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From the Teams menu in Customize Mode, you can create a brand new team
using any of the ten available custom logos, or simply make a few roster modi-
fications to any existing NBA team. Here you can make trades, adjust your line-
up, import players and teams from a friend, and set your team’s offensive and
defensive plays.
Are you one of those old-schoolers who think basketball in the 1980s was as
good as it will ever get? Ever argued with your father or grandfather about how
someone like George Mikan or Willis Reed could ever handle Tim Duncan or
Alonzo Mourning? Ever wonder how Rick Barry could be the NBA’s all-time
leader in free throw accuracy with such an odd-looking underhand delivery?
Luckily, NBA 2K2 allows you to answer (or at least try to answer) all those
questions with the inclusion of five full legends teams. Choose from an ‘80s
East team led by Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, an ‘80s West team with Magic
Johnson and James Worthy, a ‘70s East team featuring such greats as Julius
Erving and Walt Frazier, a ‘70s West team manned by Wilt Chamberlain and
Jerry West among others, and even a team of legendary greats from the ‘50s
and ‘60s such as Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy.
Coach’s Corner: Getting a Created Player onto Your Team
Once you’ve created that player, you’ll need to assign him to a team. From the
Player Create Screen, Press the
B
Button once to back out to the Customize
Main Menu. Then select Free Agents, highlight Teams, and Press the
Black/White buttons to scroll to the team you wish to sign the player to. Scroll
down to your player and press the
A
Button. Press the START button to add
the player to that team. (Note that if an existing team already has 15 players on
its roster, then you’ll need to back out to the Customize Main Menu. Then,
select Free Agents, highlight Teams, and press the Black/White buttons to scroll
to the team you wish to release a player from. Select the player to be released
and press the START button.) To make sure your player is on the 12-man ros-
ter, back out to the Customize Main Menu and select Activate. From there you
can place him on the active roster. Select Lineup from the Customize Main
Menu to insert him into the lineup.
Team Create
Legends Teams
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EAM
C
APSULES
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Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach:
Lon Kruger
Internet Site:
http://www.nba.com/hawks/
2000-01 Record:
25-57 (7th place, Central Division)
Team Outlook:
An aging, dormant club just two seasons ago, the Hawks appear ready to turn things
around in 2001-02. A flurry of trades have brought fresh faces such as Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo
Ratliff into the fold, and second-year man Jason Terry is an emerging star. If the Hawks can get decent
production out of their bench, and can stay reasonably healthy, the postseason is an obtainable goal.
Key Performers:
#3 SF Shareef Abdur-Rahim
A local high school hero, Abdur-Rahim returns
from NBA oblivion in Vancouver and brings 20-
point/10-rebound production with him. He’s one of
the top five small forwards in the NBA, and he’s
only getting better. Definitely the kind of guy you
want to build a team around.
#31 SG Jason Terry
After running the point in college and in his rookie
season, Terry is expected to see time in the two
spot this year. Only 6’2”, he may be small for a
shooting guard, but he has great court awareness
and is developing into a pure scorer.
Boston Celtics
Head Coach:
Jim O’Brien
Internet Site:
http://www.nba.com/celtics/
2000-01 Record:
36-46 (5th place, Atlantic Division)
Team Outlook:
This long-proud franchise boasts one of the best one-two punches in the league in Paul
Pierce and Antoine Walker. These two are dynamite, but to win, the Celtics will need to count on #1 picks
Joe Johnson and Joseph Forte to be big pieces of the puzzle. The green and white still have the consistent
Kenny Anderson running the point, lending fuel to what could be an exciting season in Beantown.
Key Performers:
#8 PF Antoine Walker
A fantasy-player’s delight, Walker can score,
rebound and dish out assists. On top of that, he fin-
ished 10th in the NBA in steals, and his 221 three-
pointers were tops in the NBA last season. He can
indeed do it all, but unfortunately his Celtics have
missed the playoffs in each of his five seasons.
#34 SF Paul Pierce
Pierce is the type of player that gives opposing
coaches fits, as he can light up the scoreboard
both from the outside and from close range. After
finishing 8th in the NBA in scoring a season ago, it
wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Pierce on the All-
Star Team in 2002.
Charlotte Hornets
Head Coach:
Paul Silas
Internet Site:
http://www.nba.com/hornets/
2000-01 Record:
46-36 (3rd place, Central Division)
Team Outlook:
In 2001-02, the Hornets may have their best team since the LJ/Mourning days of the early
90s. The backcourt is terrific, and the front line has nary a weak link. If the development of Baron Davis
continues at its accelerated pace, and if Jamal Mashburn can continue to be a big-time scorer, it’s not out
of the question to think the Hornets can be serious contenders for the Central Division title.
Key Performers:
#1 PG Baron Davis
One of the most exciting young point guards in the
league, the #3 pick of the draft in 1999 made great
strides in his sophomore season. He has an explo-
sive first step, and can leap out of the arena. He
and Wesley form perhaps the most dynamic back-
court in the Eastern Conference.
#24 SF Jamal Mashburn
After a blistering start to his career in Dallas in the
mid-90s, many saw scoring titles in Mashburn’s
future. A trade to Miami cooled those thoughts
somewhat, as his per game averages dropped
noticeably. However, an offseason trade to
Charlotte a year ago rejuvenated his career, as he
topped 20 ppg for the first time in five years.