In NBA 2K23, the Jordan Challenge will return to the game, taking players back to the most memorable and classic moments of Michael Jordan's legendary career.
Visual Concepts, the developer of the game, introduced us to the Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K23 in an interview conducted yesterday. Regarding the return of this gameplay, they believe that many new generation players have never seen Michael Jordan's game live or on TV, and after more than a decade, it is the perfect time to recount Jordan's rise from college to become an NBA legend.
In NBA 2K23, the Jordan Challenge will consist of 15 unique games spanning Jordan's shy opening at the University of North Carolina until the final shot he threw at the Chicago Bulls, each game, visually and in sound and atmosphere, as if it were played in the year it actually took place.
NBA 2K23's Jordan Challenge mode will have a unique filter and broadcast element system that makes the game look like it was watching TV broadcasts in the 80s and 90s, and players can clearly feel the evolution of tv broadcast technology in the NBA as they play.
Visual Concepts also invited legendary coach and analyst Mike Fratello and '90s Chicago Bulls live announcer Ray Clay to join the production of NBA 2K23. Mike Fratello will be the narrator of the Jordan Challenge in the game, and Ray Clay's introductory player introduction and entry song "Sirius" are indispensable elements of the 90s Bulls home game.
Before each Jordan Challenge, the game features interviews with some of the biggest names in the NBA who tells about Jordan's glory moments, and players and coaches including Abdul-Abdul-Abdul-Jabbar, Rodman, and Phil Jackson will be featured.
In addition, the current NBA is completely different from the 80s and 90s, and Visual Concepts has also made changes in gameplay in order to make Jordan challenge more realistic than a modern game of classic teams and classic jerseys. In Jordan's day, the pace of the game was much slower than it is now, and there was a higher emphasis on low and mid-range games, and in NBA 2K23's Jordan Challenge mode, the game will also focus on restoring this feature.
At the same time, the basketball game of that era was also more focused on physical confrontation than it is now, and the rules were different. There will be no hand-checks in jordan challenges, and players will have to be careful about illegal defenses. For example, in the game against the Pistons, you will also see the famous "Jordan Rules", which is a set of defensive strategies specifically designed to contain Jordan.
In terms of restoring the player's iconic moves, players will see Magic Johnson's iconic No-look pass this time, and many legendary NBA superstars will also have new jump shots, layups and dunks. Actions that don't fit the characteristics of that era are removed, such as shammgod passing and European walking baskets.
Here's what the Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K23 is about:
1982 National Championship: University of North Carolina vs GeorgetownThe 1982 National Championship showcased Mr. Key's attributes for the first time with the Future Hall of Fame, Legendary Showdown, and Michael Jordan. With less than 20 seconds to go, MJ trailed 62-61, and with 15 seconds left in the race, MJ, a first-year tar heel (UNC) player, locked in the title with a jump shot. Many players, not just newcomers, will bend in the spotlight and high intensity of the National Championship, but not the no. 23. Experience Jordan's first iconic shot by recreating the magic of the 1982 National Championship.
1984 U.S. Men's Basketball TournamentIn 1984, 67,596 fans poured into Indiana Stadium to witness clashes between the NBA giants, with the U.S. Olympic team led by Michael Jordan confronting Magic Johnson and the NBA All-Stars. In a game featuring NBA legends like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Isaiah Thomas, and others, Jordan proved that as a rookie, he's capable of beating some of the greatest stars in the game.
1986 East Playoffs First Round SecondIn Michael Jordan's second NBA playoff series, the then 22-year-old guard showed unparalleled confidence against the mighty Boston Celtics. Michael Jordan's performance in the second game was legendary, with he scored 63 points in the game. Jordan was almost unstoppable, making fancy layups in tall defenders and hitting jump shots again and again. Unleash Jordan's historic offense again in NBA 2K23.
Despite playing just 29 minutes, Michael Jordan scored 40 points and shot 73.9 percent from the field, leading everyone else. He turned the pitch into His Airness against the Western Conference All-Star Lineup including Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Hakim Olajuwon, Karim Abdul-Jabbar and others.
The knockout rounds were the ultimate test for any competitor looking to be a "key player," with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers drawing 2-2 in Cleveland's fifth game, laying the groundwork for Jordan's brilliant performance. The North Carolina native cut 44 points, nine rebounds and six assists on the Cavaliers' head, giving his team a one-point advantage. Jordan showed his versatility during the game, dashing Cleveland's playoff hopes.
