NBA Street - Nba Sports

NBA Street is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada and was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for the GameCube. It combines the talent and big names of the National Basketball Association with the attitude and atmosphere of streetball. NBA Street is the first game in the NBA Street series and was followed by NBA Street Vol. 2, NBA Street V3, NBA Street Homecourt and NBA Street Online.

Gameplay

NBA Street consists of three-on-three basketball games. Aside from the basic structure of basketball, players try to collect trick points, which are scored through the use of almost every basketball game maneuver such as faking out defenders, shot blocking, diving for the ball, and dunking. If a team fills a special meter through flashy and effective gameplay, they get to perform a Gamebreaker, which is a special shot that not only adds to their score, but it subtracts an amount from their opponents' score.

Single player options included a user-created player touring famous American locations, picking up teammates from NBA rosters along the way.

The gameplay could be considered an "arcade" style of basketball in that it is not a true simulation, similar to the NBA Jam series. For instance, in-game players are able to jump high enough to grab three-point shots mid-arc (goaltending is permitted and is often used as a defensive strategy). Games are scored not by traditional standards, as two-point field goals are worth one point, while made shots behind the 3-point line are worth two. Instead of a time limit, the first team to score 21 points are deemed the winner. However, the winner must win by 2.

Cast and characters

29 NBA teams are playable, with rosters from around 2000 and 2001. However, only 5 players are available from each team. Michael Jordan, who announced his comeback from his second retirement with the Washington Wizards a few months after the PlayStation 2 release, is available on both the Gamecube and PlayStation 2 versions. He was however removed as the "Final Challenge" in the Gamecube version as he now played for the Washington Wizards in the game. Instead, the City Circuit ended once a player beat the Street Legend "Stretch".

The game introduced several recurring characters called Street Legends, fictional basketball players who served as the series' bosses, each masterful in a particular aspect of basketball and representing a specific area of the United States. Their personalities and appearances were loosely inspired by real players, such as Stretch, the "cover athlete" who resembled Julius Erving in looks and abilities.

The Street Legends are, in order, Biggs, Bonafide, Drake, DJ, Takashi, and Stretch.

Commentator Joe "The Show" Jackson is voiced by Bob Elliott.

Rosters

Team rosters from the 2000â€"2001 season, accurate as of March 5, 2001. (The GameCube version of the game has updated rosters from the 2001â€"02 season).

• Atlanta Hawks: Theo Ratliff, Toni Kukoc, Jason Terry, Alan Henderson and Brevin Knight
• Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Kenny Anderson, Tony Battie and Vitaly Potapenko
• Charlotte Hornets: Jamal Mashburn, Baron Davis, P.J. Brown, David Wesley and Elden Campbell
• Chicago Bulls: Elton Brand, Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, Marcus Fizer and Jamal Crawford
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Clarence Weatherspoon, Andre Miller, Jim Jackson and Lamond Murray
• Dallas Mavericks: Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Juwan Howard and Shawn Bradley
• Denver Nuggets: Antonio McDyess, Nick Van Exel, Raef LaFrentz, James Posey and Voshon Lenard
• Detroit Pistons: Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, Chucky Atkins and Corliss Williamson
• Golden State Warriors: Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes, Marc Jackson, Mookie Blaylock and Danny Fortson
• Houston Rockets: Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Maurice Taylor, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shandon Anderson
• Indiana Pacers: Jalen Rose, Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, Austin Croshere and Travis Best
• Los Angeles Clippers: Lamar Odom, Darius Miles, Michael Olowokandi, Corey Maggette and Keyon Dooling
• Los Angeles Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Horace Grant and Robert Horry
• Miami Heat: Alonzo Mourning, Brian Grant, Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason and Tim Hardaway
• Milwaukee Bucks: Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell, Tim Thomas and Rafer Alston
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett, Terrell Brandon, Chauncey Billups, Wally Szczerbiak and LaPhonso Ellis
• New Jersey Nets: Stephon Marbury, Keith Van Horn, Kenyon Martin, Kendall Gill and Aaron Williams
• New York Knicks: Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Marcus Camby, Glen Rice and Mark Jackson
• Orlando Magic: Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Darrell Armstrong, Mike Miller and Bo Outlaw
• Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo, Eric Snow, George Lynch and Aaron McKie
• Phoenix Suns: Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Anfernee Hardaway, Clifford Robinson and Rodney Rogers
• Portland TrailBlazers: Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, Damon Stoudamire, Steve Smith and Dale Davis
• Sacramento Kings: Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac and Doug Christie
• San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Derek Anderson, Antonio Daniels and Sean Elliott
• Seattle SuperSonics: Gary Payton, Rashard Lewis, Vin Baker, Patrick Ewing and Desmond Mason
• Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis, Keon Clark and Morris Peterson
• Utah Jazz: Karl Malone, John Stockton, Donyell Marshall, Bryon Russell and DeShawn Stevenson
• Vancouver Grizzlies: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Michael Dickerson, Mike Bibby, Grant Long and Stromile Swift
• Washington Wizards: Jahidi White, Richard Hamilton, Courtney Alexander, Mitch Richmond and Christian Laettner

Despite the PlayStation 2 version of the game having rosters from the 2000â€"2001 season, the Mavericks and Pistons already have new logos and uniforms which debut next season in 2001â€"02.

Street courts

• Pacific BLVD. (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• South Beach (Miami, Florida)
• Route 66 (Northern Arizona)
• The Cage (Manhattan, New York)
• The Loop (Chicago, Illinois)
• Fort Point (San Francisco, California)
• The Paint (Washington, DC) *(Only on GameCube)

Street Legends Courts

• Beacon Hill (Boston, Massachusetts - Biggs)
• Broad Street (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Bonafide)
• The Yard (Detroit, Michigan - Drake)
• Venice Beach (Venice, California - DJ)
• Yakatomi Plaza (Los Angeles, California - Takashi)
• Rucker Park (Harlem, New York - Stretch & Michael Jordan)

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40 for the PS2 version, and 30 out of 40 for the GameCube version.

With the success of the NBA Street series, EA Sports BIG expanded to the format to football with NFL Street and soccer with FIFA Street.

References

External links

• NBA Street at MobyGames