NBA 2K25 - Bird/Magic to Current Era aka 2KERA

[JAY_D1]

Will be transitioning from 2K25 Dynasty stories inn the Game forum to over here..

This will span changes of the league with some story telling from 1983-current.. with a few surprises. All team control with a few things to look forward to/teams focused on.

Filling in some holes/ stories that I didnt post from the other forum... will transition next week to continue the story from the 2k25 franchise discussion I have going



Lets get it started:

Orlando and Minnesota? Your next!
NOVEMBER 1988

With Charlotte and Miami starting the year with NBA teams, Orlando and Minnesota are starting to get things started next year. “There is already talk of players looking to move from their situations for a better opportunity” stated an NBA official. Dee Sims, who moved from Philadelphia to Miami, is excited for his opportunity.


“Its exciting to join a new opportunity and grow. I’m also glad that I can live and work in Miami, that was a great choice” he stated before practice. There has been a few rumors that teams have already had discussions with players on their future as soon as last week.

“The plan is to have teams and players on one accord. Its for the teams to know and understand who they are protecting and also it prepares players to know what to do to prepare themselves.

[JAY_D1]

GLOBAL STARS TO TAKE OVER THE NBA?
JANUARY 1989

Matt Arana has been getting calls from his agent all week.

“NBA Teams are interested in when my contract is up. They loved what I was able to do against France and are excited to see more it seems” he stated after the FIBA Qualifiers against France. France had a stacked lineup with a few NBA stars like the Washington Bullets rookie Rudolph McFarlin. “Rudy can heat it up, but him, Clement Lemoine and Narek Khachatrian are a sight to see. “


Clement Lemoine is one of the top world prospects that NBA execs are hungry to get a chance at. “Lemoine looks to be a walking ALL-NBA 1st Teamer. I mean, Rudy is a 2nd Treamer and Clement makes him look like a rookie.” stated an NBA GM.

Many teams have been looking into European pros to add to their teams as it is seen that they are able to adapt faster. “They are already pros, it usually takes a guy outta college a bit of time to get where they need to be”

[JAY_D1]

MOVERS & SHAKERS: MAGIC AND TWOLVES
OCTOBER 1989

Timberwolves and Magic are now apart of the NBA, with Audie Norris as the first player selected by the Timberwolves. “Audie Norris thought he was going to stay in Barcelona, well vacation is over buddy”



Danny Schayes was also picked up in the expansion Draft, by the Orlando Magic for some veteran leadership in Round 2. “Schayes gives some of the players a mental advantage, keeping things in perspective’. Allen Leavell from the Rockets was chosen to the Magic as well for some championship perspective. “He has been there before, we need someone to show the level of preparation it takes to get to the NBA Finals.



Ed Oliver, a high school standout from Rancho Christian drafted in the late 1st round a few years ago was also selected. The Utah Jazz refused to keep him on the roster and left him unprotected for selection. “Ed Oliver story is a very frustrating one but he is still young.

Hopefully in Orlando he gets a chance and becomes a standout, but we always use his story for those in the McDonalds All American game.” Stated an unnamed NBA GM. Ed Oliver was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers a few years back and was not signed by the team as they were using his rights for trade bait.


“The team was without Kareem and they knew they needed an experienced big to help their chances to win it again, not a high schooler”. Becoming a free agent that summer, the Utah Jazz sat with him and signed him to become their force in the paint. “The though t was that he would be able to turn into that monster that we needed but at times looked out of sorts with Malone and Stockton. He gets another chance with Orlando”

[JAY_D1]

NBA & FIBA FIND AGREEMENT ON TRANSFERS
MARCH 1990

The NBA and FIBA have been in discussions on how to be able to have an easier transfer between players from FIBA to NBA. The issue that the NBA has had was releasing players that were under FIBA contracts. The issue is that certain teams are under certain rules. Teams like Alba Berlin and Ulm Ratiopham are much easier to deal with versus a Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. “Certain teams were tough to release certain players from FIBA. Players from Madrid are about a two year wait before we are able to get them free of their contract.



Past agreements allowed FIBA to take almost a 40% of the players first NBA paycheck if he came from a team like Valencia. “Players that wanted to play in these tournaments that the Super League provided, would not even take calls from lower FIBA leagues. Players would be locked in for at least a few years making $ 5 million a year versus $600k for one year. There needed to be a leveling source.”

Players that sign with lower level FIBA teams like Limoges CSP may not make as much money but they have an NBA out and owe nothing to their teams. Those in the Super League teams will make almost 10x as much as their counterparts, 2 year minimum contract with a first right of refusal.



