legends in the game? jordan?

[wicked waway]

even if basketball god is in the game, i wouldnt think of putting him in my active roster though...ive got too much respect for him to let him play in my team..

point is, MJ should be enshrined (lols for the hyper praise) and it wouldnt be appropriate to still put him in the game..(though legends would be ok, he shouldnt be unlockable to be put in any team other than legends)

imagine if hes in the game and some wannabe like kobe runs circles around him coz of course kobes will get higher ratings as MJ is old...

[OldFoolStyle]

Jordan's shoe company is a subsidary of Nike, who also own the Jordan logo. When EA Sports licensed Nike, they also got all sub-brands and logos associated with Nike. Jordan the person is seperate from this deal.
EA is not being cheap by not going after other legends, the cost for the NBA license, NBA team license, NBA players union license, and NBA pension players license cost more then the yearly income of of all NLSC members combined. Also, making seperate deals with players past or present could put EA at breach of contract, exception being cover athelete and mo-cap. If EA made a seperate deal with a non-active, non-pension player like Jordan, it's likely he'd be the only "real" player in 2008.
For Jordan's part, as part owner of Nike he makes too much money for his NBA pension to be anything but a tax burden. So catch 22 here, EA has to deal with Jordan seperate from the NBA, but cannot deal with Jordan unless it is through one of the NBA unions.

BTW, this is not the "fault" of either the NBA or Micheal Jordan, but rather the soda, cigarette, candy and other companies that used to steal celebrity likenesses to sell their products. And yes, this was a huge deal before likeness rights were put ino law.

[L.M.]

do you know if scottie pippen is in it? man..they should at least put pip in

[Andrew]

No, Scottie Pippen won't be in the game. With all the 90s All-Stars players who have been retiring in the last few years, it's the same story as Michael Jordan. They can't be included.

[#12]

90's all star used be be so stacked...now it stinks

[quewaz]

I guess stock and the mailman won't be on it. Malone was on 2005 but not 06'.
Is Magic and bird still on it?

[Andrew]

Yes, Magic and Bird are still there but Stockton and Malone will not be included.

[elitethatsme]

so why are these players not in the game???? they want money? please thats crazy... I want Ewing in it!!!

[Andrew]

The reasons have been discussed in-depth, I've got some info on that straight from the source in my Community Day review (see the Announcement thread) and OldFoolStyle posted a great summary of the situation in this very thread.

Essentially there's just so much red tape preventing former players (those who aren't part of the retired players union, anyway) from being included in the game.