Tag Archives: Basketball Games

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #636 of the NLSC Podcast!

There have been a number of father-son duos in NBA history – perhaps more than a lot of people may realise – but when it comes to talent and success, it isn’t always a case of “like father, like son! To that end, this week we’re choosing our Top 5 father-son duos to compete in games of two-on-two. In addition to their overall skill level and all-time rankings, we’re also taking into account their size, complementary styles of play, and any matchup problems that they may encounter when squaring off with the other fathers and sons. As such, while there are some obvious choices when it comes to these multi-generational pairings, a couple of our picks might just surprise you!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 30:30 — 21.3MB)

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!

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 things in basketball video games that became retroactive Easter eggs.

Can there be such a thing as retroactive Easter eggs? After all, by definition, Easter eggs in video games and other media are deliberately placed with the intention of being found; even if takes a long time. To that point, there have been many secrets in video games that remained hidden for decades, but they were always present. In that sense, there’s nothing retroactive about them. Of course, when it comes to fictional works, reveals and ret-cons can certainly turn minor details into retroactive Easter eggs by giving them new meaning and importance.

Similarly, future events can re-contextualise content in basketball video games, as well as associated materials such as preview media. When we look back at them with the benefit of hindsight, they become retroactive Easter eggs. Even when they’re not exactly hidden and there’s a straightforward explanation for their presence – and there generally is – they’re now far more exciting to find. And so, if you enjoy revisiting old basketball video games as I do, you’re basically guaranteed to encounter retroactive Easter eggs, from forgotten cameos to amusing coincidences. Indeed, on top of many old favourites holding up superbly, these are great reasons to dust off some classics.

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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 the attainability of the NBA license for video game developers and publishers.

As Dee and I discussed on last week’s NLSC Podcast, we have some concerns when it comes to NBA The Run. While we’re happy to see another basketball video game in the space – one that has the NBA license, no less – we’re not so thrilled about it being an exclusively online PvP title. The snippets of gameplay that we’ve seen so far have also left us feeling sceptical. Irrespective of how successful NBA The Run turns out to be – and again, we absolutely want to see alternatives to NBA 2K – it may not be the game for us. That’s just the way it goes, sometimes.

However, in a way, NBA The Run has already enjoyed a measure of success. What began as an unlicensed streetball game comprised solely of fictional characters now has the NBA license. More to the point, the NBA reached out to Play By Play Studios to discuss a partnership. Obviously that was great news for the game that started life as The Run: Got Next, but it also bodes well for other developers, and ultimately us as gamers. It demonstrates that the NBA isn’t interested in an exclusive deal with 2K or any other developer, and that they’re willing to work with smaller studios. In short, if you’re developing a basketball video game, the NBA license appears to be attainable.

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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 advice for 2026: just keep scrolling.

Nothing is for everyone. I wish I could phrase that more eloquently and profoundly, but when it comes down to it, that’s the way it is. This is as true for content on the internet as it is for TV shows, movies, music, video games, or basically anything else you can name. Not every YouTube video will be appealing to you. Not every forum, Reddit, or social media post will concern a topic that you care about. Not every article that I or anyone else writes will be interesting to everyone that happens to stumble across it. Even if you’re the intended audience, it still may not be your thing.

That’s OK, but somehow, too many people still take great exception to encountering something that they’re not interested in. Now, you could say that there are far more important matters in the world, but that’s kind of my point here. If the worst thing that happens to you today is that you’re suggested a video or a social media post that just doesn’t interest you, I’d argue that it’s been a pretty good day! And yet, some people still can’t help lashing out with snark and outright hostility when either the algorithm or a creator they follow delivers content that’s completely inoffensive, but simply not their cup of tea. It’s ridiculous because there’s an easy solution: just keep scrolling!

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #612 of the NLSC Podcast!

Another year is almost in the books! And so, as 2025 draws to a close, this week we’re joining the community in discussing the basketball and basketball gaming gifts that we gave and received during this holiday season. From shoes, shirts, and collectibles, to video games, DVDs, and new basketballs, it’s clear that we’re all still as passionate as ever about real hoops and the virtual hardwood alike. We also discuss the temptation to pick up a new ball whenever we see one on sale, the brilliance of the Ultimate Jordan DVD boxset, the price of collecting retro games, and ending up getting ourselves gifts while shopping for someone else.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 38:07 — 26.5MB)

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!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #611 of the NLSC Podcast!

