This morning, the NBA and Take Two have announced a multi-year global partnership extension believed to be for seven years and worth up to $1.1 billion to the NBA and the NBA Players Association. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that this extension is worth more than double their previous deal in 2011. The deal value is based off sales of Take Two's NBA games, coming on the heels of NBA 2K18 selling over 10 million copies.

If the numbers are correct, this puts the value of the deal over $157 million dollars per year. Where does this leave other potential licensees and competitors? Could Take Two have just priced out other competitors, such as EA SPORTS' NBA LIVE Franchise? Or will the NBA give them and others a deal based purely on sales? It is worth watching to see if/when any extension with the NBA/NBAP and EA SPORTS is made or announced.

In 2011, the NBA put out a press release announcing the extension of deals with both Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive. Today's announcement focused solely on Take Two.

Is EA on a different contract timetable than Take Two? It is worth monitoring if/when any future announcements are made regarding extension of that deal, as well as terms.

Also, given the large value of this deal, is it possible Take Two will honor the request of Charles Barkley and be giving money to the NBA Retired Players Association? ...

Patch #5 is now available for NBA 2K19. The update consists primarily of bug and annoyance fixes, lacking a significant big addition or change.

Some of the improvements include improved logic and visuals of “pulling the chair” in the post, improvements to Play Now Online uniform selection to avoid teams wearing similar color uniforms, and more.

Continue on to see the full list of improvements found in this update. ...

Game update 1.04 is now available for NBA 2K19.

Some of the update highlights include the addition of the new NBA resetting the shot clock to 14 following an offensive rebound, additional Daily Spin prize wheels, improvement to select award selection logic, addressed numerous issues that would cause the game to hang, and much more.

Continue on to see full details of this update. ...

The third patch for NBA 2K19 is now available and comes in at just over 4.8 GB in size.

This update includes a bevy of updates spanning presentation (alternate Nuggets court), MyCAREER, Neighborhood, Pro-Am, and MyLEAGUE/MyGM.

Also, this update will work with all existing game saves. Continue on to see full details of the third patch for NBA 2K19. ...

As is normally the case, NBA 2K19 will once again feature a bevy of gameplay improvements.

In an blog authored by Nino Samuel, known in the community as Da Czar, the AI Producer breaks down new features and improvements such as upgraded play art, streamlined OFTC coaching menu, player specific dynamic plays, improved AI play distribution, pick and roll smart switching, improved transition flow and switching, rebuilt double team reactions, attack and retreat pressure relief module, additional freelance sets, new procedure based AI system, as well as series and series AI.

An additional gameplay blog from Scott O'Gallagher will be coming soon detailing improvements such as penalties for dribbling into a crowd and more.

Check out the lengthy blog on the NBA 2K Facebook page. ...

The MyNBA2K19 App is now available, letting users scan their face for The Prelude and NBA 2K19. In addition, the app also includes the popular card collecting game and chances to earn in-game Virtual Currency.

Download the app to your device directly with these links: Android - iOS

Continue on to read the official press release and full details on what is new with the MyNBA2K19 app. ...

NBA 2K19 has released a new 'Broadcast Trailer' announcing the addition of Bill Simmons to the bevy of in-game commentators as well as a look at Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett recording additional commentary.

Continue on to see the trailer as well as some screenshots of NBA 2K19 in-action. ...

NBA 2K19's MyCAREER mode - entitled "The Way Back" - focuses on a player nicknamed 'A.I.' who spends time in the Chinese Basketball League and NBA G-League before earning a shot in the NBA.

Players can begin their MyCAREER on August 31 when The Prelude is available on XBL & PSN.

The cast for The Way Back is an impressive one: Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, Silicon Valley), Michael Rapaport (True Romance, Deep Blue Sea), Anthony Mackie (Avengers, The Hurt Locker), Aldis Hodge (Leverage, Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures), Rob Huebel (The Descendants, Bob's Burgers), Blake Jenner (The Edge of Seventeen), Ricky Whittle (The 100, American Gods), Mo McRae (Wild, Lee Daniels' The Butler), and Ginger Gonzaga (Wrecked, Togetherness).

Continue on to see the trailer for "The Way Back." ...

The NBA 2K19 soundtrack will be curated by Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott and the 47 songs contained there within have been announced. The soundtrack will feature songs from Scott’s new album Astroworld, as well as tracks he selected by Bruno Mars FT Cardi B, Migos, Fall Out Boy, Alison Wonderland, Partynextdoor and more.

The full soundtrack is available on Spotify. ...

Through a trailer and developer blog, NBA 2K has released info on changes coming to MyTEAM in NBA 2K19 which includes new modes, better rewards system, and improved UI & notifications.

