NLSC Your source for basketball video games.

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five celebrates Derrick Rose by recalling five of his best plays.

As we discussed earlier this week in Episode #548 of the NLSC Podcast, Derrick Rose has called it a career after 15 seasons in the NBA. D-Rose is – as I’m sure many of you are aware – one of my all-time favourite players, right up there with fellow Chicago Bulls alumni Michael Jordan and Ben Gordon. To that end, I’m sorry to see him retire, especially without more fanfare and indeed a farewell tour back with the Bulls. After all of his injuries and with family life ahead of him however, one has to respect him for being at peace with his career, and his decision to walk away.

Obviously, there are some wistful What Ifs when it comes to Derrick Rose. If not for that devastating knee injury in the 2012 Playoffs, I’m sure he would’ve been one of the top stars of the 2010s. Who knows what the Bulls might’ve achieved had he remained healthy, and if they’d acquired some more firepower to support him? While it does sting to think about, I’m also grateful that I was able to see him become an All-Star and MVP, and truly get excited about the Bulls’ chances again as I did in 2011. He was a really fun player to watch – and play with in video games, too – so in honour of his retirement and his 36th birthday, here are five of my favourite Derrick Rose plays!

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While it might not be a full-on modding renaissance, it’s been great to see some new mod releases for NBA Live 2005 here and there. To that point, there are a couple to spotlight today, as Modders27 has released a face update for Devin Booker, while Murat has uploaded a new tool for editing the camera file which is also compatible with NBA Live 06. Pick them up at the links below!

Modders27
Devin Booker Face

Murat
NBA Live 2005/06 Camera Tool

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at a few of the free agents who were in NBA Live 16, and putting them back in uniform.

To say that the roster customisation options in the eighth gen NBA Live releases were a disappointment is a massive understatement. After all, they were missing entirely until a patch added roster editing to NBA Live 18, and even then, the functionality was botched and buggy come NBA Live 19. Still, it’s far easier to set up a custom roster or fantasy scenario in those two titles, compared to the first three releases on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Indeed, outside of the official roster updates – which are no longer available – Dynasty mode is the only way to see players in a new jersey.

It’s also the only place that you’ll see the selection of Free Agents that are included in NBA Live 16. To that point, there are some veterans still in the game that, if we could create custom rosters, would’ve allowed us to set up some fun scenarios. It can still be done in Dynasty, but with the limitations of the salary cap and an inability to edit jersey numbers, re-creating lineups is quite a challenge. Nevertheless, I’ve been able to place some of those NBA Live 16 Free Agents back in a uniform that they once wore, correct number and all. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #548 of the NLSC Podcast!

Derrick Rose has officially retired from the NBA, and naturally, we have a few thoughts in the wake of his announcement, from fond memories to whether or not he should have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls. This also leads us to join the community in reminiscing about some other player retirements that had a profound affect on us, as well as undeserved reputations that players have had difficulty shaking. We also discuss some exciting upcoming modding projects that johnz1 has planned for the PlayStation 3 version of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, and provide an update on the modes that both we and the community are currently spending the most time with in NBA 2K25.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:02:37 — 43.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with a few thoughts on how we’re in the age of gatekeeping, and how that gatekeeping frequently involves age.

With my thirties drawing to a close, I’ve never identified more with that classic scene in The Simpsons where Abe warns Homer that one day, he won’t be “with it”. For Elder Millennials like me, it feels like we’ve been suddenly and unceremoniously pushed out of pop culture and some of our favourite hobbies; or at least, an effort is being made to do so. Our fashions are outdated (yet at the same time, they’re being brought back), our jokes might as well be “Boomer Humour”, and apparently we don’t even shoot videos correctly! We’re now among the “old heads” being sneered at.

And hey, to make a very Millennial-coded reference, it’s the Circle of Life, right? We’re not the trendy young crowd anymore, with only the youngest Millennials clinging to the upper end of the 18-34 demographic. This is the way of pop culture; this is, as blink-182 put it, growing up. Still, it feels like we’re being pushed out of things that we’re not too old for, or that anyone is too old for, really. We’re in an age of gatekeeping in general, but the gatekeeping itself is also often about age. That’s not to say that we didn’t have our own version of “Old Heads Keep Out” on the proverbial clubhouse door, but online discourse definitely revolves around generational division.

