The Phenomenon That Is NBA Street

A couple of months ago, I started selling some of my old video games on eBay that I had from when I was a kid, keeping the ones that were most meaningful to me. Don’t get me wrong—I sold some classics like Simpsons Hit & Run (which I really regret) and some old Sonic games that I absolutely adored back then. Nonetheless, I ended up keeping one of my all-time favorite games, NBA Street Volume 2, and I recently decided to purchase the third installment of the series on eBay, just to say I own it. I never actually owned NBA Street Volume 3, but I have memories of playing it back in the day with my cousin David at his house. I remember it being the first game where I could play with guys like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony. Participating in the dunk contest mode back then brings me pure joy when I think about it today. Those are all core memories, but nothing can compare to the moments I had starting up Volume 2 and listening to its iconic soundtrack.

When you start the game, the “Play It” menu features only four options, one of which is “Pick Up Game” and another is “NBA Challenge.” The pick-up game mode speaks for itself, while the NBA Challenge mode allows you to select your own team with preset rosters to compete against other teams across the league, giving you the opportunity to play against NBA greats and eventually have them join your roster by defeating them. However, the best game mode by far is “Create A Legend,” where you create your own character and significantly progress as a ballplayer by winning games against other squads in different cities. The gameplay resembles NBA Jam but includes its own twists and, of course, its own streetball elements. The dribbling is fairly simple, but it features fun animations that make it feel like you’re almost breakdancing around defenders before dunking a moment later. I loved the sheer simplicity of the gameplay, with its absurd dunk animations that made you scream with excitement. And let’s not even get started on the blocks, which are basically goaltending—but since it’s “streetball,” it’s fair game.

This game featured iconic characters like “Stretch,” who had maxed-out dunking attributes, making him one of the most enjoyable characters to use. He was so popular at the time that he even appeared in SSX 3 as an unlockable character in a snowboarding game. He also made subtle appearances in NBA Live 18 and 19 as a live event player. This game and its memories have brought me so much happiness and enjoyment in my life, thanks to its funky mechanics and memorable moments. I eventually found out later on that the fourth chapter of the NBA Street series is called NBA Street Homecourt, featuring Melo on the cover. It was pretty solid, but it couldn’t compare to its predecessors. Since 2007, the series has been on hiatus. Hopefully, one day EA will revive this beloved franchise and bring it back to its glory days, but until then, I guess we’ll just have to stick with 2K.