Scott Cole will host the event again, along with NBA2king Malik Fort, 2K League sideline reporter Autumn Johnson, and Ms.Basketball the host and broadcaster of esports.

Candace Parker was recently featured on the cover of NBA2K22. Lisa Leslie, her former Los Angeles Sparks mentor and teammate, was the one who laid the foundation for Parker's inclusion in Backyard Basketball 2001. The following is how Leslie's inclusion resulted in Parker becoming the focal point will result in an increasing exposure.

Candace Parker has been chosen for the cover of NBA2K22 The magazine is the first female basketball player to receive this honour. Candace Parker's Los Angeles Sparks mentor Lisa Leslie was the person who opened the doors to women's participation in basketball games. Leslie was a featured player in Humungous Entertainment’s Backyard Basketball (2001), prior to the release NBA2K2.

Houston Comets stars Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes both were absent from the 2001 WNBA season. Cooper who was twice named MVP, and four-time champion, retired after the 2000 season. He returned in 2003. Swoopes also an integral part of those four championships and was the league's reigning MVP, did not play in 2001 due to a torn ACL.

After helping the Sparks to win their first title in September 2001, Leslie won not only the MVP award in 2001, but she was also named the Finals MVP. Just one month later Backyard Basketball was released with her chosen as the only real-life woman's basketball player (Garnett was the sole male player) instead of Buy MT NBA 2K22 PS4 Cooper and Swoopes.