Today, 2K is sharing details of their partnership with SpringHill Entertainment – the award-winning content company created by LeBron James and Maverick Carter – which includes the production and creative control of NBA 2K20’s MyCAREER cinematic narrative: “When The Lights Are Brightest.” Known for such productions as What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali, More Than a Game and The Wall, SpringHill Entertainment collaborated with the Visual Concepts team to write, direct, and cast this year’s storyline for the fan-favourite video game mode.

“The story of ‘When The Lights Are Brightest’ in NBA 2K20 reflects the story of today’s modern athletes,” said Maverick Carter, CEO of SpringHill Entertainment and athlete empowerment company UNINTERRUPTED. “From dealing with the pressures of fame, demands on and off the court, and outside influences, athletes face a tremendous amount of obstacles. SpringHill Entertainment exists to tell compelling stories and in this case, we were able to draw on our own experiences with LeBron and other athletes to create a narrative that’s authentic and a bit of a peek behind the curtain. Fans of NBA 2K20 are going to be amazed at the level of detail we were able to get to in this film.”

With SpringHill Entertainment’s focus on delving deeper into the personal story of the main character, players of this year’s MyCAREER mode will experience an even more authentic and emotive story.

This year’s narrative features the storyline of an NBA prospect named Che on his quest for gold both on and off the court, covering the importance of mentors, dealing with off-court pressures and current social issues. In this game setting, the path to stardom is firmly in the gamers hands.

The cinematic narrative was directed by up-and-coming visionary Sheldon Candis, and features a star-studded cast including Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, and NBA all-stars past and present. This is the most visually stunning MyCAREER cinematic experience to date and brings the journey to life in a completely new and immersive way.

“An entire film made entirely of video game scenes has never been done in this way before,” said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing at NBA 2K. “We decided to partner with SpringHill Entertainment because as an athlete-led production company, they authentically understand basketball culture and created a totally unique cinematic experience that encapsulates the reality facing the game’s next prospects. What we were able to accomplish in this year’s MyCAREER mode is an example of what’s ‘NEXT’ in moviemaking and in gaming.”

The full-length version of “When The Lights Are Brightest” will be available to experience first-hand when NBA 2K20 is released worldwide on September 6, 2019.