Whenever anyone mentions a basketball video game, all attention zips right to the modern legend NBA 2K series that has regularly been released since 1999 by Sega Sports and 2k Sports. The annual NBA video game has become synonymous with being the greatest basketball league in the world. As this year’s NBA season balls out in October, fans have had to wait for quite a while for the season to resume.

The best basketball video games ever

For basketball fans who also happen to be gamers, there’s no better way to wait than to delve in the realistic world of modern gaming and bring the court home via a fantastic selection of basketball games. Although there is no denying that NBA 2K is the undisputed king, there are other titles worth checking out that can claim their space in the pantheon of video games dedicated to the sport.

NBA 2K As mentioned earlier, NBA 2K has been a revelation for lovers of the sport. Having existed for over two decades, it has bettered itself with every passing release and currently stands tall with its latest game NBA 2K22, with Dallas Mavericks’ Slovenian star Luka Doncic as its cover star. The game even leads in the esports genre with its NBA 2K League – an online game that has created a significant fan following of its own.

Online basketball betting on esports, and otherwise, via https://www.sbo.net, is one remunerative outlet if you understand the basics of the game and how the game functions in its inherent sense. Players, whether old or new, can benefit from a whole range of rewards – from free bets and cashback schemes to loyalty points and instant payouts. NBA 2K is a game that has upped the levels of the game’s presence among the masses in general and will continue to do so with their sweeping series.

With NBA 2K listed, the games are in no particular order since each entry is unique in its own right.

NBA Jam A classic like no other, NBA Jam was the first go-to arcade basketball video game to capture the attention of a generation. Developed by Midway in the early 1990’s, the game invited players to showcase abnormal skills such as players jumping thrice their height, score ludicrous slam dunks and even hit opponents to make way.

Its two-on-two fullcourt gameplay, oversized heads featuring the best players of the NBA was an instant hit among fans as mentioned by https://www.futureplc.com‘s ex-gaming magazine, Next Generation, which saw the video game take the 99th position on its ‘Top 100 Games of All Time’ list. The magazine commented: “NBA Jam is still a terrific game, especially in the arcade with four players. Many of its innovations are now cliché, but it remains one of the best arcade machines around.”

Double Dribble Double Dribble started out as an arcade game, but really caught fire in the United States when it became a video game that became availabel on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1986. Released by Japenese video game company Konami, Double Dribble was known to be the most realistic basketball game; featuring five-on-five action, but it was the up-close, full-screen highlight dunks that really set it apart. DD was inspired by Super Basketball, the first basketball game from Konami.

NBA Live Probably the only sport in which https://www.ea.com/sports didn’t last long, the company’s NBA Live series cancelled out after the emerging glory of 2K, but nonetheless is a welcome addition to the list of greatest basketball video games.

A decade or two ago, when the 2K series was still busy earning initial plaudits, NBA Live had already established itself as the first true basketball game series with the ’95, ’00 and ’05 releases of the game. It was the first basketball video game to introduce the legendary Michael Jordan as a character and defined an era in the late 90’s and early 2000’s with its historic graphics and fun gameplay.

NBA Street The original big daddy of ‘street’ sports games – the one that started it all, influencing titles in other video game series in sports such as NFL Street and FIFA Street. NBA Street is arguably one of the most whimsical sports titles out there, let alone as a basketball game.

Players were treated to arcade-style three-on-three matches that rested on ludicrous moves and incredible tricks that would entertain any basketball fan. Released in 2001 by Electronic Arts, the first in the series was applauded for its sheer ingenuity before amusing fans two years later with a sequel that captured the imaginations of a generation that grew up in the midst of a video game revolution.

NCAA Basketball Although it discontinued in 2009, after 11 years in production, NCAA Basketball (formerly called NCAA March Madness) was significant in upping the status of amateur basketball. The game represented each university with their respective colours, mascots and cheerleaders, and backed by much fanfare, it allowed players to engage in breath-taking gameplay, wonderful visual graphics and great audio.

The amusement of playing collegiate basketball was simply brilliant as it allowed players to take on roles and commit like never before. It is a game that is utterly missed for showcasing the finesse and dazzle of amateur basketball.