For the players who have invested heavily both time and money on a previous iteration, NBA2K21 has nothing new to offer. The new MyCareer story and the necessary roster updates would not justify a purchase at its full price. Our grade refers to the technical aspects of the game, but we are highly critical on how the series have devolved into a microtransactions Pay2Progress model.

NBA 2K21 entertains with strong gameplay, but the new shooting system lacks precision and may feel frustrating.

All in all, NBA 2K21 still holds the bar, but there is very little incentive to switch to this version if you had your fill of 2K20, unless you’re a dedicated fan of MyTeam.

An overall extremely well-made and enjoyable basketball game with a variety of modes and teams. That does not stop NBA 2K21 from sabotaging itself through a vast number of microtransactions that become necessary to progress in the My Team and My Career modes.

Only the novelties of the My Team mode are satisfactory for a forgettable title on the current generation of consoles.

A recycled mess that features the same bugs, financial exploits, and cheats that PC players have had to suffer through for years. MyTeam has seen some great innovations but they are completely overshadowed by NBA 2K21's shortcomings.

In 2K21, just like we’ve seen for the last few years, every moment of fun on the court is undermined by the racket being run off it.