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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 Stretch and the rest of the OG NBA Street ballers.
With a spiritual successor in NBA The Run set to launch next month, NBA Street has definitely been on our minds as of late. As it happens, next month also marks 25 years since the original NBA Street was released. For basketball gamers of a certain age, that first NBA Street was the arcade basketball video game, held in higher regard than any of the NBA Jam titles. It certainly makes sense as it was a tremendous game that still holds up. Furthermore, by the early 2000s, the NBA Jam name had sadly come to be associated with some subpar releases.
I’ll be diving deeper into that with a retrospective next month. For now though, I’m reminiscing about Stretch and the other OG NBA Street ballers. In addition to placing NBA players on the blacktop, NBA Street introduced us to some memorable original characters. These ballers were basically the bosses of the City Circuit, standing in between us and the next location. Once we beat them, we could benefit from their streetball skill as they joined our squad. Stretch and the rest of the OG NBA Street ballers are undoubtedly legends, so let’s take a look back…way back…
While it’s ultimately the excellent streetball gameplay that made NBA Street a hit, I’d argue that the inclusion of Stretch and the other fictional ballers heavily contributed to its success. Sure, the game still would’ve been great if it only included NBA players, but the original characters represented an important aspect of streetball culture: those local park legends that weren’t destined for the NBA for whatever reason, but can flat out ball. Their unique designs and abilities, not to mention their trash talk in both the pre-game introductions and during gameplay, made them fun to play with and against. They’re a vital part of the character, atmosphere, and overall vibe of NBA Street.
Clearly, the developers had fun crafting Stretch and the other OG NBA Street ballers. They all have detailed profiles in the instruction booklet; another example of how it used to be rewarding to read manuals back in the day! They went all out with those profiles, too. Not only is there a blurb describing their play styles and personality, but their heights, weights, ages, hometown, city of residence, nationality, occupation, hobbies, and even blood type are all listed! It’s no wonder that NBA The Run is continuing the tradition of fictional ballers, even after obtaining the NBA license. So, let’s meet those street legends, beginning with the first one we encounter: Biggs.
Biggs
Standing 6’9″ and weighing in at 255 pounds, Lewis “Biggs” Barker certainly lives up to his name! A bruising banger of a big man who unsurprisingly works as a doorman and enjoys boxing, we meet 27-year-old Biggs after beating the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. He’s found at Beacon Hill, balling on a snowy blacktop. He’s a menace in the lane, and unlocking him so early in the campaign is great for shoring up your inside defense at one end, while jamming over opponents at the other. Biggs is originally from London, so if you didn’t read the manual, it might catch you off guard when he starts taunting you in a Cockney accent (or a close enough approximation).
Bonafide
Described as an “arrogant playmaker”, Bonafide may not be the biggest player on the court, but he’s definitely one of the most confident, and skilled. Born in The Bronx and currently residing in Philadelphia, Bonafide – real name Carlito Vargas – is super quick at 5’10” and 160 pounds. He also has exceptional dribbling and passing skills, and a deadly outside jumper. This makes him the perfect player to use if you want to drop defenders with ankle-breaking combos, taking full advantage of the dribbling controls in NBA Street. Bonafide is also a more than capable defender, solidifying him as a streetball legend at the tender age of 18. A bona fide baller, if you will!
Drake
Not to be confused with the rapper – though like Bonafide, he’s an aspiring DJ – Drake Evans’ greatest strength is his jumpshot. The 19-year-old Michigan native isn’t exactly humble about it, as he’s described as being “as cocky as they come”. We find this out firsthand when we face him, as he’ll gleefully talk trash whenever he knocks down a shot. NBA Street is a game that encourages us to dunk whenever possible, thanks to a dazzling array of jams and the satisfaction of throwing alley-oops. With that in mind, at 6’2″ and 185 pounds, Drake isn’t an ideal choice if you prefer to score inside. Still, there’s value in getting that extra point from beyond the arc, so he’s useful to have.
DJ
Originally from Jamaica, Donovan “DJ” Jones is an all-around talent. He can shoot and handle the rock, but he really excels at soaring above the rim and posterising his opponents. Despite these skills and a 6’7″, 212-pound frame, DJ is driving a taxi in his new home of Venice, California, rather than lanes in the NBA. Sometimes, streetball success doesn’t translate to the pros! Nevertheless, at the age of 24, DJ has become a legend balling down by the beach. If Michael Jordan isn’t available – such as in the final showdown at Rucker Park – DJ is a fun replacement. Also, unlike another DJ in a basketball video game, as far as we know he doesn’t have an annoying roommate!
Takashi
At 7’8″ and 270 pounds, 21-year-old student Takashi Sato is a giant on the blacktop. His pre-game taunts – wagging his finger Dikembe Mutombo-style, or asking how you’re going to shoot over his outstretched arm – say it all. Takashi is a threat to send back any shots that come his way, and since goaltending is allowed, not even three-pointers are safe! It’s long been suggested that Takashi was inspired at least in part by Yao Ming, being a towering player from East Asia. Obviously Yao is Chinese and Takashi is Japanese, but Yao was gaining international renown as NBA Street was in development, so it’s quite possible Takashi was intended as a legally-distinct stand-in.
Stretch
That brings us to the face of NBA Street, Clifford “Stretch” Monroe. Though his big afro, Chuck Taylors, and home court of Rucker Park are inspired by Julius Erving, he’s also a nod to the streetball legends that never went pro. Indeed, his bio describes him as “one of the best players never to have played in the NBA”. Now 46 and a teacher, Stretch also represents the old guy at the park who can still take younger ballers to school. Being 6’11” and 247 pounds with a fondness for distance running certainly helps, but Stretch’s skills and old-school finesse have been honed over decades on the blacktop. MJ aside, Stretch is the legend in the NBA Street series.
The Legacy of Stretch & The OG NBA Street Ballers
Stretch and the other fictional ballers made the City Circuit in the original NBA Street special. Once again, the game would’ve still been a blast if it only included real NBA players, and in the PlayStation 2 version, you’ve still got Michael Jordan as the final boss. Those fictional players really embodied the streetball spirit, though. They paid tribute to the ballers who never made it to the NBA for one reason or another, but still became local legends whose stories eventually spread to hoops fans everywhere. In lieu of licensing the likenesses of Earl Manigault, Jackie Jackson, and other streetball legends, Stretch and the rest of the NBA Street ballers brought character to the game.
Two of the NBA Street legends – Stretch and Bonafide – returned in NBA Street Vol. 2, where they were joined by new characters including Osmosis, Dime, and Biggie Little. Stretch also now sported a Julius Erving throwback jersey, and hosted the Street School tutorial mode. Interestingly, while Bonafide was known as a playmaker in the first game, he’s an excellent dunker in the sequel. Stretch and Bonafide also returned in NBA Street V3, along with Takashi, who had now taken up residence at Venice Beach. All three were available along with Drake in the Street Legends DLC that was exclusively available for the Xbox 360 version of NBA Street Homecourt.
Fittingly as the face of the franchise, Stretch not only appeared in all of the main NBA Street games, but is also one of the players on the unlockable NBA Street squad in NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. Stretch also appeared in NBA Live 19 as part of an NBA Street-themed LIVE Event, and was a collectable player for your squad in The Streets World Tour. If EA Sports were ever to bring back NBA Street – and I think it’s clear the audience is there – Stretch and the other street legends simply have to be a part of it. I’m not holding my breath there, but in any case, Stretch and the OG NBA Street ballers aren’t just legends in-universe, but in the hearts of basketball gamers, too.
