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Michael Jordan Will Be On the Cover of NBA 2K11

Somewhere, perhaps on his yacht, Lebron James is crying.

It's bordering on absurd and even the vice president of 2K marketing seems to know it. Michael Jordan, one of the most beloved and digitally underutilized NBA players of all time, will grace the cover of NBA 2K11 according to a CNBC report. 

"We've made a lot of progress over the past 10 years, but we know we have the best NBA videogame ever made here," 2K's marketing dude Jason Argent told CNBC (via Kotaku). "So we thought to ourselves how can we embody that and there was only one person on that list who we wanted to have and that was Michael Jordan. Actually getting this done is the most ridiculous win of all-time."

 Gotta love those NBA 2K9 modders.
 Gotta love those NBA 2K9 modders.
Jordan, at one point, had a deal with EA that kept him from inking other deals with publishers. As a result, dude wasn't in too many games. He was a "legend" in a handful of NBA Live titles and appeared in some as a regular roster player. He also froze basketballs and rescued fellow NBA players in his own game.

This confirmation proves a late-May rumor true, but it doesn't completely seal the deal. In the ESPN report that kicked off the gossip, further rumors suggested that Jordan would be playable and 2K was looking to sign both teammates and opponents of Jordan.

Argent didn't want to talk about how Jordan will appear in the game. He dodged with a "some really good surprises" line. Jordan, in a statement, didn't mention more than digitization. "It's an honor to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K11," he said. "I have no doubt that [it] will be a big hit with gamers and basketball fans alike. I'm looking forward to getting back on the court, virtually."     
 
Jordan is currently the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. That was probably an accident. NBA 2K11 will hit this October 5.

79 Comments

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson

It's bordering on absurd and even the vice president of 2K marketing seems to know it. Michael Jordan, one of the most beloved and digitally underutilized NBA players of all time, will grace the cover of NBA 2K11 according to a CNBC report. 

"We've made a lot of progress over the past 10 years, but we know we have the best NBA videogame ever made here," 2K's marketing dude Jason Argent told CNBC (via Kotaku). "So we thought to ourselves how can we embody that and there was only one person on that list who we wanted to have and that was Michael Jordan. Actually getting this done is the most ridiculous win of all-time."

 Gotta love those NBA 2K9 modders.
 Gotta love those NBA 2K9 modders.
Jordan, at one point, had a deal with EA that kept him from inking other deals with publishers. As a result, dude wasn't in too many games. He was a "legend" in a handful of NBA Live titles and appeared in some as a regular roster player. He also froze basketballs and rescued fellow NBA players in his own game.

This confirmation proves a late-May rumor true, but it doesn't completely seal the deal. In the ESPN report that kicked off the gossip, further rumors suggested that Jordan would be playable and 2K was looking to sign both teammates and opponents of Jordan.

Argent didn't want to talk about how Jordan will appear in the game. He dodged with a "some really good surprises" line. Jordan, in a statement, didn't mention more than digitization. "It's an honor to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K11," he said. "I have no doubt that [it] will be a big hit with gamers and basketball fans alike. I'm looking forward to getting back on the court, virtually."     
 
Jordan is currently the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. That was probably an accident. NBA 2K11 will hit this October 5.
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fwylo

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Edited By fwylo

Aiiiiir JORDAN

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jkz

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Edited By jkz

Damn, finally, Michael on/in a Basketball game

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Yzzerdd

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Edited By Yzzerdd

Clearly the type of news that brings people to this site!

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TheYear20XX

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Edited By TheYear20XX

No playable Bill Clinton, no dice.

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fwylo

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Edited By fwylo
@Yzzerdd: Video game news?  Yup.
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superbobafett

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Edited By superbobafett

I'd still like basketball if Scottie Pipper, Michael Jordan, the Mailman and John Stockton were still playing.  Who the hell cares about Allen "I get 45 points by shooting 73 times/game" Iverson and the ridiculous dunkfest that is now the NBA.