When recalling Jordan's many must-see duels, his battle with Dominic Wilkins cannot be ignored. Facing one of the most important players in Atlanta Hawks history, Jordan averaged 31.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 45 games. Wilkins, on the other hand, averaged 29.8 points and 6.8 rebounds against Michael Jordan in his career. When the two play against each other, it's a heavyweight title race that you can relive in the Jordan Challenge.
Jordan had many wonderful games against the Cavaliers, but the 69-point game was the most impressive. Over the course of 50 minutes, Jordan taught a masterclass in points, rebounds and assists, and by the end of the game, he had a career-high of 69 points and 18 rebounds. Jordan hit the jump shot consistently, hitting 23 shots and hitting 21 of his 23 free throws. Pass one of the league's most memorable moments by recreating his historic game.
In the early '90s, the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons were at loggerheads, and their rivalry peaked in Game 3 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals. With the Eastern Conference Finals series tied 1-1, Jordan propelled the Chicago Bulls to victory in the best way he knew, scoring 46 points and delivering five steals. In this Heavyweight Contest in the East, Jordan played a role in the deafening shouts from Chicago fans.
Game 5 of the 1991 NBA FinalsIn the finals, Jordan defeated the "Show time" Los Angeles Lakers led by Magic Johnson to lift his first Larry O'Brien Trophy. For six years, despite Jordan's best efforts, the coveted championship trophy has not been won. The then 27-year-old shooting guard beat a team full of Hall of Fame talent, proving he was able to live up to the lofty expectations people had of him. When the streamers and confetti fell at Jordan's feet, he was so remarkable.
1992 NBA Finals Game 1When Jordan took his first title, he developed an insatiable desire for more rings. By the time he reached the Finals for the second time in a row, Jordan had let the game turn into garbage early against the Portland Trail Blazers, and by the end of the first half, the game had no suspense between the two sides. MJ won with 39 points, becoming the main contributor to the Bulls' 33-point victory over their opponents.
Former college rivals are once again playing off, this time at the Madison Square Garden Arena in New York, the mecca of basketball. Jordan and Patrick Ewing feasted on the fans, especially at the height of their power, in a game full of fierce physical confrontation between scoring goals against each other. Ewing's 36 points are usually enough to beat any team, but Jordan's 55 points proved insurmountable. This game once again reminds people of Jordan's greatness that you can experience for yourself.
Michael Jordan's fourth overall title is arguably one of his toughest tests. Facing seattle supersonic defensive guard Gary Payton (also known as "Glove"), every possession was a battle between the two sides. Payton did his best to limit Jordan throughout the series, successfully limiting his shooting percentage to 26.3 percent in Game 6, but the offensive Assassin found a way to stop the Supersonics' championship plans. Dig deeper and win the championship in an uphill battle against powerful enemies.
This famous "flu race" is legendary and widely considered one of Jordan's best moments as a basketball player. In game five, the Bulls were passive from the start, trailing by as many as 16 points at one point. Somehow, Jordan managed to pull his team back from the brink of defeat and eventually won the game. By the end of the game, Jordan had 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. He left everything he had on the pitch.
1997 Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles LakersKobe Bryant entered the NBA, and his momentum and confidence are somewhat similar to Michael Jordan's, but whether he is MJ's heir remains to be seen. Bryant, who idolized Jordan since childhood, challenged his idol throughout the game, determined to prove his ability. The Lower Merion High School student scored 33 points against MJ and the Bulls, but Jordan's 36 points are a reminder that he is still the ruler of the court. In the process of winning, bryant was taught something to the rising star Bryant.
Game 6 of the 1998 NBA FinalsBoth the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls decided that their 1997 NBA Finals showdown wasn't enough fun, so they met again in 1998. All but one of the five games in the series ended with a 5-point difference or less, and Game 6 was the culmination of the series. Jordan cemented his title with 45 points and used a deadly Crossover to shake Brian Russell with a deadly Crossover with 5 seconds left in the game and shot a deadly goal with 5 seconds left. Relive those final moments of death and celebrate one of Jordan's greatest feats.
NBA 2K23 will be released on September 9, 2022 for the PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series / Xbox One / PC / NS platform. Among them, the content of the PC version of NBA 2K23 will remain consistent with the PS4 / Xbox One platform.