Many of the new classic teams for NBA 2K18 have been revealed

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Posted August 21st, 2017 at 9:00 am

Last week 2K Sports began unveiling the 16 classic teams that will be making their debut in NBA 2K18, joining the 45 others that will be carrying over. The first to be announced were the 1996-97 Miami Heat and 1998-99 New York Knicks. 10 more are now known and all of them come from 2001 to as recent as two seasons ago. 

2001-02 Sacramento Kings: Finished the season 61-21 for the #1 seed but lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games. That series is the one which, according to former referee Tim Donaghy, was fixed for the Lakers with game 6 blatantly being officiated in their favor. The Kings roster featured Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Doug Christie, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac.

2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers: With a record of 56-26 this Lakers team got the #2 seed and would go on to lose in 5 games to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Karl Malone (his final season) and Gary Payton joined Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for the run at the title.

2005-06 Memphis Grizzlies: This year the Grizzlies finished 4th in the West and got swept in the first round, making them one of the more puzzling “classic” inclusions in the game. The roster includes Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Eddie Jones, and Damon Stoudemire.

2007-08 Denver Nuggets: The #8 seed in the West, these Nuggets were swept out in the first round. The team is notable however for being their one season with Allen Iverson. Other notables on the roster were Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, and Kenyon Martin.

2007-08 New Orleans Hornets: After playing for two seasons in Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina, the team returned to New Orleans and earned the #2 seed in the West before losing in the second round in 7 games. Chris Paul and David West both averaged over 20ppg while Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler were also key contributors.

2010-11 Dallas Mavericks: The Mavs won the franchise’s only NBA Title this season by beating the Miami Heat in their first run as a super team with LeBron James. Dallas was led by Dirk Nowitzki along with Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, and Jason Terry.

2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder: LeBron James captured his first championship with the Heat by prevailing over this young Thunder team. The trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden were broken up the following season when Harden was traded to Houston.

2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies: Swept in the Western Conference Finals, these Grizzlies still represent the farthest the franchise has ever reached in the playoffs. The roster featured Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, and Marc Gasol.

2013-14 Indiana Pacers: Able to capture the #1 seed in the East, this Pacers team ultimately couldn’t get past the Miami Heat in the Conference Finals falling in 6 games. Paul George emerged as a superstar in this season, and he’s joined on the roster by David West, Lance Stephenson, and Roy Hibbert.

2015-16 Golden State Warriors: Of course this team will be remembered for both winning an NBA record 73 games, and blowing a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Durant would join the Warriors the following year helping the Warriors redeem themselves, with Harrison Barnes being the key departure from the 15-16 squad.

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