New modes coming to MyTEAM include MyTEAM Unlimited, Triple Threat, Triple Threat Online, and Daily Trials. Existing game modes such as Challenges and Domination have been refreshed to make them more unique and user-friendly, particularly as it relates to rewards.

Content will be increased in 2K19 with earlier chances than ever to earn a Pink Diamond player. In addition, the newest and most rare type of card in MyTEAM will be Galaxy Opal while new Heat Check cards will see players able to play at a higher level in-game following an outstanding performance in real life.

Continue on to see the trailer and click here to read the lengthy developer blog. ...

NBA 2K Senior Producer Erick Boenisch has penned a lengthy blog detailing improvements coming to NBA 2K19's MyLEAGUE Online and MyGM modes.

While some sports games do not put a focus on these modes, if included at all, NBA 2K continues to build upon and deepen them.

Continue on to notes of Boenisch's blog and click here to view it in its entirety. ...

In a press conference from Athens, Greece 2K Sports has announced that the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the NBA 2K19 Standard Edition cover athlete. A rising star in the league, Antetokounmpo now looks to enter the 2018-19 season with a chance to stand out as one of, if not the best all-around player in the Eastern Conference now that LeBron James has headed to the Western Conference and the LA Lakers.

The first screenshot of the game is of Antetokounmpo and the most noticeable improvement over 2K18 is of arm muscle size and definition.

Continue on to see the reveal trailer, the first NBA 2K19 screenshot featuring Antetokounmpo, an archive of today's press conference, and the official press release straight from 2K Sports. ...

Following store signage revealing the news, today 2K Sports has officially announced LeBron James as the cover athlete for the 20th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K19.

The special 20th Anniversary Edition will come with a combination of digital and physical items. It is also currently available to pre-order on Amazon for $99.99. The 20th Anniversary Edition will be available on September 7 and the standard edition on September 11. NBA 2K19: The Prelude will be available on August 31.

Continue on to see the announcement trailer and official press release from 2K Sports. ...

The inaugural NBA 2K League Draft took place Wednesday at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After narrowing the field of potential draftees from 72,000 down to 102, the draft saw each of the 17 NBA-affiliated teams draft the six players to complete their roster. In a pre-draft press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the 2K League the "fourth league in our family," join the NBA, WNBA, and G-League.

The top overall pick was Artreyo "Dimez" Boyd, selected by Mavs Gaming, the Dallas' Mavericks NBA 2K League team. Players drafted in the first round will earn $35,000, while the other draftees will be paid $32,000. The league will consist of a 12-week season complete with players living in their representive NBA cities and traveling to New York for league match-ups.

Silver also noted in the pre-draft press conference that he was disappointed by the fact that "there are no women who are in the initial draft pool." Per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, Silver and league head of diversity and inclusion Oris Stuart 'have created a task force aiming to have a pool of female competitors to participate in next year's draft.'

Continue on to watch the pre-draft press conference and NBA 2K League Draft. ...

NBA 2K18 Game Update 1.09 is now available and focuses exclusively on adding support for February's NBA 2K League Combine.

72,000 players qualified for the League Combine after winning 50 games in January. Only 102 will earn a roster spot. During the combine, players must play a minimum of 40 games using their primary position (PG/SG/SF/PF/C).

Continue on to see more details regarding the NBA 2K League Combine. ...

Game update #7 is now available for NBA 2K18.

This update adds accurate courts for Portland and San Antonio, updated hairstyle for Lonzo Ball, and addresses bugs across numerous game modes.

Continue on to read the patch notes courtesy 2K Sports. ...

A fifth game update is now available for NBA 2K18.

This sizable update includes improvements/fixes for gameplay, MyCAREER, The Neighborhood, Pro-Am, MyTEAM, MyGM/MyLEAGUE, and more.

The patch also features native 4K resolution at 60 FPS to coincide with the launch of the Xbox One X console.

Continue on to read the full patch notes from 2K Sports. ...

2K Sports has released notes for the fourth NBA 2K18 patch.

The sizable patch addresses gameplay, MyCAREER, Neighborhood/Playground, Pro-Am, MyTEAM, MyGM/MyLEAGUE, and Presentation.

Continue on to read the lengthy details straight from 2K Sports. ...

NBA 2K18 patch update #3 and full details are now available courtesy 2K Sports.

This update addresses framerate issues, improves player indicators in the Playground, fixes numerous MyLEAGUE/MyGM bugs, and more.

It is worth nothing that no details were made public on what NBA 2K18 game update #2 addressed.

Continue on to read the full patch notes and details. ...