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The Friday Five: 5 Satisfying Moments in Modding

The Friday Five: 5 Satisfying Moments in Modding

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 moments in modding that are extremely satisfying.

Needless to say, modding has long been a major part of what we do here at the NLSC. For nearly thirty years now, talented people in our community have added missing content, fixed and updated content that was in the games by default, made unofficial fixes for bugs and other issues, and created brand new experiences with amazing total conversions. These efforts have not only enhanced the virtual hardwood experience for a lot of people, but also been creatively satisfying for those who enjoy tinkering with video games. Indeed, some people mod the games more than they play them!

Naturally, modding can also be a frustrating and tedious activity. From repetitive data entry to tasks that are complex to complete and all too easy to mess up, certain parts of modding aren’t as enjoyable as others. The fun steps, breakthroughs, and technical triumphs along the way, are what keep modders going until the job is complete. As someone who has both successfully released major projects and unfortunately had others fall through for a variety of reasons, I’m quite familiar with some of the most satisfying moments in modding. To that end, here are five that I’ve experienced while messing around with some of my favourite basketball games throughout the years.

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NBA 2K16 Mod Releases: More 2025 Courts

NBA 2K16 Cover Art - Stephen Curry

The initiative to update NBA 2K16 continues, as today’s mod releases feature 22 more 2025 season courts! Thanks to these recent mod releases, we now have 2025 season courts for all 30 NBA teams in NBA 2K16. It’s great to see people sticking with a game that they really enjoy, and continuing to update it a decade later. Please see below for the links to all of the latest court mods!

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.

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Wayback Wednesday: 30 Facts About NBA Live 95

Wayback Wednesday: 30 Facts About NBA Live 95

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 sharing 30 fun facts about NBA Live 95, in honour of the PC version’s 30th Anniversary.

Can you believe that it’s been some 30 years since NBA Live 95 came to PC? The calendar says so and the maths checks out, but it’s still tough to get my head around! In any case, three decades have passed since EA Sports’ basketball games made a triumphant return to PC, and in doing so, ultimately inspired the creation of the NLSC and our modding community. With that in mind – and since we didn’t end up running any “official” 30th Anniversary of NBA Live content last year – it’s only appropriate that we mark the milestone with another look back at this iconic game.

Obviously, between Wayback Wednesday, our previous anniversary content, and other features, I’ve covered NBA Live 95 rather extensively at this point. A game of its quality and importance deserves its due though, especially on an anniversary. And so, I’ve decided to compile 30 fun facts about NBA Live 95 to celebrate the occasion. As you can imagine, it’s difficult to find 30 things about the game that haven’t been said before, but there are a few points of interest that aren’t talked about all that often. Hopefully, some will be news to you! Let’s take a look back…way back…

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NLSC Podcast #574: Q&A With Andrew and Derek

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #574 of the NLSC Podcast!

The community has some questions, and fortunately, we’ve got some answers! At the suggestion of listener Rene, this week we’re holding a Q&A with questions taken from our social media. The Q&A covers a little bit of everything: favourite foods, favourite video games of other genres, our preferred strategies on the virtual hardwood, Tom Chambers’ Hall of Fame credentials, experiences meeting NBA players in real life, our top basketball movies, and more. We hope that you enjoy hearing our thoughts on this array of fun topics – and maybe learning a thing or two about us as well – as we definitely enjoyed answering all of your questions!

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!

NBA 2K25 Patch 6.0 Released

NBA 2K25 Patch 6.0 Released

Patch 6.0 is now available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of NBA 2K25, with the PC patch set to drop in time for Season 6 this Friday. As always, the update should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or check for updates manually.

This far into the game’s lifecycle, the title updates aren’t making too many major changes or additions. To that point, Patch 6.0 is mainly preparing NBA 2K25 for Season 6 in MyTEAM and MyCAREER, though it does include likeness updates for Patty Mills and Shakira Austin. There are also some minor stability and bug fixes, and a couple of Quality of Life improvements with the MyPLAYER Builder and Exchange menu in MyTEAM.

You can find the full release notes below, as well as in the NBA 2K25 update history over in our Wiki. Feel free to comment below with any thoughts and impressions, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum.

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NBA Live 2005 Mod Releases: Court & Coach Update

NBA Live 2005 Cover Art

Today’s NBA Live 2005 mod releases from Iceman99 include an NBA Cup court for the Boston Celtics, and a 2025 season coach update. Check them out at the links below!

Iceman99
Boston Celtics NBA Cup Court (2025)
2025 Coach Update

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.