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johnz1, creator of the awesome Legends on Fire Edition and On Fire Edition 2023 mods for the PlayStation 3 version of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, has released a brand new project! Titled NBA Jam: 1990s On Fire Edition, the mod adds every franchise’s best team from the 90s, as well as a small selection of 80s squads.

Due to the mod’s focus on a specific era rather than the breadth of NBA history, many of the limitations from the LOFE project are no longer an issue. To that end, every team in this mod has correct uniforms, courts and arenas, logos, and coaches. Players also have their accurate jersey numbers.

In the release notes, johnz1 has explained his approach to ratings. They’ve been balanced for four-player gameplay, and as in previous projects, the maximum three-point rating any player has is eight rather than ten, in order to better balance outside shooting. Player ratings also reflect team performance in addition to player skill, to represent each squad’s relative toughness. Other ratings have also been adjusted to make sure that every team is viable.

Download NBA Jam: 1990s On Fire Edition here, and check out the release and support topic here! You can also watch a release trailer below. As with previous mods, it can be installed on both the RPCS3 emulator and jailbroken PS3s. Please see the installation instructions for more details. Shout out to johnz1 for producing yet another amazing mod for a classic game!

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Twenty-five years after its release, we unsurprisingly don’t see too many new mod releases for NBA Live 2000. We do have one today however, as JuicyShaqMeat’s sessions with the game inspired him to create an update/fix for the Chicago Bulls home, away, and Sunday jerseys, which will work on all texture detail levels. Check it out at the link below, and freshen up your retro gaming sessions!

JuicyShaqMeat (with Rix191)
Chicago Bulls 1999-2000 Jerseys

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Get ready for more fantastic highlights from the basketball gaming community in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week, curated by Dee4Three! New and old games alike are featured in this celebration of spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood. To submit your clips, post them in this topic, or hit up Dee on Twitter.

It’s clear that the community is enjoying NBA 2K25 so far, as it’s establishing a consistent presence in the NLSC Top 10 Plays. This week’s countdown features some clutch plays and poster dunks from the new release, but a handful of old favourites also remain in the rotation. You’ll find Dr. J operating in a work-in-progress ABA mod for NBA Live 06, a project that we discussed in Episode #547 of the NLSC Podcast. There’s also a long bomb from a retro showdown in NBA 2K14, some fancy passing by an NBA 2K13 MyPLAYER, and even the first appearance of the Gameboy version of NBA Jam Tournament Edition. Without any further ado, let’s get to the action!

What was your favourite highlight this week? Sound off in the comments below, and once again, get in on the fun by sending us your best plays! Remember, as long as it’s a basketball game, it’s eligible for the countdown. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

Patch 1.5 has come through for NBA 2K25 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. As always, it should download automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

The patch notes are as follows:

• Fixed a number of user-reported hang/stability issues when playing in MyCAREER or in the City.
• Fixed a hang that some users were reporting when loading into a MyCAREER save.
• Fixed user-reported issue that prevented advancement during the offseason in MyCAREER.
• Removed the 1.5x REP bonus that was erroneously attached to certain clothing items in MyCAREER.
• Resolved in an issue in MyTEAM that allowed for players to be subbed in at ineligible positions.

I’ve added the details for Patch 1.5 to the update history in our Wiki. Once again, the developers have indicated that a larger patch will be coming at the beginning of Season 2. This update will contain comprehensive fixes and changes throughout the game, in addition to preparing MyTEAM and MyCAREER for a new season of content. In the meantime, feel free to share any thoughts on the latest update in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five ways that roster editing was lacking in the eighth generation NBA Live releases.

For all the insistence that the only reason to prefer or still enjoy old games is blind or wilfully ignorant nostalgia, experience has taught me that the opposite is often true. Sure, I love revisiting old favourites that hold up well, and to a certain point, my nostalgia and affection for them does smooth over some rough edges. At the same time, I’ve discovered that some old favourites haven’t aged as well as I thought upon revisiting them, while games I never played or indeed didn’t care for when they were new have impressed me. It’s a case-by-case matter, rather than an absolute either way.

