The late Kobe Bryant was much more than an all-time great basketball player. For a generation of kids, he was a sports icon that preached a commitment to the craft and an attitude of hard work resulting in success. Bryant served as the poster child of the 2000s era of basketball featured in NBA 2K23's MyNBA Franchise Mode.

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That era felt like a transition period for the league as it was coming off the heels of the wild run the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls had throughout the 90s. Sure, the idea of playing with Shaq and Kobe in their prime as members of the Los Angeles Lakers is tempting, but there are more than a handful of other teams worth checking out in this part of NBA 2K's latest title, which starts in 2002.

8 Houston Rockets

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Rockets

Most fans looking to play as the Houston Rockets during the Yao Ming era would likely want the roster that includes Tracy McGrady. Due to the rosters in the Kobe Bryant era in NBA 2K23's MyNBA Franchise Mode starting in 2002, that means that it would be two more years before that eventuality took place.

That being said, having Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley isn't too bad of a consolation prize. Younger NBA fans would also get to see just how well Yao Ming's game would have translated to the modern era where NBA power forwards and centers are expected to have shooting range and the ability to effectively pass out of the post.

7 Phoenix Suns

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Suns

The one downside of the eras in NBA 2K23's MyNBA Franchise Mode is that it starts at a specific year, meaning that some of the most iconic rosters of the eras, like the 2000s in the case of the Kobe Bryant era, weren't built yet. When people think of the Phoenix Suns of the 2000s an image of a fast-paced scoring team led by Steve Nash comes to mind.

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Early on in the turn of the century the purple and orange actually had Stephon Marbury at the helm, with a young Shawn Marion and Amar'e Stoudemire by his side. Those looking to obtain Steve Nash will need to work a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, which might not be too difficult all things considered.

6 Detroit Pistons

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Pistons

It's hard to imagine a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaq and Kobe would lose to anyone, but the Detroit Pistons managed to do just that in 2004. That was a Pistons team that featured a starting lineup of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace. In NBA 2K23's Kobe Bryant-era franchise mode players will start without an experienced Prince or Rasheed Wallace.

Prince was drafted in 2002 by the Pistons and Rasheed Wallace came over in a trade in 2004, the same season the team went on to win it all. Ben Wallace went on to be one of the most dominant defensive players in NBA history and served as the anchor for this Eastern Conference title challenger.

5 New Jersey Nets

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Nets

On paper, a team with Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin, and Dikembe Mutombo feels like a unit that would at least give contending teams a tough challenge. That thought would be spot on considering that exact New Jersey Nets roster made it to the 2003 NBA Finals and lost to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.

The year prior the Nets were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games in what would be Shaq and Kobe's final NBA Championship with one another. Just because the Nets failed to reach the NBA Finals again following their loss to the Spurs doesn't mean players hopping into NBA 2K23 will experience the same outcome.

4 Dallas Mavericks

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Mavericks

Long before Dirk Nowitzki earned his sole NBA Championship in 2011 he played on a Dallas Mavericks roster people thought would contend for a title. The combination of Dirk and Steve Nash with role players like Michael Finely and Nick Van Exel in the fold felt like the right pieces.

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The Mavs would go on to make the NBA Finals in 2006 and lose to the Miami Heat, but that was two seasons after Nash was traded to the Phoenix Suns and built his legacy there. NBA 2K23 allows the chance to right that wrong and take a 92 overall Dirk and an 86 overall Nash to the promised land, provided Shaq and Kobe don't get in the way in the Western Conference.

3 Sacramento Kings

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Kings

In 2023 Sacramento Kings fans are excited to finally see the royal purple back in the NBA playoffs, but that dire sadness wasn't always associated with the organization. Back in the early 2000s, the Kings were one of the toughest challenges standing in front of the Shaq/Kobe Los Angeles Lakers.

Mike Bibby at the point guard position being able to kick it out to 3-point assassins Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkuglu made them a tough cover defensively. A glance at this roster also shows that they had a rookie Gerald Wallace on the roster, who was one of the most athletic players of his time. His presence could add a dynamic element that wasn't showcased in real life.

2 San Antonio Spurs

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Spurs

Greg Popovich cemented himself as one of the greatest coaches of all time thanks in large part to his consistent success from 1999-2014 leading the San Antonio Spurs. He won five NBA Championships in that span, coaching two Hall of Fame power forwards in that time.

The roster featured in the Kobe Bryant era of NBA 2K23 sees the Spurs with a 97 overall Duncan playing with Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, and David Robinson in the final years of his career. From top to bottom, it's one of the more complete rosters available in the era and players can decide to play Ginobili as a starter or do what Popovich did and bring him off the bench as one of the league's most effective sixth men.

1 Los Angeles Lakers

NBA 2K23 Kobe Bryant 2000s Era Best Teams Lakers

Throughout the history of the NBA, it's hard to find a duo more iconic than Shaquille O'Neal and the late Kobe Bryant during their run in the early 2000s with the Los Angeles Lakers. The dominant big man and poster child for talent meeting hard work strung together a 3-peat, winning the title in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They also managed to make it a fourth year in 2004 but lost to the Detroit Pistons.

Playing with a 97 overall Shaq and Kobe speaks for themselves, but throwing in Derek Fish, Robert Horry, and Rick Fox makes them the best team to choose for anyone looking to start a franchise in NBA 2K23 during the Kobe Bryant era.

NBA 2K23 is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and PC.

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