15 Legends Take The Hardcourt In NBA 2K12

Jordan, Magic, and Bird aren't the only big names taking it to the rim in 2K Sports' latest hoops title.

In NBA 2K12's new NBA's Greatest mode, fans get the chance to jump into the Nikes (or Cons) of some of the greatest players to ever take the court. In addition to the previously announced inclusion of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, 12 other legends are featured in the mode. Though 2K Sports is keeping 10 of them under wraps, the company did confirm the participation of famed 76er Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar (check out the shots below).

Like last year's NBA Challenge mode, 2K Sports is pulling out all the stops in recreating these 15 games, each of which centers on on of the player at hand's legendary accomplishments. To recreate the sense of place and time, every game includes historically accurate rosters, arenas, jerseys, and presentation. Unlike last year, however, you won't have to meet any in-game objectives to complete the challenge – all you need to do is get the W to unlock the player and teams for the other game modes. I personally am going to miss the objectives, because trying to recreate Jordan's remarkable performances in a video game gave me much more appreciation for what he achieved in real life. That said, losing the objectives doesn't damper my excitement for reliving some of the NBA's most legendary games.

Who else would you like to see included in the mode? My personal choices include Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Moses Malone, and Pistol Pete Maravich.

UPDATE: 2K Sports just released this video on YouTube as well: