From NBA 2K17 Teammate To Oscar Winner Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan won his first Oscar for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, and a reminder of his past life in hoops culture popped up: in 2016 he played the fictional Suns player "Justice Young" in NBA 2K17’s career mode. The Phoenix Suns even gave him a shoutout after the win, a neat full circle from virtual teammate to real-life award winner. Merlin smiles at the crossover. Celebrities have long floated through NBA 2K, and Jordan’s jump from game cameo to Best Actor highlights how film and basketball keep borrowing each other’s magic. Expect brands and games to court Oscar winners more often, and for Jordan’s star to keep showing up in sports spaces in one form or another.