The first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs are currently being played in a bubble at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. And although the situation is unprecedented and far from ideal, with fans essentially participating in a Zoom-like video conference to cheer for their teams, that clearly hasn’t stopped the league from coming up with solutions to fill the sports void.

(Update, September 13: Our NBA 2K21 for Switch review is up! Read and watch our actual gameplay video now.)

Its PC and console counterpart won’t be sitting out the season either. Cue NBA 2K21, which just dropped a playable demo for the game on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It includes four playable teams including historic Lakers and Celtics teams as well as modern squads composed of the current lineups for championship favorites Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

NBA 2K21 gameplay

So, yes, it’s nostalgia and a return to current affairs in one intoxicating hit. The star-studded demo assembles NBA legends and current generational talents, including Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Giannis Antetoukounpo, LeBron James, and the late and great Kobe Bryant, who is one of the cover athletes for NBA 2K21. Outside of the players and teams, the preview gives fans a chance to experience the new gameplay mechanics, such as the redesigned shot meter and Pro Stick controls.

Your progress in the NBA 2K21 demo will be carried over to the full game

You can also use the new MyPlayer Builder, which will let you try out different builds for your custom player avatar. Perhaps what’s most important is that the demo is free to download and out globally on consoles today. Plus, your progress in the demo will be carried over to the full game.

On the PlayStation Store, the taster weighs in at around 30GB. NBA 2K21 is now available for preorder in the Philippines and other markets, with the release scheduled for September 4. It’s also worth pointing out that the game will be available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X this holiday season.

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