Monday Tip-Off: Never Say Never (But I Probably Will, Again)

Monday Tip-Off: Never Say Never (But I Probably Will, Again)

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 some thoughts on why we should never say never when it comes to basketball games and modding, even though I probably will.

As a Millennial, Don Bluth movies were part of my childhood. Some of them I saw a bit later on because I was too young (or not yet born) when they first came out, but they certainly had an impact on me. That includes An American Tail, the story of a young mouse named Fievel who is separated from his family during their journey to the United States. It’s a classic children’s film with some memorable musical numbers, one of which is the uplifting “Never Say Never”. It’s one of those iconic scenes from a movie that I watched when I was very young that became embedded in my memory.

I’d like to say that the message also resonated with me. In a way it did, but I’ll admit that as much as I try to be optimistic, open-minded, and imaginative, there have been times when, like Fievel, I’ve resigned myself to the notion of “never”. To that point though, it’s refreshing when your pessimism is proven wrong, and a lesson that we should never say never…well, to some things, anyway! When it comes to basketball video games and modding, I’ve been prone to writing off possibilities out of hand. This has led to some incorrect predictions and reminders to think outside the box! So, while I’d like to pledge that I’ll never say never again, I’m sure that it will happen.

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NBA 2K14 2016 Roster by Shamgod V2.5 Released

NBA 2K14 2016 Roster by Shamgod V2.5 Released

Shamgod has released V2.5 of his comprehensive 2016 roster mod for NBA 2K14 PC! Key features of the project include:

  • Accurate NBA roster as recent as the 2016 NBA Playoffs (or NBA 2K16’s Final Roster Update)
  • Updated cyberfaces for existing players and coaches, including the 2014 & 2015 NBA Rookies
  • Updated Portraits for players & head coaches from (their most recent portrait if 2015 media day portrait doesn’t exist)
  • Accurate NBA 2K16 ratings for the players
  • 2 Rosters (regular & blacktop)
  • Adjusted rotations based off the NBA 2K16 team rotations
  • Updated team jerseys and colors based off getty images as recent as Oct. 2015 – June 2016
  • Accurate player accessories for the playoffs or as recent as Oct. 2015 – April 2016
  • Updated courts and stadiums
  • Updated team logos to 2K16 team logos
  • Updated & newly added shoes [New Shoe Vault!]
  • Global has been updated using a mix of [Cam]’s “Dedication” mod and Gab’s “DREAM” v3 Global
  • Updated All-Star Weekend & Rookie Showcase
  • Skoadam’s URB animations for the 16′ roster have been imported
  • New Free Agents have been added (e.g. Sim Bhullar)
  • 2016 NBA Draft Class featured
  • Updated game presentation (That includes the soundtrack, snapshots in the association, icons, etc.)

Download Shamgod’s 2016 roster for NBA 2K14 PC here in the Forum, and be sure to check out the mod’s new official website! A big thanks to Shamgod and everyone else who continues to freely share their work with the community, especially during March Modness!

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week: March 29th, 2025

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week

Get ready for more fantastic highlights from the basketball gaming community in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week, curated by Dee! 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, send Dee a message, or hit him up on X.

The real NBA has produced some ridiculous buzzer beaters from long range this week, so it’s only appropriate that the latest edition of the NLSC Top 10 Plays reflects that trend on the virtual hardwood! In addition to those clutch shots, you’ll also find perfectly-timed alley-oops, crafty moves, and the usual assortment of thunderous poster dunks. Six different games are featured in this week’s countdown, from the often-underappreciated NBA Live 09 through to NBA 2K25. You know that our community is going to put on a show, so 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.

NBA 2K14 Mod Releases: 2025 All-Star Jerseys

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

March Modness 2025 may be swiftly drawing to a close, but our community is always motivated to improve our favourite games! To that end, Pep’s recent mod releases for NBA 2K14 include a pack of 2025 All-Star jerseys, which you can pick up at the link below.

Pep
NBA Nike All-Star Game 2025 Uniforms

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.

The Friday Five: 5 Roster Mistakes I’ve Made

The Friday Five: 5 Roster Mistakes I've Made

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 mistakes I’ve made while working on roster mods over the years.

When it comes to modding – no matter what the game or series – it’s absolutely fine to be proud of your work. Unfortunately, this sometimes goes beyond pride and creative satisfaction, and dives straight into egotism. This goes for any mod, but I’ve noticed that roster makers whose work receives acclaim for its accuracy and quality often begin to get a big head. It’s how we come to see a long-time, well-regarded roster maker claim that Al Horford is a better, more skilled player than Hakeem Olajuwon! Seriously, how does that not utterly destroy your credibility?!?