What Ifs are always an intriguing topic in basketball discussions, especially when they involve comebacks that could’ve been, and comebacks that could potentially still occur. To that end, this week we’re reflecting on a handful of historical comeback rumours, as well as returns that were reportedly very close to happening. Either way, they’re What Ifs that we would’ve loved to have seen come to fruition! We also discuss whether there are any recently-retired players that could feasibly still have an impact if they were to make a return to the NBA today, and a novel comeback scenario involving a player who’s been out of the league for over a decade after retiring young.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 56:48 — 39.4MB)

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!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #609 of the NLSC Podcast!

During a recent podcast appearance, former NBA coach turned analyst Stan Van Gundy made some eyebrow-raising claims: specifically, that Nikola Jokic is the GOAT, Luka Doncic is the best offensive player of all-time, and that the best 20 players in NBA history have all played within the last 20 years. This week, we join the community in responding to these hot takes, as well as speculate on the motivations behind making them. There’s actually an interesting parallel with the basketball gaming community here! We also discuss a few other popular but nevertheless erroneous historical narratives that are about to complicate the GOAT debate, once fans and talking heads alike notice the contradictions.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:00:39 — 42.0MB)

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!

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 we misremember basketball video games.

Just how well do you think you remember all of the basketball video games you’ve ever played? I’d like to think that I have a pretty good memory – especially when it comes to my passions – but I’m hardly infallible in my recollections! Sure, I’ve made a lot of memories with basketball video games, and remember quite a few things off the top of my head. If it’s been a while since I played a game though, chances are some of the specifics will have slipped my mind. There’s a reason I have to do research for my features, because when I don’t, mistakes and omissions are inevitable!

To that point, there have definitely been times when I’ve trusted my memory when I shouldn’t have. I’d suggest that we’re all guilty of that from time to time. Indeed, based on comments about basketball video games that I’ve seen in various online spaces, it’s safe to say that a lot of people misremember them in some way. It’s usually an honest and understandable mistake, and it may only be a minor detail. Nevertheless, we’re all bound to misremember a thing or two about a game when it’s been a long time since we last played it. With that in mind – no pun intended – here are five ways that we commonly misremember basketball video games whenever we’re discussing them.

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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 reflections on the challenges we face while trying to capture historical screenshots.

Between the topics I cover in various articles and my retro gaming habits involving classic teams and matchups, I’m often capturing screenshots of historical scenarios. Needless to say, there are some challenges when it comes to trying to snap the ideal shot. Obviously, many of them apply to virtual hardwood photography in general. From technical limitations to the available content to difficulty in staging everything the way you see it in your mind, the final result may not be exactly what you want. Of course, other times the results can be extremely satisfying.

To that end, I really enjoy firing up a game, tinkering with the rosters as necessary, and finding ways to stage historical scenarios for some great screenshots! Indeed, on top of using historical screenshots to illustrate the facts and trivia that I’m writing about, the theme of a number of my features in recent years has basically revolved around virtual pictures speaking their proverbial thousand words. Not only has this allowed me to indulge my nostalgia and love of NBA history, but it’s been fun trying my hand at some more visually creative content. Once again though, these historical screenshots come with several challenges, though tackling them has been rewarding.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #606 of the NLSC Podcast!

Earlier this month, Valve announced the return of the Steam Machine – their console-like gaming PC – which is slated for release in early 2026. This week, we’re joining the community in reacting to the news, including giving our thoughts on the announced specifications, discussing the potential advantages and disadvantages of a console-PC hybrid gaming device, stating our level of interest in possibly picking one up, and speculating on what it’s likely to cost. Suffice it to say, while we may not all be completely sold on the Steam Machine as of right now, it’s certainly an intriguing development that we’re going to keep an eye on!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:03:38 — 44.1MB)

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!

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 features that we’ve lost, yet for some reason don’t talk about enough.

One of the unfortunate realities of long-running annual sports video games is that over the years, features will be lost. Contrary to popular belief, the code is re-written every year, as it’s necessary to accommodate new features and mechanics. As such, anything that is incompatible or otherwise causes issues with the new code is at risk of ending up on the cutting room floor, particularly if the telemetry data indicates that it isn’t a very popular feature. With that being said, some features are dropped because they’re no longer useful or relevant, or indeed, stand in the way of recurrent revenue.

