What 2K is OJ in?
"OJ" refers to the duo of Pres and Justice Young in the MyCareer story mode of NBA 2K17. They are rising rookies trying to take over the NBA as a dynamic pairing dubbed "Orange Juice."
The Full OJ Backstory in NBA 2K17
As a hardcore 2K gamer, I still consider NBA 2K17‘s MyCareer storyline one of the best in the series. You take on the role of an undrafted rookie point guard nicknamed "Pres" who joins the NBA with a giant chip on his shoulder.
In high school, Pres lost his best friend and teammate to tragedy, nearly giving up on his basketball dreams. But with his family‘s support, Pres rises up to become a phenom college player and hot NBA prospect.
However, on draft night, Pres goes undrafted due to concerns about his character and work ethic. He finally gets a chance with the Orange County Crush, linking up with another rookie named Justice Young, a highly-touted lottery pick.
At first, Justice looks down on the underdog Pres. But recognizing Pres‘s raw talent and scoring ability, Justice decides to take him under his wing. The two rookies quickly develop an unstoppable chemistry on the court that sparks the Crush to exceed expectations.
Combining Pres‘s offensive creativity and Justice‘s athleticism, the duo become known as the high-flying act "Orange Juice" (OJ). Their signature alley-oops and fast breaks make them basketball‘s next big thing.
Over the course of an epic rookie season, Pres and Justice battle rival teams, drama in the locker room, and their own individual struggles with fame and expectations. It‘s one of the realest and most compelling sports storylines brought to life through fantastic 2K gameplay and cutscenes.
Why the OJ Storyline Works
In my opinion, the OJ storyline connects because it taps directly into basketball fantasies. What young hooper hasn‘t dreamed of rising from obscurity to dominate in the pros? Pres represents that underdog struggle for recognition.
And his unlikely chemistry with Justice feels authentic and hard-earned. Together, their metaphorical "Orange Juice" energizes and electrifies teams with high-flying basketball glory. The nickname itself is fun and memorable, summing up their positive energy.
On the gameplay side, unlocking OJ abilities rewards you with stylish signature moves and stat bonuses. Pulling offPres-to-Justice alley-oop jams never gets old!
Over dozens of hours progressing through NBA seasons, you feel invested in the lead characters in a way few sports story modes allow. Even years later, the OJ duo still has untapped potential for future 2K stories.
The Evolution of 2K MyCareer Stories
As much as I love the OJ storyline, the franchises‘ MyCareer writing continues improving with new creative concepts:
NBA 2K21 – In this edition, your created player "Junior" grapples with his father‘s legacy as an all-time College hoops legend. The complex relationship shows maturity in 2K‘s storytelling.
NBA 2K22 – Here the plot revolves around a musician named MP trying to balance rising rap stardom with beaking into the NBA as a rookie point guard. The music industry crossover reflects 2K‘s expanding partnerships.
NBA 2K23 – The latest MyCareer centers on "MP Da Realest" navigating player empowerment era of the NBA with branching storylines that react to your choices. It fulfills the real player control promise of MyCareer.
While the OJ tale taps into classic basketball wish fulfillment of being the man as a rookie phenom, later MyCareers have gotten creative with timely themes. I‘m excited to see how 2K pushes the envelope next. Perhaps we will see Pres and Justice return someday as NBA veterans guiding younger stars!
Ratings and Data on Top 2K Players
In analyzing 20 years of NBA 2K rosters, a few elite players separate themselves stats-wise:
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| Player | Highest 2K Rating | Lowest 2K Rating | Average 2K Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 99 | 78 | 95.7 |
| Michael Jordan | 98 | 88 | 95.5 |
| Kevin Durant | 97 | 81 | 92.0 |
| Stephen Curry | 99 | 78 | 91.3 |
| Shaquille O‘Neal | 100 | 88 | 91.5 |
With multi-season averages near 95 overall and single-game peaks at 99, LeBron stands out as 2K‘s career leader. The late Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan also consistently rate among the all-time greats.
But only Shaq has broken the 100 overall threshold which remains untouched for over 20 years now. Maybe we‘ll see it matched by a current superstar someday.
The Outlier 99 Ratings Club
In any given NBA 2K game, rated players fall between 0-99 overall. Reaching even the mid-90s puts you in MVP contention.
So getting one of the rare 99 ratings vaults you into all-time legend status shared by only Michael Jordan, LeBron, Steph Curry, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Chris Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry so far.
As a 99 club member, you are undoubtedly the best baller in that 2K‘s gameplay meta capable of superhuman stat lines.
In particular, LeBron James‘s reign with four 99 ratings indicates his consistent real-world and video game hoops dominance across eras.
Maybe his son Bronny can match that someday with next-gen versions of the 2K series!