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Rayeth

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Edited By Rayeth

So much sports games coverage.  This is the most coverage of this type on GB since... ever, I think.

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Bos1014

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@ComixZone: you dont watch the NBA at all do you..
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Cube

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Edited By Cube

 
" Actually getting this done is the most ridiculous win of all-time." 
 
LOL 

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Travis

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Edited By Travis
@ComixZone: lmao, when is the last time you actually watched an NBA game?
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jaks

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Edited By jaks

This is more a commentary on how boring NBA basketball has been in the last 10 years or so.

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EightBitShik

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@fwylo: LoL 
 
I am excited about this I would like to play as Jordan for once.
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Milkman

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Edited By Milkman
@ComixZone said:
" I'd still like basketball if Scottie Pipper, Michael Jordan, the Mailman and John Stockton were still playing.  Who the hell cares about Allen "I get 45 points by shooting 73 times/game" Iverson and the ridiculous dunkfest that is now the NBA. "
Allen Iverson hasn't come close to scoring 45 points in about 3 years.
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Skullomania

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Edited By Skullomania

In other news, he will also grace the cover of the next 2k baseball game.

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superbobafett

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Edited By superbobafett
@Travis: haha nope, last time I watched any NBA was back when White Chocolate and Webber were ripping it up for Sacramento and Dikembe was wagging fingers.
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fillmoejoe

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Edited By fillmoejoe
@ComixZone said:
" @Travis: haha nope, last time I watched any NBA was back when White Chocolate and Webber were ripping it up for Sacramento and Dikembe was wagging fingers. "
Do you mean the Vanilla Thrilla: Jason Williams? I loved the Kings back in the 2000s.
 Keepin' it real.
 Keepin' it real.
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hatking

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Edited By hatking

"Jordan is currently the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. That was probably an accident." 
 
Ever read a joke and feel like it was something they've had in their back pocket for years just waiting for the opportunity to use it, but the opportunity never comes so they just work it into a situation in an akward, out-of-place manner?  Yeah...   
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jediautobot

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Edited By jediautobot

Where's my NBA Street Vol II?  I want to play as Jordan right now, also as the Snowman.

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vinsanity09

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@ComixZone: Scottie Pipper?
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Claude

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Edited By Claude

I read about this. I hope they score Dennis Rodman. He probably needs the money. I would love to play as the great Bull's teams.
 

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snide

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Edited By snide

I don't know. He doesn't look very lifelike. 
 

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GalacticPunt

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Edited By GalacticPunt

Will this cover feature Jordan with his new Hitler-stache?
 
If so, this becomes a must buy!
 

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Castro

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Edited By Castro
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Keeng

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I was already gonna get the game. Now I'm gonna get it more.

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ISuperGamerI

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Edited By ISuperGamerI

Great news! Michael Jordan is my fav basketball player and I just hope the game is as great. :)

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

Sweet, still don't care for sports games though.

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Mamba219

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Edited By Mamba219

If they really want to make 2K the "greatest ever" they need to get Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the cover, not Jordan.

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AlwaysAngry

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Edited By AlwaysAngry

Nice article, Buff Brad!

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digital_sin

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SPORTS! Evil, Be Gone! XXXXX

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calidan777

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Edited By calidan777

If they put manage to put that whole mid-90's Chicago Bulls team in the game, then you can mark this down as the 1st b-ball video game I've bought in a decade.

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jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

AWESOME! 
 
Even more awesome would be the words "...and Scottie Pippen is in too!!!". 
 
You can't have Jordan without his right hand man. 
 
As for everyone who wants to say "well, if they want to get the greatest player ever, get (insert other player here)", you people are FOOLISH!  Jordan has far more achievements under his belt than ANY other player in the game.  Not only is he the greatest basketball player to live, but he's arguably the greatest athlete to ever live! 
 
@snide said:

" I don't know. He doesn't look very lifelike. 
 

