Is Brandon Roy in 2K23?
No, unfortunately the former Portland Trail Blazers star shooting guard Brandon Roy is not included in NBA 2K23. As a diehard Blazers fan and avid 2K gamer, I‘ve scoured the rosters and can definitively say Roy is absent once again.
I know many fellow fans were hoping to see the return of No. 7 to the virtual hardwood. Roy‘s incredible but short-lived career makes him a must-add player for historical Portland teams. Let‘s take a deeper look at why B-Roy remains missing from the latest entry of the most popular basketball video game series.
Remembering Brandon Roy, Portland‘s Fallen Superstar
For those who may not be familiar with Roy, he was the face of the Blazers franchise from 2006-2011. Selected 6th overall in ‘06 after starring at the University of Washington, he made an immediate impact by winning Rookie of the Year. Brandon was a prolific scorer who averaged over 20 points per game in his second season. At 6‘6" he had great size and combined silky shooting touch with elite athleticism to become virtually unguardable.
Just compare his sophomore stat line to some of today‘s top shooting guards:
| Player | PPG | APG | RPG | SPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Roy 2007-08 | 19.1 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 1.1 |
| Zach LaVine 2022-23 | 23.9 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 0.9 |
| Bradley Beal 2022-23 | 22.9 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 1.2 |
As you can see, Roy could go toe-to-toe with the best of today‘s sharpshooting guards. He could handle, create, and score from all over the court. Dubbed "The Natural", he made the game look effortless with a smooth offensive arsenal. Brandon appeared on the path towards superstardom after making 3 consecutive All-Star games.
Unfortunately, persistent knee problems led to a premature retirement in 2011 at just 27 years old. He left a gaping hole in the Blazers lineup and an era of "what if…" surrounding a potential Hall-of-Fame career cut short.
Why Isn‘t Roy in NBA 2K23?
So with such meteor-like brilliance followed by a devastating downfall, why have gamers been unable to play as Roy in recent 2K titles?
Well for one, there are a limited number of retro player slots allotted by 2K each year. And those are typically reserved for Hall-of-Famers and franchise icons who fans expect to see. For example, former Blazers like Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton are 2K mainstays. While beloved, Roy likely just misses the cut for legend status due to his abbreviated career.
There could also be licensing issues at play. If ex-players don‘t agree to terms with 2K‘s license holders, they can‘t be included in games. However, based on past interviews it seems Roy has a great relationship with the Blazers organization and would likely approve any 2K appearance if asked.
Another potential factor is roster balance and gameplay decisions by the developers. Rebuilding past Portland teams is already fun with options like Drexler and Walton. So 2K might strategically avoid overpowering those lineups with yet another scoring threat like Roy. Similar dilemmas have probably kept former Blazers like Arvydas Sabonis out of recent editions.
Regardless of the reasons, for at least 5 straight years now virtual Brandon Roy has been conspicuously absent.
Clamoring for Roy‘s 2K Return
Trust me, I‘m not the only disgruntled 2K player longing to use B-Roy again. Across online forums and subreddits, you‘ll see countless others echoing the same sentiment. Here‘s just a snippet of fan reactions:
"Man I‘d do anything to get Brandon Roy back on 2K! He‘d instantly be in my Blazers lineup running pick and rolls with Dame. Please @Ronnie 2K make it happen!" – u/RipCityRoy
"We NEED Roy in 2K23! His playstyle with elite shooting, handles, and inside scoring ability would be so unique in today‘s game. Imagine matching him up with current All-Star guards – he‘d hang right there with the best of em!" – u/Brandon4Threee
And it‘s not just Reddit randos either. REBLgaming, one of the largest 2K YouTubers out there (1.5M+ subs), named Brandon Roy the top player he wants added in a recent video. Actual big name players have also shown their desire to use Roy, like sharpshooter JJ Redick tweeting he was searching through old clips of B-Roy‘s game to try and emulate.
Clearly, Roy‘s stardom shone brightly enough to still be remembered by today‘s current NBA talent and many hardcore basketball fans. His comeback campaign surely won‘t fade anytime soon.
The Likelihood of Roy Returning
Will all those tweets, video comments, and forum posts actually make an impact though? Could this finally be the year Roy suits back up, virtually at least, for the Blazers?
Looking at past trends for "missing" players gives us some indication. As mentioned earlier, fans lobbied hard for years to #FreeGilbert and get former Wizard‘s star Gilbert Arenas into NBA 2K. Those persistent requests paid off with Agent Zero appearing in 2K22.
On the flip side, all-time great Reggie Miller has now been excluded from the series for over a decade. And at this point his omission almost feels more likely related to personal/licensing issues rather than unawareness.
At still just 37 years old, Roy falls somewhere between those two scenarios. He‘s much more recent than Miller but less notorious than Arenas. However, the factors align well for his potential return:
- Fans actively want him and he‘d make teams like the ‘00s Blazers far more accurate
- As a franchise legend, Roy likely has great relationships with Portland
- Modern players respect B-Roy‘s game enough to want matching up against him
- He fills a niche as a bigger, skilled scorer that plays differently than current guards
The 10-year anniversary of Roy‘s retirement also recently passed, making this the perfect opportunity to revisit his legacy. Perhaps the folks at 2K have finally been convinced to pull the trigger and re-enroll No. 7.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Brandon Roy not being in NBA 2K23 remains a painful reality for Blazers fans. His stellar peak play will continue to be missed from historical Portland team builds.
However, his untimely retirement at just 27 makes Roy‘s absence feel especially pronounced so recently after his tenure. The continued clamoring for his return speaks to the indelible mark he left on Rip City in just a few short electrifying seasons.
Here‘s hoping we hear that iconic announcer call of "BRANDON ROY FOR THREE… GOT IT!" on virtual courts sooner rather than later. Because for loyal Portland fans and ballers everywhere, we still believe Roy‘s got next.
