The NBA finals have gloriously ended, Cleveland Cavaliers having managed to upstage the record-breaking season of the Golden State Warriors, and now Steph and the rest of Dub Nation need to dig deep and go hard in the pre-season (or not, because now they have Kevin Durant).
But for the rest of us NBA fans there is a hole in our hearts, a vacancy caused by no hoops. So we ought to find consolation by taking matters in our hands by playing the best basketball games available.
The gaming industry has come a long way since the first basketball video game released in 1972, and there have been some air balls and some slam dunks along the way. We’re going to reminisce on all the ones that would get straight 10s from the jury in the slam dunk contest. If Shaquille O’Neal was a part of the judges panel, he would probably give a 20 to the last game in the list.
1. NBA Live 95
It's not just the nostalgia kicking in. NBA Live 95 still holds up as much as a game from more than two decades ago can hold up. The camera angle was right, and graphics and animations are pretty realistic for a time when Michael Jordan came back from retirement. But looking back, the most surprising thing of all is the smooth gameplay, as it was possible to create really good actions, worthy of the Top 10 from the All-Star weekend, especially in transition. Of course, there is also the famous satisfactory "swoosh" sound of hitting nothing but the net.
2. NBA Live 2000 – Jordan
Okay, so there is one big reason for NBA Live 2000 being on this list, we all know it, and it is enough—Michael Jordan was finally available as a playable character. You could play as his Highness, humming "I believe I can fly" while dunking on other legends of the NBA. Besides Jordan finally letting EA Sports use his likeness, this was the first game in the series to include a one-on-one mode, full draft in franchise mode, and the ability to import your photo to create a player in your likeness.
3. NBA Street Vol. 2
EA Canada took it back to the streets in 2003 with the second edition of the insanely fun street hoops video game. It also featured 3-on-3 basketball and four different playing modes. It was a perfect example of how a sequel should improve on an already fantastic game and make it better in all areas.
The game art was fantastic, and simply browsing through the menu can get you hooked in the street style, ready to dominate your opponent physically and verbally. It just sparked that competitiveness in you, because if you got blocked, missed a shot or lost a game, not only would your friend make fun of you, but the players on the screen had some pretty tough trash-talking material. It’s a game with undeniable soul.
4. NCAA Basketball 10
Basketball fans are still hoping that this franchise will be restored, as it was cut down in its prime, right after the best installment stole our hearts like Curry stealing from other players. The game offered the ability to improve facilities in order to improve recruiting of prospects and get involved in different tournaments. The possibility of marketing was huge with this one thanks to the phenomenon that is March Madness, along with armies of current and former college students waiting to fight for their beloved colors.
5. NBA 2K16
When the NBA finals are over, and the trading starts, all the buzz it creates can stir the desire to be a part of it, and not by blasting KD on the internet, but by actually experiencing the trades, the rumors, and the betrayals from the point of an NBA star or a franchise. NBA 2K16 is great at that because an already great MyCareer mode was enhanced by the involvement of well-known director Spike Lee. He worked with real basketball players, followed them around and documenting their experiences as pros, in order to create a much more story driven MyCareer mode.
So indulge yourself in almost a virtual reality experience, although probably not even Spike Lee could direct that 3:1 to 3:4 comeback by the Golden State Warriors against Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by that 3:1 to 3:4 comeback of the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Warriors in this year's NBA finals. There are some games in this series that made bigger improvements on its predecessors, but 2K16 proudly stands on the shoulders of earlier releases and is the most up to date.
Honorable Mention: Shaq Fu
It’s technically not a basketball game, but who cares? It’s Shaq and he is in his Shaolin mode, taking names while wearing something close to his Orlando Magic uniform. The best thing about this brawling game (besides the fact that one of the greatest centers of all time managed his dream of becoming a kung fu hero as well) is that a sequel has been finally announced and the Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn Reveal trailer is online!
