TALESonBET Star Johnell Young Will Be Featured in NBA 2k20

Last week, 2K Sports released the official trailer for NBA 2k20, My Player mode. The visual was directed by Sheldon Candis, who directed Baltimore Boys, which is part of the ESPN 30 for 30 series. In the trailer, Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, and Thomas Middleditch will play a coach, an agent, and an advisor.
NBA 2K20 will be executively produced by Springhill Entertainment, which is owned by Maverick Carter and LeBron James. Others that were featured in the trailer are Mark Cuban, Ernie Hudson, Lamorne Morris, and Scottie Pippen. NBA 2k20 is scheduled to drop on September 6th.
Earlier today, Johnell Young, who plays “Gza” in WuTang: American Saga on Hulu, Woody on BET’s Tales, and played Ray Luv in the All Eyez on Me movie. Announced that he would be featured in NBA 2K20 on Instagram. He will play a character by name of Bertie Barnett in the game.
Young does have a background in basketball back in May of 2017 during an interview with The Hype Magazine. He shared with me that he was preparing for a tryout with the New York Knicks. He was looking to land a spot with their G-League team at the time.
He shared that he would like to play against the likes of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James one day.
Cleveland and Kyrie Irving is my favorite player. That team is to stack and all their players complement each other very well Lebron, JR. Smith and Kevin Love and the comradery of that team are just great and I love it. One day I hope I will get that opportunity to compete with competitors like them. I know it won’t happen to on my time, but on god’s time and I’m just practicing and making sure I’m ready for when that time comes.
Johnell wasn’t the only actor to announces that he would be apart of this year’s installment. Actress Lara Heller also announced via Instagram that she would be featured in the game as well.
Heller is known for her roles in movies such as Breaking the Bank, Troy the Odyssey, and her upcoming project Synth. Back in May of this year, Heller shared with me that she just finished working on a video game, but couldn’t release any details at the time.
I just shot a video game, which will be out in September. I just shot a film called Always A Bridesmaid, and I play a French character called Lily. That was also a fun film to be a part of for me.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
