Kobe Bryant

NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant is on the cover of the Standard and Black Mamba Editions of NBA 2K24, released in 2023.

Kobe Bryant is the cover athlete for the Standard and Black Mamba Editions of NBA 2K24, a basketball video game released in 2023 and developed by Visual Concepts Austin and published by 2K. As an NBA Hall of Famer, his image anchors the game's marketing and its Mamba Moments mode, which lets players recreate some of his most memorable and exciting career moments.

Quick Facts

First appears: NBA 2K1 (as a current player)

Lore & Background

Kobe Bryant's presence in NBA 2K24 is defined by the Mamba Moments mode, the equivalent of the Jordan Challenge from NBA 2K23. This mode allows players to play and recreate some of Kobe Bryant's most memorable and exciting moments of his career. The game's ProPLAY technology, which translates NBA footage into gameplay rather than relying solely on motion capture, was noted by game director Mike Wang as improving animation accuracy for retired or deceased players, making Kobe's virtual movements more authentic.

Reader's Guide

Kobe Bryant is featured on the cover of the Standard and Black Mamba Editions of NBA 2K24. The game includes Mamba Moments, a mode where players can recreate some of Kobe Bryant's most memorable and exciting moments of his career. The ProPLAY technology, which translates NBA footage into gameplay, was highlighted by game director Mike Wang as improving animation accuracy for retired or deceased players like Kobe. The song "Roundball Rock" by John Tesh appears in the 1990s (Jordan era) and in scenarios from the 1990s in Mamba Moments, and is part of the 2K Beats soundtrack on the current gen version. The game was released on September 8, 2023, for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with an Arcade Edition released on October 24, 2023, for iOS, macOS, and tvOS through Apple Arcade. Online servers were shut down on December 31, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kobe Bryant in the NBA 2K series?

This Hall of Famer headlines the packaging for the Standard and Black Mamba Versions of the 2023 title. He has also been a selectable legend in various modes dating back to NBA 2K5.

How can players experience Kobe's career highlights?

Users can step into specific historic scenarios through the dedicated Mamba Moments gameplay mode. This section allows fans to relive some of the most exciting plays from his career.