A precious few people in existence get to call themselves ‘NBA Players’. The greatest basketball league on earth has an understandably high skill level, and 98% of enthusiasts never get to go pro. To remedy this, there seems to be only one avenue which would be to play in the NBA virtually, through the NBA 2K series of video games.
NBA 2K is made for the common man to put himself in the shoes of his favorite NBA player or create one of his own. While it’s made for the general public at the end of the day, there’s no contesting the fact that modern 2K’s have become quite accurate in terms of play and simulation.
This is evidenced by the current Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. who gave 2K its props in helping him mature defensively to this standard.
Fans react hilariously to Jaren Jackson Jr.’s comments on NBA 2K
Many NBA players have attributed using 2K to bolster their game including Paul George and even LeBron James himself. ‘The King’ has credited 2K with helping him test potential roster rotations and even trades.
However, crediting 2K’s simulation is one thing but saying that the game has helped in one’s skillset seems like a little bit of a stretch, but Grizzlies star power-forward Jaren Jackson Jr. claims just that.
Gaming paid off for JJJ 😳🎮 pic.twitter.com/Hq3uGBmO27
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 15, 2023
During a Summer League game when asked how video games have helped his defense Jackson Jr. had this to say, “My timing came from 2K… video games definitely helped me win defensive player of the year.”
He got paid to say that
— 𝙅⭑𝙮 🥽 (@fuccwick) July 15, 2023
Many fans feel the same as the one above, “He got paid to say that” is the general consensus as to why Jackson Jr. would make such an outlandish statement.
no way 2k was the reason he won dpoy reminds me of that one jr smith clip 😭
— Chri$ 𖤐 (@ChrisWithTheW) July 15, 2023
His jumpshot timing must have also came from 2k
— Salley Mitchell (@SalleyBMitchell) July 15, 2023
The check 2K cut him to say this must’ve been fat
— 𝒮𝑒𝒶𝓃 (@SeenTheMain) July 15, 2023
A common sentiment concerning NBA 2K is that the game focuses much more on offense than it does defense. This is somewhat accurate considering that the NBA itself is trending in such a direction, but in 2K a player like Jordan Poole would be a more valuable asset to have on a team than a defensive specialist such as Jaren Jackson Jr.
We’ll never exactly know if this was a covert move by Take-Two Interactive to boost hype and sales for the upcoming NBA 2K24 but there’s no denying that Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of the best defenders in the sport of basketball right now.