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"
MEMORIES!!!  I miss that game so much.  I used to kick my brother's ass all the time in it.
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illmatic19

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Edited By illmatic19

damn, 2K is pushing live to death year after year.
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SlimDogg95

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Amazing !! Greatest of All Time.

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Mamba219

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Edited By Mamba219

jakob 187 said "As for everyone who wants to say "well, if they want to get the greatest player ever, get (insert other player here)", you people are FOOLISH!  Jordan has far more achievements under his belt than ANY other player in the game.  Not only is he the greatest basketball player to live, but he's arguably the greatest athlete to ever live! "
 
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who said that, and I actually have a lot of cold hard evidence to back up my claim that Jordan is not the greatest ever. I think he's either the second or the third best, depending on the circumstances of the ranking, but there's no way you can say that he has "far more achievements than ANY other player in the game." Simply untrue.

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JJWeatherman

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Edited By JJWeatherman
@Rayeth said:
" So much sports games coverage.  This is the most coverage of this type on GB since... ever, I think. "

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deactivated-5865c6a5c9438

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Space Jam.

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fox01313

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Edited By fox01313

Guess the next year's installment of this NBA game will just be Jordan's shoe (or maybe a sock) along with a basketball as it's going to be hard to top putting Jordan on the cover.

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leviathan

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@ComixZone: Actually, its more like i get 3pts a game by shooting 73 times/game.
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LiquidPrince

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About time.

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recroulette

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Next stop: Space Jam HD Remix.

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jakob187

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@Mamba219: You said Kareem, right?  I'm not denying the abilities that Kareem had - 38,000+ points in a career without the benefit of 3's is impressive as fuck.  However, Jordan also retired multiple times, so his chances were blown of ever topping that.  Had he NOT retired multiple times, he would've SHATTERED Kareem's record.  Jordan DOES however hold the record for highest score average per game, which is personally more impressive to me than playing for 20 years and accumulating a shitload of points because you're 7'2" with the ability to dunk.  Even then, Jordan dunked FROM THE FREE THROW!!!  Sure, Kareem had that hook.  He's also 7'2", whereas Jordan is 6'6".  A man who is 6'6"...dunking from the free throw line.  The amount of momentum that a guy has to have to be able to even fucking accomplish that is staggering. 
 
Kareem was center, while Jordan was guard.  Kareem was the star of the show for the Bucks and Lakers, while Jordan was a full-on team player.  Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman...the entire team of the Bulls at the time that Jordan was playing was nigh unstoppable, and it wasn't just because of Jordan.  Then again, I think it's also pertinent to point out that when Jordan was on the Bulls, they ran TWO three-peats!!!
 
In the end, trying to compare those two in any form of fair manner is just not possible.   
 
Also, Jordan IS the most awarded (read: achievements) player in the NBA.  That is not my opinion.  That's a proven fact.  If you can provide me with a link that would prove that otherwise, then I'd be more than willing to look at it.
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musubi

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@MisuseOfLasers:  I second this.
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aleryn

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Sweet, love the man.

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Yzzerdd

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@fwylo: Giantiq Bomtaku:All video games all the time! Can't wait for the daily coverage of Mario themed cakes.
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guzzyla

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Edited By guzzyla

For that reason alone , I'm buying the game.     BTW    I don't care if the game sucks a little.

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Whisperkill

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Cool I guess

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halberdierv2

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Edited By halberdierv2

i tell you, its the 90's all over again, and fades are back in style!!

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Hes going to get the sports game cover curse and break his check signing hand so he won't be able to pay any of the Bobcats players.

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sublime90

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Edited By sublime90

im the biggest MJ fan around and i also love NBA 2k. while im happy this is finally being done (the last time you could play as MJ was nba live 2002) it still seems a little weird. i mean he has been retired for 7 years now and while its a cool get for 2K is it really a big deal now? im guessing there finally going to make "classic teams" or something along those lines. i wonder if MJ settled low for this so he still seems relevant and has people talking about him.