Spike Lee's involvement with NBA 2K16 means that the franchise could be preparing for a grittier, hard-edged makeover. The director is no stranger to heated rivalries within the NBA, having trash-talked many an opposing player from his courtside seat at Madison Square Garden over the years. A dedicated Rivalries Mode would give players a close-up, interactive view of some of the most fierce battles in NBA history. From the multi era-spanning Celtics and Lakers rivalry to the 1990s clashes between Lee's own Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, and even more modern classics such as the recent Spurs/Heat feud (spawned by two enthralling NBA Finals series), this mode would portray the league in the ultra-competitive light it deserves. While it's unlikely that 2K16 would take the controversial step of including the occasional on-court brawl or technical fouls - tellingly regular inclusions on many fans' wish-lists - they would certainly do no harm in bringing some of the most compelling rivalries in NBA history to the fore.
