NBA 2K17 Career Stars Michael Jordan (The Other One)

Like a thespian Bo Jackson, Michael B. Jordan is acting all the sports. After mastering boxing in Creed and handegg in Friday Night Lights, he'll now tread the boards of the balltobasket stage in NBA 2K17 [official site]. He'll play your custom character's best ballbuddy in the game's MyCareer story mode, where players guide a character of their own creation through life on and off the pitch. The story's written and directed by Creed co-writer Aaron Covington too. If this seems extravagant for a sports game, pssh, this is nothing: last year's story was a Spike Lee joint.

Jordan will play Justice Young, your character's ballbestie as you start an NBA career as a new young player. Building a bond as a duo (picking up the name Orange Juice because sports?), you'll get to tell Young to do things in games or take over and play him. It's nice to have friends. Senior producer Ben Bishop explained in a big blog post:

"The way you play the game and the decisions you make off-the-court will change the way you experience the narrative. If you're a gym rat like Justice, the two of you will form a strong bond right away. If you're more outspoken in press conferences and when talking with the media, it will have ramifications down the line. Even our new text messaging system plays an important role, as how and when you choose to do things, as well as the way you respond in personal conversations, will help to dictate what is going on around you over the course of the season."

NBA 2K17 will hit Steam on September 20th, priced at £39.99/49,99€/$59.99. Yes, of course it will have other modes too.

Pip's excited about FIFA 17's story mode The Journey too. Personal stories are such a big part of sports so I quite like seeing this being taken seriously in sport 'em ups.