I’ve been playing NBA 2K for years, and often document my stats and results in franchise mode. This year, I’m taking it a step further and sharing my franchise story here on SNESBlogs.net.

The Setup

Difficulty: All-Star

Season Length: 29 Games

Game Length: 10 Minutes

Some custom changes I made include the playoff format: best-of-three in the first round, best-of-five in the second round, and best-of-seven in the Conference Finals and NBA Finals. I also turned injury severity and duration down a little from their base levels, but injuries are still on. I also tweaked the salary cap a little, raising it as well as its annual inflation rate just so things don’t get hampered down the road.

I imported a custom-made 2025 NBA Draft Class, headlined by Duke standout Cooper Flagg, but left the possibility of 2K giving these players their own storylines and arcs.

Team: The Denver Nuggets

My starting roster goes as follows, with the player’s overall ratings and the minutes I’m giving them to start:

• Starting PG: Jamal Murray: 86 OVR, 32 minutes
• Starting SG; Christian Bruan: 83 OVR, 30 minutes
• Starting SF: Michael Porter Jr.: 83 OVR, 33 minutes
• Starting PF: Aaron Gordon: 83 OVR, 28 minutes
• Starting C: Nikola Jokic: 98 OVR, 35 minutes
• 6th Man: PG Russell Westbrook: 83 OVR, 29 minutes
• Two-Way Wing: SF Peyton Watson: 78 OVR, 21 minutes
• Bucket-Getter: SG Julian Strawther: 76 OVR, 15 minutes
• Backup Big: PF/C Zeke Nnaji: 75 OVR, 9 minutes
• Backup Shooting Center: C Dario Saric: 74 OVR, 4 minutes
• Rookie Big Man: PF/C Daron Holmes II, 72 OVR, 4 minutes
• Veteran Presence: C Deandre Jordan, 76 OVR, 0 minutes
• Depth Guard: SG Jalen Pickett, 71 OVR, 0 minutes

Reserves

• PF Vlatko Cancar, 72 OVR
• SF Hunter Tyson, 69 OVR
• SF Spencer Jones, 66 OVR

Season Goals

Just a year removed from a championship season, expectations are high for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Goals this year for the team include:

• A deeper playoff run than last year’s second-round exit
• Another MVP-caliber campaign for Nikola Jokic
• Develop young players: rookie Daron Holmes II, sophomore Julian Strawther, and continue the growth of Christian Braun and Peyton Watson.
• Incorporate Russell Westbrook into the offense as a versatile sixth man.

2024-25 NBA Season

Game 1: Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)

Opposing Starting Lineup: Mike Conley 78 OVR, Anthony Edwards 94 OVR, Jaden McDaniels 84 OVR, Julius Randle 86 OVR, Rudy Gobert 86 OVR

Game Summary: The Nuggets came out hot with an 8-2 opening run, fueled by six points from Jokic and a pair of Aaron Gordon free-throws. Denver relinquished the lead as Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon struggled to finish at the basket, but the Nuggets did re-take a 24-21 lead by the end of the first quarter on a strong effort from Russell Westbrook, Daron Holmes II, and the second unit. But Denver’s flowery start slowly faded away as their fundamentals were shown to be unpolished: turning the ball over and failing to protect the paint. The size and length of Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid really helped the Timberwolves start to build a lead. It didn’t help that the Nuggets couldn’t hit a three-pointer to save their lives (2-21 3PT for the game.) Minnesota took a 58-46 lead in to the halftime break and only built a bigger lead in the second half. Minnesota’s offense stalled briefly in the fourth quarter, but ultimately had more than enough firepower to get it done. Jokic heated up in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. Westbrook and Holmes II played well in their team debuts, but it wasn’t nearly enough after many empty possessions for the Nuggets offense.

Nuggets Standout Stats:

• Nikola Jokic: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks (10-17 FG) -8 court rating
• Michael Porter Jr.: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist (7-16 FG) -11 court rating
• Russell Westbrook: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals 1 blk (6-13 FG) -10 court rating
• Aaron Gordon: 15 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist (4-11 FG, 7-7 FT) -15 court rating
• Daron Holmes: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist (3-3 FG) -3 court rating
• Christian Braun had 7 assists

Timberwolves Standout Stats:

• Anthony Edwards: 20 points, 5 assists
• Julius Randle: 18 points
• Rudy Gobert: 13 points, 22 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks +17 court rating

Result: Nuggets lose 108-88, fall to 0-1

Lineup Change

Dario Saric (74 OVR) loses his four minutes to DeAndre Jordan (75 OVR)

Game 2: Vs. Indiana Pacers (0-0)

Pacers Starting Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton 88 OVR, Andrew Nembhard 82 OVR, Benedict Mathurin 81 OVR, Pascal Siakim 87 OVR, Myles Turner 83 OVR

Game Summary: A 5-0 Nuggets lead quickly became a 10-9 Pacers lead behind 8 points from Tyrese Haliburton. The Nuggets took a 27-20 lead by the end of the first quarter on another strong effort by the second unit (Westbrook slashing, Strawther hitting two big three-pointers.) Nuggets retain a narrow 46-45 lead at halftime in a defensive battle. Westbrook stole the show again in the second quarter with seven points, and Jokic (11 points, 13 rebounds) already has a double-double at halftime. But a quick Pacers run gave Indiana a 60-52 lead following a Haliburton three-pointer midway through the third. Indiana exploded just as Denver imploded, and pushed their lead to 77-65 heading in to the fourth quarter. Nuggets led furious rally in the fourth quarter, spear-headed by Jokic and MPJ, but Jamal Murray missed a potential-game tying three-pointer with less than 30 seconds left. Pacers hold on for a 103-96 win despite Jokic’s huge 28-point, 28-rebound night. Three-point shooting remains a major issue.

