Just as EA Sports has a monopoly on football, American and otherwise, so does 2K command the biggest basketball dynasty in gaming with NBA 2K. It’s led to some questionable decisions over the years, especially regarding monetization, but the core of NBA 2K has continuously evolved, even if it’s in iterative bursts. NBA 2K25 is the latest, and though not quite the greatest, it begrudgingly reinforces why the franchise keeps drawing players back, year in, year out.
Hopping into the game immediately thrusts you into the role of MP, fighting alongside your team of choice to win the NBA Finals. Of course, it’s revealed to be a visualization, a meditation exercise for what he wants to achieve. From there, you select the ideal position – I went with Power Forward for plenty of shooting opportunities close to the opposing net (many of which were botched, but we’ll get to that). After opting for the Los Angeles Lakers and going with Lebron James as my preferred style – ironic, because I would compete against him for a starting spot – the journey through The City and MyCareer began.
Visual Concepts has hyped revamps and improvements to The City, and the attention to detail is certainly noteworthy. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the performance – 30 FPS, that too without the greatest fidelity or scale in the world. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means – just odd, considering how smooth the on-court gameplay is. From there, it’s a chat with Elite or Rise, joining either crew for, well, differing basketball courts.
There is an opportunity to earn REP and compete against the other side, but for now, it feels more like a cosmetic choice than anything else. I scoped out a few more locations, from The REC to Rise’s court. Overall, The City feels like a step up over last year – yes, there’s still an extensive amount of product placement, but it feels more natural and less contrived.
From there, it was a return to MyCareer, consulting with coaches, setting goals (surely winning the NBA Cup isn’t that difficult), and outlining media strategy. The professional hustle is pretty consistent – if you’re not meeting up with Patrick to discuss Endorsements, each bestowing VC based on the completion of their goals, there are interviews where your answers can garner more fans or build team chemistry.
Maybe your coach has some thoughts after your first game, or you hit the gym to improve stamina. It’s definitely a lot to take in, but the pacing is steady and involved, with characters feeling natural and grounded. The ability to play through my MP’s backstory to truly experience their journey to the NBA is also nice if not particularly revolutionary.
There is a lot of content available, whether you’re grinding out Badges or reaching 99 Overall by taking Danny Dunkman to town in The City or delving into different eras, experiencing the glory days of Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and other legends. Nevertheless, the experience feels very approachable, aided by the new Learn 2K for drilling the fundamentals and the return of MyCourt, allowing you to sit back and perfect your movement and shot timing.
None of this would matter if the on-court action isn’t up to snuff, and NBA 2K25 mostly delivers on that. While the new Rhythm Shooting feels intriguing, the Shot Meter remains contentious. Shot Timing Profiles let you customize this like Normal Risk-Reward, which replicates previous games in the series.
There’s still plenty of practice required. Even when slightly early or slightly late, I felt like I whiffed more three-pointers than scored. Nevertheless, it feels solid, and I appreciated the custom visual cues, which made it easier to track cues and even my player on the court. Perhaps my only real issue is defense – blocking feels difficult and unrewarding. On top of that, it also doesn’t improve Teammate Grade, which is baffling. Seeing some of my teammates allowing attackers to waltz in for easy lay-ups was also annoying, though it didn’t occur too often to become rage-inducing.
The momentum and on-court movement feel natural, from the dribbling and weaving through defenders to sudden dashes leading to noteworthy fouls. Despite a few janky animations here and there, players move and feel lifelike, and all the little details, like the reaction animations or the sweat on players’ brows, are impressive.
I didn’t mess with MyTeam too much – like Ultimate Team in EA’s titles, the prospect of building a roster, playing the market for better cards, earning card packs, and competing against others online didn’t appeal to me. Even if it doesn’t net the most VC in a period, I still found Breakout somewhat enjoyable. The board game layout, with its mix of teams, match types, and objectives with increasing challenges and rewards felt fun. How much of a lifespan it can have, especially without any real twists or new additions, remains to be seen.
Throughout NBA 2K25, there are numerous quests for that precious seasonal XP and VC. While you can take things at a relatively relaxed pace, the time-sink nature of it all doesn’t appeal to me like the drama and narrative beats of MyCareer.
Considering you can outright buy VC to improve your character and trounce the opposition, the sheer amount of time and work required to remain competitive remains shady. Say what you will about it and all the ways to grind out VC for free, but when multiplayer is pay-to-win, it kills my enthusiasm to engage with it in any shape or form. It may explain why I care so little about the game’s online component and MyTeam.
The gameplay, with its risk vs. reward shooting and natural movement, and a litany of options, even if some on-court aspects need to be improved (when have they not, though, right?). The extensive amount and range of content let you forge a path towards becoming the best in the NBA, fighting to make your mark as a rookie or experiencing the paths of Legends and their biggest moments.
All of this remains, and much of it improved over last year’s edition. And while it’s noteworthy for new players to experience – especially since there’s no competition in this space – I have to wonder how much longtime fans will appreciate it. As an overall package, NBA 2K25 is the premier basketball experience. There are plenty of areas to improve and grow over a longer period, but for fans of the sport, it remains the go-to choice.