To that end, going back and playing some eighth gen NBA Live titles with fresh eyes and no (or low) expectations has allowed me to enjoy them more, or at least notice some of their stronger points. Unfortunately, roster editing isn’t one of them! Despite being a staple feature of basketball games and sim titles in general, roster editing was severely lacking in the NBA Live games released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s a perfect example of how the series was lagging behind where it needed to be, as well as the vision for the series being out of step with what many long-time NBA Live fans wanted. Let’s take a look at the biggest roster editing shortcomings in those releases.

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The latest NBA 2K25 mod releases include an updated 2001 76ers court, new faces for Doug Christie and Kerry Kittles, and a further WNBA logo update. Pick them all up at the links below!

Manni Live
Philadelphia 76ers 2000-2001 Court Update

ChadCur33
WNBA On ESPN Logos (Updated)

ADK2K
Doug Christie Bald and Kerry Kittles Fix

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the PlayStation 3 version of NBA 08, the 2008 entry in Sony’s exclusive NBA series.

At the beginning of 2024, I decided that I’d attempt to dip into the collection at least once per week, and spend some time with a game that I hadn’t played very much. I’ll admit that between getting hooked on other games, content creation, and of course other responsibilities, those plans fell by the wayside after a couple of months! Still, it was a fun idea, one that I’ll revisit in the future. In any case, while I was in the midst of those efforts back in January, one of the games that I fired up was NBA 08 for PlayStation 3.

I’d already covered NBA 07 not long before that, concluding that while it lacked depth and wasn’t as realistic as other 5-on-5 sim games, it was still capable of being fun on the sticks. I noted some of its novel and innovative features, as well as the importance of offering an alternative to the big two brands in basketball gaming. I also delved into some of the challenges and drawbacks the game faced, owing to its exclusivity. Would NBA 08 be more of the same, or would it step up and challenge NBA Live 08 and NBA 2K8? Let’s take a look back…way back…

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #547 of the NLSC Podcast!

Although we’re still playing NBA 2K25 and have a few updates on what we’ve been doing in it, we have been talking about the game at length for a number of shows now, so this week we’re putting it on the backburner. To that end, we recap a fun session playing NBA Live 06 PC with a work-in-progress ABA mod, and reflect on the league’s legacy and importance in the history of basketball. We also join the community in reminiscing about fun and weird ideas and approaches that we’ve employed in fantasy drafts, as well as some of the most memorable transactions – good or bad – that our favourite teams have made during all of our years following the NBA.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:14:41 — 51.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off by sharing some of my roster mod philosophies.

Sometimes, I feel uneasy about giving modding advice, or commenting on modding-related topics. It’s been a long time since I regularly participated in the hobby, to the point where many people might not even know that I’ve been a modder! I was very active throughout the heyday of NBA Live modding though, and I’ve also dipped my toe into some NBA 2K modding here and there, even releasing a fixed official roster for NBA 2K10. Even though I did eventually become burned out on modding, as I’ve previously admitted, the urge to tinker is still there.

Moreover, I do know what I’m talking about when it comes to our community and creating mods, particularly rosters. I realise that times have changed and there’s always value in exploring new methods and possibilities, but there’s some advice that is evergreen. As Batman once put it on Justice League Unlimited, sometimes the old ways are best; a sentiment echoed in Skyfall many years later! And so, as we consider creating big projects for new games and old favourites alike, I’m sharing some of my roster mod philosophies. They’ve served me well when working on various rosters over the years, and it’s how I’ll approach any projects that I take on moving forward.

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We’ve got a generous helping of NBA 2K25 mod releases today, from NBA face and tattoo updates to WNBA portrait and logo updates. Download all of today’s fantastic NBA 2K25 mod releases at the links below!

AGP2K
Vince Carter Face

ChadCur33
WNBA Player Portraits
WNBA On ESPN Logos

R4zoR
Reggie Williams Tattoo Fix
Carl Herrera Face Fix
Keith Bogans Face Fix
Shaun Livingston Afro
Bald Latrell Sprewell
Quentin Richardson Tattoos
Dwight Howard No Tattoos

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.