As a roster maker for many years, such egotistical bluster and confident inaccuracy greatly bugs me. I’ve received some kind compliments about my rosters for various NBA Live titles throughout the years, so I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about basketball, the NBA, and modding. However, I’ve strived to remain humble about my work, in part because I value humility, but also because I’m well aware that I’m not infallible. Beyond any issues with ratings and lineups, I’ve made mistakes while planning and assembling roster projects, and failed to fix technical errors before public releases. To that point, here are five mistakes that I’ve made with roster mods.

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NBA 2K16 Mod Releases: 2025 Season Courts

NBA 2K16 Cover Art - Stephen Curry

There’s still interest in playing and updating NBA 2K16, so it’s always nice to see some new mod releases for the game all these years later! Eight 2025 season court updates have recently been uploaded, and can be picked up at the links below.

Opensource
24-25 Philadelphia 76ers Floor
24-25 Milwaukee Bucks Floor
24-25 Washington Wizards Floor
24-25 Chicago Bulls Floor
24-25 Cleveland Cavaliers Floor
24-25 Boston Celtics Floor
24-25 Los Angeles Clippers Floor
24-25 Memphis Grizzlies Floor

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.

Wayback Wednesday: Magic’s BIG Moment in NBA Live 14

Wayback Wednesday: Magic's BIG Moment in NBA Live 14

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 Magic Johnson’s BIG Moment in NBA Live 14.

The eighth generation was a rough and ultimately unsuccessful attempted comeback for the NBA Live series. At the same time, those releases also demonstrated flashes of brilliance and meritorious ideas that were worthy of far better games. Appropriately, NBA Live 14 exemplifies the duality of the generation of games it tipped off, being notably flawed while also featuring some excellent concepts. That includes a couple of modes that were powered by live service content and EA Sports’ partnership with Synergy Sports, namely NBA Rewind and BIG Moments.

I ended up quite enjoying BIG Moments in NBA Live 14. Granted, that was in large part due to their brevity which allowed me to avoid becoming too bothered by all of the gameplay flaws, but I genuinely had fun with them, too! I was also pleasantly surprised to see a couple of historical BIG Moments come through, including games for Dominique Wilkins and Magic Johnson. However, Magic Johnson’s BIG Moment – which was added eleven years ago today – also showed that NBA Live 14 definitely wasn’t the best game for such a cool idea. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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NLSC Podcast #573: Best & Worst Alley-Oop Mechanics

NLSC Podcast Logo

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #573 of the NLSC Podcast!

The alley-oop is one of the most exciting plays in all of basketball, and to that point, it’s vital that we can expertly throw lobs on the virtual hardwood as well. This week, we join the community in recalling the best and worst alley-oop mechanics that we’ve experienced in basketball video games, primarily focusing on NBA Live and NBA 2K. We’ve also been connecting to play co-op over Parsec a lot recently, which includes sessions with NBA 2K7 for PlayStation 3, NBA Live 95 for Super Nintendo, NBA Street Vol. 2, and NBA Live 06 PC using an old 1998 season mod. Naturally, this leads to some reflections on the teams we used, as well as the benefits of emulation in 2025.

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!

Monday Tip-Off: Vic Van Lier & Media Literacy

Monday Tip-Off: Vic Van Lier & Media Literacy

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 some thoughts on Vic Van Lier from NBA 2K16’s MyCAREER story “Livin’ Da Dream”, and media literacy in general.

When the NBA Centel’s Twitter/X was temporarily shut down in February, it led to an outpouring of support for the satirical social media account. Several teams dedicated their victories on February 26th to NBA Centel, and there was much rejoicing when it was reinstated. Unsurprisingly, the official NBA 2K account jumped on the trend, but took it a step further by including a headshot of Vic Van Lier in their tribute. While I’d normally be tempted to cite Alex Krokus’ “Life of a Meme” comic here, I have to tip my hat to 2K’s social media team for making an enjoyable reference.

Since then, NBA Centel’s account has been reinstated, which means they can go back to fooling alleged analysts into believing fictional stories. And while we’re on the subject of stories and media literacy, let’s talk about Vic Van Lier and Spike Lee’s “Livin’ Da Dream” in NBA 2K16. Quite a few people replied to 2K’s aforementioned post with memories of that tale, paying tribute to Vic Van Lier and referring to his fatal accident as one of the saddest moments in the history of MyCAREER. Look, entertainment is subjective, and we’re all entitled to our opinions. However, when it comes to Vic and NBA 2K16’s story, I have to wonder…did people pay attention?

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