Skip to main content

NBA 2K20 honors the late Kobe Bryant with tribute message in recent update

Following the death of former NBA player Kobe Bryant on Sunday, the NBA 2K20 basketball video game featured a tribute to the late athlete. The retired NBA star and eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, were killed in a helicopter crash.

The tribute is visible in the game upon startup, and shows a picture of Bryant alongside his years of birth and death.

Recommended Videos

This is the first thing that you see when you launch NBA 2K20. 2K giving respect to Kobe… I love it #NBA2K20 #XboxShare pic.twitter.com/9cH8swsDNx

— Solo (@YT_Solo) January 26, 2020

Alongside the in-game homage, the official NBA 2K Twitter account posted a eulogy to Kobe Bryant.

RIP to a Legend. Thank you for your many contributions on and off the court. You are greatly missed pic.twitter.com/XesYS63Uhp

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) January 26, 2020

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released his own statement regarding Bryant’s passing Sunday. The NBA and 2K Games co-own the NBA 2K League, which organizes competitive NBA 2K competitions and teams.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” Silver said. “He is one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game, with accomplishments that are legendary: Five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.”

Kobe Bryant is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and appeared on the cover of NBA 2K10, released in 2009. The cover appearance came just after Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship, with Bryant being named NBA Finals MVP. The year prior, he was named MVP for the NBA’s regular season and also won an NBA championship with the Lakers. He played the entirety of his career with the team.

Bryant ranks fourth all-time in the NBA in total regular-season points scored. The day before his death, he was passed by LeBron James, and his final tweet congratulated James for his achievement. Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, was also a promising player, and the father and daughter were on their way to a game that she was scheduled to play in and he was set to coach.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
How to pre-order NBA 2K23: retailers, editions, and bonuses
michael jordan crowned cover athlete for nba 2k23 edition

It's that time of the year again. Basketball games have had their ups and downs, but NBA 2K23 is shaping up to be a return to form for the beloved sports franchise. Set to release on September 9, 2022, this is going to be the premier choice for those wanting to dive deep into the most robust basketball sim on the market. This edition brings a host of new features such as the Jordan Challenge, a new MyCareer adventure, and creating your own character in The City.

As always, NBA 2K23 is giving you a lot of options for how you want to invest in the game. Not only do they offer different rewards, but they also have unique covers that might further entice you to go for one over another. If you already know you're going to be investing in this game come launch, it can save you some time and money to check out these different editions first so you can pre-order the version best for you.

Read more
NBA 2K23’s cover star is #23 himself, Michael Jordan
michael jordan crowned cover athlete for nba 2k23 edition

Legendary NBA player Michael Jordan has been crowned as the cover star for NBA 2K23 by 2K Sports. Specifically, the face of His Royal Airness will grace the cover of NBA 2K23: Michael Jordan Edition, while his iconic #23 Chicago Bulls jersey will be on the cover of the premium NBA 2K23: Championship Edition.

NBA 2K23 | Michael Jordan Edition Trailer | 2K

Read more
WWE 2K22 is my new favorite TV show
The Rock and John Cena face off in WWE 2K22.

I began watching wrestling in earnest in 2014. I was in the deepest depression of my life when a friend invited me over to watch WrestleMania 30. That just happened to be the year that WWE told one of media’s greatest underdog stories, as pipsqueak Daniel Bryan (or Bryan Danielson, as you may know him now) overcame impossible odds to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It was an impactful moment -- one that gave me the confidence I needed to start the long climb out of a deep hole.

WWE 2K22 - MyGM Trailer | PS5, PS4

Read more