It's not even close. Trust me, not close. EA's models have too much contrast, unrealistic eyes, and are just not realistic. Even the sweat on the Piston's players isn't realistic, it's stylistic. If you've ever done art at all, you know they teach you to do the lines by contrast. Shade this side darker, and the line or edge rather begins when that shading gets darker or lighter. That's what real life is. It makes the picture more realistic as a whole, rather than having a side colored in, then a line drawn on the edge.
Now check Lebron's muscles in Live. there's lines for here muscles begin and end. Dark areas. Entirely dark. Then a sudden change to the color of his skin. 2k6 works into every line, every shaded area. This speaking from a purely pic vs. pic comparison, as I'm not as knowledgable in game's engines and what they use to get their effect.
EA seems to be working off of what they think looks good. 2k6 works off what they think looks real. Under Lebron's eyes they're dark, shadowing EA thinks. 2k6 works the shadowing also under his forehead, the dip into the eyes. Except they work it in, and use a lot more tones. Slightly darker here, lighter here. The picture works as a whole. EA thinks and renders what looks good individually. There's no unison it the bottom line. So yes, it looks like a game as someone said. 2k6 looks like a link between a game and real. And I knew this was going to happen. KNEW IT.
This next generation was going to establish and seperate the serious artists from those who were able to hide behind lack of technology last gen. It's just common sense that when all the tools are available, some put em to use for creating a more realistic canvas, and some put em to use wherever they can find use for them. But fundamentally a lot of games are flawed, and a lot of developers lack certain skill. So you're getting all these effects and they're not sure where to put em. It's a mesh of styles and techniques, where as the true masters of their craft are creating incredible realistic imagery. Videogames are definitely becoming a more defined art.