Now, prospective players that want that financial security for a few years can breathe easier as there has been an agreement of 25% as the max a players contract can be taken out. “This is used as our ROI. We will be missing out on a player that many loved, so it helps the organize find another player quicker. This will also speed up agreements on allowing prospective athletes to transfer rights from league to league. “What stopped many from coming to the US was the high tax. Now that the Salary Cap is getting higher, it helps cushion things” stated David Stern

[JAY_D1]

ONWARDS TO 1992: OLYMPICS ROSTER
SEPTEMBER 1990

Afterwards from a great showing against the world at the FIBA Worlds, we now focus our attention to the 1992 Olympics roster



US Basketball officials are still looking into strengthening the core of the team. “Playing against some of the next world stars was great. It also showed us that we arent as great as we thought” stated the USA GM. The team has also decided that Terry Cummings and Brad Daugherty will not make the Olympic squad.

“We had to make some changes to the team. They did amazing for us but I think its important that we realize who is good for us moving forward. There is a rumor that one of the main reasons was that Joe Dumars and them did not see eye to eye.

David Stern has also helped push for recruiting efforts, talking to Larry and Magic Johnson. “We want to put out a great product out there. We have a year and a half to get this team together. The Pan American Games are coming soon and it will show exactly where we are because those teams are bringing it”. Its also stated that the German federation cap has extended a passport to American born Matt Arana, Arana has been playing in the country as well.



“There are a lot of players on France and Germany as of late that are real scary. Rudy McFarlin of the Bullets looks like MJ once he puts that France jersey on” stated Dan Patrick of ESPN. Worldwide reports have been discussing a player by the name of Clemont Lemoine playing in France that people are saying is the best player in France. “Better than Rudy, and McFarlin is an All-NBA athlete!”. USA officials are looking into adding more veterans than 1st year/college players. “We need to put our best foot forward, so we will see what the Pan Am Games prove”

Short list includes: John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, MJ, Ethan McDaniels (HS senior/Oakland Commit), Ekpe Akwuegbu

[JAY_D1]

1991 NBA DRAFT: MARCUS ELLIOT & SHAQ STAYS, WHO DECLARES?
APRIL 1991

Marcus Elliot was ready to declare for the Draft until a few fellow Tar Heels players had a conversation with him. “They told me that its important to take time with my craft. Being ranked #40 on the Sporting News list isn’t the time to declare” he stated. He is slated to be one of the few college athletes apart of the 1992 Olympics Team.



Shaquille O Neal was slated to be apart of the early draftees list but personal news rocked his plans. “I have to gain my degree before I can even think of playing in the NBA. Its something I told my mother I would do” he stated. Kurt Graham, formerly of USC, has kept his name in the NBA Draft along with Keon Mitchell of Real Madrid. “A lot of these international players are going to come and change the scope of the NBA. It will be exciting” stated David Stern.

Colby Roberts, formerly of Tennessee, has been projected to be a player to look out for in the Sporting News Mock Draft. Him taking a few years in Turkey really helped shape him. The NBA is really a supporter of the European game to develop players” added Stern.

[JAY_D1]

1991 NBA FINALS: BULLS WIN, NOW WHAT?
JUNE 1991

Michael Jordan and the Bulls have won their first NBA Championship in 25 years. Now begins the next part of the season; The Offseason.



Magic Johnson showed exactly why he is one of the greatest with an amazing showing during Game 6 in Chicago, leading to a tight battle for the championship. “The Bulls are next up, every crown must be transferred and its their time” he stated right after the game.

After having 27 points closing out the Mavericks to win the west, Johnson had to put on another performance to even get close to the newly crowned Bulls. Now that the season is over, its time for the front offices to put on their sweatbands.



Neil Sargent is looked to be the next big thing to come out of Europe. Playing for the main Scottish league and from Barbados, Neil has been looked to being another All-NBA player. Sargent can be a leader, and has dealt with a lot of Europes strength” stated Jack Ramsey.

A lot of people are looking into Justin Dombrowski, who played in the Italian leagues from starting in the CBA a few years back. Stanley Roberts is a former LSU athletes that went to Europe because of ineligibility academically, but is looked to go later in the first round.

[JAY_D1]

MCDONALDS ALL-AMERICANS TO EUROPE?
OCTOBER 1991

Many basketball players grow up to become NBA players, some just don’t make it while others fight for their right to dream.



“A lot of these colleges are fighting to keep talent stateside. Its not just the NBA, its also FIBA” stated Verne Lundquist of CBS. Cesar Herrera, of Montverde Academy, has been courted by Argentina to play for their National Team.

If he so chooses to go to Argentina, then they will sponsor his application for FIBA. They are apart of the NCAA out clause, meaning if they accept a call up to any country that’s apart of the list, they are considered professional.



“A lot of high school players are weighing their options. Most arent ready for the NBA just yet” continued Lundquist. Other options are teams under the “FIBA Euro Elites”, where teams that are apart of this division have a fast track to the NBA. “There are a lot of kids looking for a one to two year learning stage that they will get paid.

Some may get 600k, but most get around 50k a year before they make the jump” stated Dan Patrick of ESPN. Most of these teams are filled with underachieving college stars priming themselves for the attention of NBA Scouts. “It really is the farm system of the NBA, just with connecting the draft into it”. Small teams like UNICS and Alba Berlin fit in this category.