I’m sure that we can all cite plenty of examples of lost features that we’ve fervently wished were still in NBA 2K, NBA Live, and other games. Indeed, I’ve mentioned some of my own picks in previous articles and on our podcast! However, there are lost features that really should receive more attention than they do, yet people seldom bring them up. To that end, I’m as guilty as anyone else of glossing over some of these lost features that were once staples of basketball video games, so I figured it’s about time that I spotlight a few of them. While some of them may not seem like a big deal, they’re still basic functionality that’s bewilderingly absent in otherwise deep games.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #605 of the NLSC Podcast!

The price of video games – basketball and otherwise – remains a hot topic in 2025. Many people opine that they’re too expensive, but plenty of others actually defend the current costs, and indeed suggest that video games should be even more expensive than they already are. This week, we’re sharing our thoughts on the issue, including our reactions to an excellent 2023 article from The Gamer and some interesting comments from Fallout co-creator Tim Cain. We also join the community in suggesting what we believe would be fair prices for Triple-A games, indie games, online-only titles, and mobile releases. And yes, we do understand that video game development is a business, and no, we’re not saying that games should all be dirt cheap or free!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:06:21 — 45.9MB)

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!

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 reasons why I enjoy weird stints when they’re represented in basketball video games.

Although my favourite memories of players are from when they were on the teams they spent most of their careers with – or in some cases, where they were when I first got into basketball – I do oddly enjoy their weird stints as well. Granted, while I’ll never enjoy watching Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards jersey quite as much as seeing him doing what he did best for the Chicago Bulls, I can appreciate those years in hindsight. As much as I wish he and other long-tenured Hall of Famers never suited up for other teams, it’s undeniably interesting to see them in different jerseys.

Naturally, that interest carries over to the virtual hardwood, where video games have preserved the weird stints of so many big names over the years. Much as I ultimately prefer to watch games and highlights where those players are in familiar uniforms, my first choice is to revisit video games – or play with classic teams – that represent those famous stints. However, just as I find it oddly fascinating to watch Wizards MJ or Patrick Ewing playing for the Seattle Supersonics alongside Gary Payton, it’s also fun to be reminded of those bizarre tenures whenever I encounter them in an old release. To that end, here are five reasons why I enjoy all of those weird stints in video games.

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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 offers up five warnings for basketball video game collectors.

As a 90s kid who got into more than a couple of collecting fads over the years, I’d have to say that basketball video games have been among the most satisfying things to collect. It certainly helps that I don’t have to rely on favourable odds and hope that what I want is in a pack I’m opening, but compared to trading cards and other such collectibles, video games have a practical use. Of course, there are some people who collect video games of all genres simply for the purpose of displaying and eventually selling them, but I collect basketball games to play them…and yes, to create content.

Mind you, whatever your reason for collecting video games – whatever the genre – it’s a hobby with fluctuating difficulty and expense. Furthermore, because there is money to be made, too many people are hoping to cash in on the enthusiasm – or indeed, the desperation – of collectors. I’ve strived to be as savvy and frugal as I possibly can be while building my basketball game collection, and I’ll always advise any would-be collectors and retro gamers to do the same. To that end, there are some warnings that I strongly suggest you heed. Retro gaming and collecting is a blast, but you do need to be careful about costs, and keep a few things in mind if you want to play those games.

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Start your week here at the NLSC with a feature that’s dedicated to opinions, commentary, and other fun stuff related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games.

Our server move is now complete! While we’re still ironing out a few issues and making sure that everything is working as intended, most of the basics seem to be in order. That means I can get back to spending some more time creating content, and actually talking about basketball video games. I’ve been compiling some ideas for future columns, as well as some videos that I’d like to try to make in the coming weeks. This week, however, a fun idea for a topic came to mind: superstition and basketball gaming.

I don’t think of myself as a very superstitious person in general – my uncanny ability to jinx NBA teams aside – but over the years, I’ve developed a few habits when it comes to basketball video games. It may not be entirely accurate to call all of them superstitions, but it does make for a catchy title, so I’m going to run with it anyway. Basically, they’re the little things that I do in the hopes that they’ll improve my chances for success on the virtual hardwood.

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