Is the NBA 2K23 Deluxe Edition Worth It? A Basketball Fan‘s In-Depth Review

As a longtime NBA 2K fanatic and avid virtual baller, I can definitively say the Deluxe Edition is absolutely worth picking up if you want to get a head start on building your MyPLAYER and MyTEAM collections.

In this extensive review, I‘ll break down the key benefits of the Deluxe Edition, crunching the numbers on value along the way. You‘ll also get my personal take as a basketball junkie on how the bonuses stack up.

Whether you‘re a casual occasional player or obsessed with 2K, I‘ve got you covered. Let‘s dive in!

At a Glance: What‘s Included in the Deluxe Edition?

Here‘s a quick overview of what you get in the 2K23 Deluxe Edition, which retails for $79.99 ($20 more than the Standard Edition):

• Full game for current-gen consoles (PS4/Xbox One) AND next-gen consoles (PS5/Xbox Series X|S)
• 5,000 Virtual Currency (VC)
• 5,000 MyTEAM points
• 10 MyTEAM promo packs with guaranteed ruby player
• Boosts for each MyCareer skill type
• Boosts for each Gatorade boost type
• Devin Booker MyPLAYER jersey
• 95 OVR Devin Booker MyTEAM Free Agent card

Now let‘s explore the key perks and bonuses in more detail.

Dual-Access: Ball Out on Both Console Generations

Arguably the single biggest incentive to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition is receiving the full game on both current-gen and next-gen consoles.

Having flexibility to play on PS4 or PS5 and Xbox One or Series X|S is incredibly valuable:

• Access your main MyPLAYER build on both gens to maximize playtime and earning potential
• Experience the visual leap firsthand between console generations
• Play with friends who haven‘t upgraded yet to next-gen
• Compare gameplay and modes side-by-side to see improvements

Plus, you don‘t have to worry about purchasing the game again down the road if you eventually upgrade consoles. This dual access alone makes Deluxe worth it in my eyes.

5,000 Virtual Currency – A Solid Start

Every hardcore 2K gamer knows the importance of Virtual Currency. It‘s the lifeblood of improving your MyPLAYER.

5,000 starting VC may not seem like much, but it enables you to:

• Raise several key attributes like speed, vertical, or 3pt shooting
• Unlock new signature animations and packages
• Expand your wardrobe and accessory collection

To put this bonus in perspective, 5,000 VC is worth around $2 based on purchasing VC alone. Not huge, but a nice kickstart.

As a frame of reference, it takes roughly 100,000 VC to max out a MyPLAYER build. So while 5,000 VC won‘t get you far overall, it provides a solid foundation.

Accelerating MyTEAM Progress with 5,000 Points

Similar to VC in MyCareer, MyTEAM points are crucial for acquiring new player cards to construct your fantasy squad.

In my experience, 5,000 points helps you:

• Open 6-7 standard card packs
• Pick up 1-2 premium packs
• Bid on key players in the auction house

Overall, this upfront influx of MyTEAM currency effectively jumpstarts your collection by getting cards in your deck right off the bat.

Sample Ruby Player & Other Promo Pack Perks

Now we‘re getting into the real meat of the Deluxe Edition value.

You get 10 MyTEAM promo packs included, each containing:

• 1 guaranteed ruby player
• 4 other random player cards
• Some consumables/boosts

Ruby cards are very solid and can cost thousands of points to obtain normally. For context, in 2K22 a ruby Paul George or Anthony Davis ran over 10,000 points!

Adding 10 rubies instantly gives your team a huge performance boost early on. Plus the consumables like contracts and stat boosts save you currency too.

By my math, you‘d need to buy around $100 worth of VC to acquire the equivalent MyTEAM value of these promo packs. A huge incentive for avid MyTEAM players.

MyCareer Progression Accelerators

The MyCareer skill and Gatorade boosts included are arguably just as good as the upfront currency.

These bonuses effectively double your upgrade rates for attibutes, badges, and overall progression.

Specifically, you can allocate the boosts to:

• Max out your MyPLAYER‘s takeover meter faster
• Speed up earning MyPOINTS after games
• Quicken badge unlock rates
• Boost skill progression in key areas like shooting, playmaking, or finishing

I‘d estimate it saves you around 5-10 hours of grind time, allowing you to compete online sooner with a higher rated player.

Exclusive Cosmetics: Devin Booker Jersey & MyTEAM Card

While the cosmetic bonuses don‘t directly impact gameplay, they are cool perks for Phoenix Suns or Booker fans.

Repping the Booker jersey in the Park/Pro-Am lets you rep your favorite player in style.

And the 95 OVR Free Agent Devin Booker MyTEAM card is quite usable early on, providing a high quality shooting guard to your squad.

These extras may not be essential, but are nice collectibles for hardcore 2K gamers.

Crunching the Numbers: Total Deluxe Value

Let‘s tally up everything included in the Deluxe Edition:

• Dual next/current-gen access: $10-$20 value
• 5,000 VC: around $2 value
• 5,000 MyTEAM points: around $2 value
• 10 MyTEAM promo packs: at least $10 value
• MyCareer boosts: $5-$10 value
• Booker jersey & card: $5-$10 value

Total real-world value: Around $35-$55

So for the $20 Deluxe Edition upgrade, you‘re likely getting at least $35 in bonuses – a complete no-brainer!

And that‘s not even considering the long-term time savings which are hard to quantify. All in all, an amazing value.

My Take As a 2K Baller: Deluxe is a Slam Dunk

As someone who has religiously played 2K for nearly a decade, I can‘t recommend the Deluxe Edition highly enough.

The dual console access alone is almost worth the price. Being able to grind MyCareer on my PS5 and also play MyLEAGUE on PS4 with friends is huge.

Plus, the upfront currency, MyTEAM packs, and boosts easily save you hours upon hours of grinding.

I expect to reach 85+ OVR in MyCareer at least 5-10 hours faster thanks to the bonuses. And my MyTEAM collection will be far superior out the gates compared to starting from zero.

While casual players may not need Deluxe, it‘s an incredible value for dedicated 2K ballers looking to maximize their progress from day one.

And being able to rep the Booker jersey is just the cherry on top!

The Verdict: Should You Buy the Deluxe Edition?

So should you spend the extra $20 on the NBA 2K23 Deluxe Edition?

If you plan to play 2K23 for dozens or hundreds of hours, my verdict is absolutely yes.

The upgrades provide so much additional value and progression acceleration:

• Access on both console gens
• 5,000 VC
• 5,000 MyTEAM points
• 10 promo packs with rubies
• Badge and attribute boosts
• Cosmetic player bonuses

You‘ll likely save over 50+ hours grinding thanks to these perks.

Occasional players can probably stick to the Standard Edition just fine. But committed 2K gamers who want to maximize their players ASAP should go Deluxe without question.

The bonuses also continue paying dividends throughout the year, not just at launch. So you really get your money‘s worth.

In closing, if virtual basketball is a lifestyle, the NBA 2K23 Deluxe Edition is a must-buy. You won‘t find better bang for your buck as a hardcore hoops head. Thanks for reading – now get out there and ball out!