Why Isn‘t Reggie Miller in NBA 2K23?
As an avid NBA 2K gamer and Pacers fan, I‘ve pondered this question for years. Reggie Miller, the legendary Indiana Pacers shooting guard who captivated fans throughout the 90s with his clutch shooting, trash talk, and epic playoff battles, has been mysteriously absent from the 2K series for over a decade now.
In this in-depth blog post, I‘ll analyze why this Hall of Fame talent hasn‘t made the cut and the ongoing attempts to get him included. With the expertise of a gaming industry veteran, I‘ll also examine the broader implications of his omission on gameplay, fan reception, and 2K‘s business approach. Strap in Pacers fans, this is going to be a deep dive!
Reggie Miller‘s Legendary Career Warrants Inclusion
- 25,279 career points (2nd all-time for Indiana)
- 6 All-Star selections
- 3 All-NBA Third Team honors
- 1990s All-Decade Second Team
- 1996 Gold Medalist
When you stack up accomplishments like that, Reggie is clearly worthy of being an all-time great 2K legend. He dominated games with his quick-trigger 3PT shooting, racking up 2,560 made 3-pointers (1st all-time when retired).
Miller was also money when it counted most, with an uncanny knack for playoff heroicics:
- Game Winners:
- 8 points in 9 seconds vs Knicks (1995 playoffs)
- Series-clinching 3 vs Bulls (1998 Conference Finals)
- Playoff 3PT Leader (5 seasons)
Put simply, Reggie is a prime example of the skilled, cold-blooded shooter that 2K players love to use to sprinkle in some vintage gameplay flavor.
Reggie‘s Reasoning – Show Me the Money!
During a 2018 Instagram Live Q&A, Reggie explained his absence like this:
"I haven‘t been offered the proper compensation for my likeness yet, and that explains my absence."
So in Reggie‘s own words, it comes down to money. 2K has likely made offers to license his likeness, but nothing lucrative enough to get the deal done.
Certain basketball legends are known to drive a hard bargain in these situations. Famously, Charles Barkley has turned down 2K for similar reasons in recent years.
When you examine Reggie‘s own post-retirement wealth though, you see why he holds firm. According to Celebrity Net Worth estimates, Reggie earned over $60M in career NBA salary alone.
For a playable 2K icon that could spike game sales and improve critical review scores, his team surely knows his likeness value is high.
The Quest to Get Reggie In the Game
Die-hard Pacers and Reggie fans haven‘t sat quietly though. There have been numerous community efforts to lobby 2K over the years:
- Online petitions (Change.org in 2015, over 5k signatures)
- Constant social media demands (@2K, @Ronnie2K)
- Official feedback posts on 2K‘s forums
- Calls for boycotting purchases until he‘s included
The overall sentiment is clear amongst the fan base – quit holding out on Reggie!
Pacers team reporter Pat Boylan even expressed frustration on a 2020 broadcast:
"We want Reggie, @Ronnie 2K! Come on! Let‘s get it done!"
The passion for Miller Time endures! But so far 2K hasn‘t cracked under the public pressure.
Financial & Gameplay Impacts
As a veteran gaming industry analyst myself, I decided to dig deeper into potential numbers, incentives and implications underlying this standoff.
Estimated Licensing Cost
Based on typical athlete licensing deals, 2K likely initially offered something in the range of $25k-$50k for multi-year rights.
However, given Reggie‘s star power and accolades, his agents probably set that baseline closer to $100k per year (Charles Barkley money).
Over a 5 year term, that puts the gap around $250k-$500k for a deal to get done.
While costly, locking up a prime legend like Miller has potential financial upsides:
- Increased Game Sales – die-hard Reggie fans finally purchasing copies could number in the thousands
- Positive Reviews – major media outlets like IGN, GameSpot etc could give higher review scores with a broader all-time roster
- Increased Marketability – using Reggie in advertising/social campaigns likely boosts product appeal
If these factors drive even a 1% increase in sales annually, that likely far outweighs the added licensing costs.
Gameplay & Roster Impacts
Currently, players are missing out on having an elite vintage 3PT specialist for lineup building. Reggie‘s absence especially hurts Pacers fans who want to properly simulate the glory years.
Stat-wise, based on career metrics, his attribues shape up like this compared to current 2K23 shooting guards:
| Player | 3PT Rating | Mid-Range Rating | Free Throw Rating | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | 88 | 97 | 94 | 98 |
| Klay Thompson | 91 | 88 | 90 | 88 |
| Reggie Miller | 94 | 86 | 91 | 88-92* |
*projected based on other elite 3PT shooters
With badges like Deadeye, Blinders, and possibly Chef, Reggie shapes up as an elite floor spacer who can capitalize even off minimal separation.
His absence also prevents all-time lineup tweaks like using him alongside current Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield for 5-out attack schemes.
In summary, the lack of a deadeye legend like Miller inhibits creativity in team building.
The Bottom Line
The more you analyze this standoff between 2K and Reggie Miller, the messier yet solvable it looks financially.
Die-hard basketball fans continue clamoring for his return as each new edition passes by. Prominent media voices join in pressuring 2K to give the fans what they want.
Hopefully sooner rather than later, business pragmatism reigns supreme so Pacers faithful can finally re-live Reggie‘s glory days. But the longer this drags out, the uglier it looks for a business built around fan satisfaction.
Get it done Ronnie 2K! The people need Miller Time back in their lives!
