doesn't. It's frequency changes there among 5 frequency options.
— Chris Manning 2K18 (@LD2K) August 24, 2017
All 17 accessory slots come with five frequency options (Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always). It's one of my fav. new things.
— Chris Manning 2K18 (@LD2K) August 24, 2017
Let us pray 2K gives us the option to give Kobe his legendary black, Zorro-looking face mask that he wore before the league told him he couldn’t. Also, the masked Mamba should be ranked a 100 (but now we’re getting sidetracked).
If you’re like Jordan Clarkson and aren’t excited enough for 2K’s release, you can check out the all-time teams trailer here:
Hopefully that can tide you over until you can run roughshod over your non-Lakers fan friends with Los Angeles’ ridiculous all-time team when the game releases in September, although unfortunately it won’t be with this cover:
Yo, @NBA2K @LD2K, we have a suggestion for a new cover after the trade pic.twitter.com/4uP6Dr8Z2d
— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersSBN) August 24, 2017
Maybe next year.
Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.