Is it really da Dream?

About 5 years ago NBA 2K, the official NBA video game, started something that destroyed all video game competitors. They introduced the My Player career mode, and it was a huge success. The My Player mode lets you become an NBA player and start your NBA journey. In NBA 2K16, they decided to change the game, and what a change it was. They brought in the legendary director, Spike Lee, to executively produce the My Player Mode. Spike Lee did his thing on this installment of the game, revolutionizing it, but he might have done it to a fault

            Spike Lee created a storyline with NBA 2K My Player this year called Livin' Da Dream, but he made it way too stereotypical. Livin’ Da Dream is the typical black man using sports to get out the hood story. The plot is very predictable, especially if you’re someone familiar with Spike Lee and the type of movies he creates. Spike Lee is an avid sports fan, and he often combines both sports and his upbringing into his movies. Livin’ the Dream displayed that perfectly. The storyline starts by introducing a protagonist named Freq. He is from the hood, and he is the top basketball recruit in the nation. He has both his parents in his life, and a twin sister, Ce-Ce, who manages him. We also get introduced to his girlfriend, Yvette and his best friend, Vic. We learn their backgrounds; they just keep afloat financially, both parents work together at the post office for 32 years and they live in the projects of Harlem. Freq’s dream is to make it to the NBA so his parents never have to struggle with money again. He eventually goes to a top college, and after one season of college basketball, he debates whether he should make the jump to the league, which he does. During his rookie season Freq encounters many off court obstacles, which the story mode is based on. He deals with conflict with his own family members, like accusing his sister of being a leech. He deals with the issues between his sister and his girlfriend. Lastly, the peak of the story mode is him and his family’s problematic relationship with his best friend. Throughout all of this, black stereotypes were very prevalent.

            The first stereotype is at the very beginning, at the introduction of the characters and their background. The post office career of Freq’s parents is the typical job in the hood; I’ve heard seen it many movies, and from rappers like J. Cole, whose parents were also poor. They are raised in one of the most notorious “hoods” in America, Harlem. Next are the “black” names of some the characters like Ce-Ce and Yvette, I’ve never met a white person with those names, and I doubt I will. Next are the problems Freq faces throughout the story line. Freq wants to head to the NBA quicker because he wants to help his parents out, and his mother even wants him to skip school to do it. Another example, the problems with his girlfriend and sister. The typical story line of the sister believes the girlfriend is gold-digging and that her brother shouldn’t be with her. I’ve seen this in so many black films, even in a Spike Lee movie.  There’s even a scene when he turns on his sister because he thinks she’s leeching off him. Then his friend Vic, which is the cause of most of the drama. Vic is the typical best friend who’s always up to no good and who the family dislikes. Even Freq knows deep down he’s no good, but still keeps him around. We eventually find out Vic killed someone for Freq.

            I’m not saying that everything about Livin’ The Dream was stereotypical and it made it bad. No, I actually enjoyed this My Player much over all the other previous installments. Spike Lee did an excellent job crafting this. All I’m saying is what about the majority of white people who buy this game? How does this appeal to them? How do these story lines apply to most of them, heck how do these story lines apply to black people who never ever been to the “hood” ? It doesn’t. Not every NBA Player came from poverty and the hood. This kind of gives that impression that this what a lot of NBA players had to deal with, or something close to; and in a league which is 80% black, it's easy to categorize all of us into that lifestyle. All in all, it was an excellent game, the best My Player yet, and I hope Spike Lee produces NBA 2K17 also, it just needs to a storyline that more people of all walks of life and races can relate to.

If you haven't yet played the game or you just don't play 2K at all, the link is at the bottom to watch the whole story. but I'm warning you now, its long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyf7cpJd1U8