Nuggets Standout Stats:

Nikola Jokic: 28 points, 28 rebounds, 5 assists (11-21 FG) -5 court rating

Michael Porter Jr.: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists (10-17 FG) -9 court rating

Russell Westbrook: 18 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists (7-17 FG), +3 court rating

Pacers Standout Stats:

Tyrese Haliburton: 23 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists (10-16 FG) +9 court rating

Pascal Siakim: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists (8-19 FG) +10 court rating

Result: Nuggets lose 103-6, fall to 0-2 to start the season

Trade Offer

Brooklyn Nets offer Cam Johnson (PF, 84 OVR) and D’Angelo Russell (PG, 80 OVR) for Jamal Murray (PG, 86 OVR) and Zeke Nnaji (C, 75 OVR.) Hard pass.

Game 3: At Sacramento Kings (1-0)

Kings Lineup: Malik Monk 83 OVR, Zach Lavine 88 OVR, Demar DeRozan 87 OVR, Keegan Murray 80 OVR, Domantis Sabonis 88 OVR

Game Summary: Nikola Jokic records a first quarter double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds, 5-6 FG) but Nuggets trail the Kings 24-21 after being outshot in three-point land, with Denver going 0-for-9 and Sacramento going 3-for-8. Kings lead by as many as 15 in the second quarter after more sloppy shooting and sloppy defense. After finally hitting a pair of threes (Aaron Gordon and Julian Strawther), the Nuggets drew back within five, but still trailed 48-38 at halftime. Zach LaVine paced the Kings’ offense with 15 first-half points. With 5:49 left in the third quarter, the Kings took a 68-50 lead, enough for me to put the controller down for the night,

Upon return, things didn’t get any easier. Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook took offensive fouls back-to-back possessions, as the Kings pulled away even further. Westbrook went on a little scoring run, but the Kings still led 80-58 with 2:29 left in the third. It didn’t get any better from there, as the Nuggets lost 120-89. Peyton Watson had a particularly tough night from the field, and three-pointing shooting was putrid as always, 2-27 for the night for Denver.

Key Nuggets Stats:

Nikola Jokic: 21 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals (9-14 FG)

Jamal Murray: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists (8-16 FG)

Michael Porter Jr.: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist (5-16 FG, 0-8 3PT)

Peyton Watson: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists (2-8 FG)

Key Kings Stats:

Zach LaVine: 29 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists (13-20 FG)

Malik Monk: 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists (12-24 FG)

Damontis Sabonis: 17 points, 15 rebounds, 0 assists (8-11 FG)

Result: Nuggets lose 120-89, fall to 0-3 to start the season

Lineup Changes for Spurs

Needing to go a little bigger and stop getting bullied in the paint, especially with Wemby coming.

Braun: 30 to 26, Gordon: 28 to 30, Jokic: 35 to 37, Strawther: 15 to 13, Jordan: 4 to 6

Trade Offer

Philadelphia 76ers offer an aging Paul George (SF, 83 OVR) and G. Yabusele (PF, 79 OVR) for Jamal Murray (PG, 86 OVR) and Dario Saric (C, 74 OVR). Pass.

Game Four: Vs. San Antonio Spurs (0-2)

Spurs Starting Lineup: Chris Paul (80), De’Aaron Fox (87), Devin Vassell (83), Jeremy Sochan (79), Victor Wembanyama (95)

Game Summary: After a Spurs opening possession turnover, the Spurs drew a 24-second shot clock violation on the Nuggets, setting the tone for an aggressive defensive performance. The Spurs took an early lead, but then an interesting Nuggets lineup found success: Westbrook-Porter Jr.-Gordon-Jokic-Jordan, going with three bigs to defend Wemby, tying the game 12-12. Spurs led 23-22 after a tightly contested first quarter.

But the Nuggets post-first quarter woes continue, just as in the previous three games. Denver’s hot-enough start was erased by Wemby’s dominance and their own offensive inconsistency. Spurs led 58-39 at halftime with Wemby posting insane stats: 20 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

Down 95-54 late in the third quarter, it couldn’t be more apparent…

Difficulty Change: All-Star to Pro

The Spurs went on to win 114-82: a 28-19 advantage for the Nuggets in garbage time.

Game Result: Nuggets lose 114-82, drop to 0-4, difficulty lowered to Pro as I’m out of my league

Nuggets Standout Stats:

Jokic: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks (9-15 FG)

MPJ: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists (3-10 FG)

Watson: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists

Spurs Standout Stats:

Wemby: 24 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks (11-16 FG)

Read on as the story continues…