The Best Online Games for NBA Fans

When it comes to online gaming, sports fans of all kinds have plenty of choices these days. This is also true for basketball fans. NBA fans now have a wealth of online games to play and feed their interest and passion for the game, allowing fans the chance to play against, with or as their heroes on the court.

Whether playing co-op against your friends or even single player against CPU, basketball is one of those beautiful games that translates incredibly well into the gamer verse, providing a fun and rather addicting experience for basketball fans and gamers alike. This list will cover some of the best online games available for NBA fans.

The NBA 2K franchise

Of course, we cannot discuss the best online games for NBA fans without exploring the NBA 2K franchise. Perhaps considered by most to be the basketball video game, the NBA 2K series has provided fans with releases pretty much every year since its first release in 2005. The franchise has come a long way since its inception and its origins as a game that simulates National Basketball Association play in all its glory. Whether you’re an avid fan who bets on NBA betting sites, or someone who likes watching the greatest NBA highlights of all time, there is something out there for all.

NBA 2K21

When it comes to the NBA 2k games, the place to start is 2K21. For NBA fans, MyCareer mode is a must as fans can create a player and embark on a journey towards making them a pro NBA player. Alternatively, with the MyTeam mode, you can build a whole team and manage them towards victory, earning new characters and upgrades via card packs to customize your team.

The standout elements of the game are by far its realism. There is also an online mode in which you can make progress by playing against other teams to improve your own abilities. As well as the gameplay itself, there are other practical elements that make this game a standout for NBA fans. The graphics and very specific models of players create a realistic experience that is hard to find elsewhere, other than courtside maybe.

The most recent instalment of the franchise is NBA 2K 23. In the latest game, Fans can play as basketball heroes from seasons from the 80s and 90s, as well as the 2022-23 seasons. The game also features the Jordan Challenge, which takes players all the way back to 1982 with the opportunity to play through the highlights of Jordan’s career. The game has both its classic features and some additional improvements that players have welcomed including the removal of the contract feature in MyTeam, meaning you no longer have to keep adding contracts and games are unlimited.

In addition, within the MyTeam feature, the Triple Threat Online mode has been added that enables a co-op mode with up to three per team. The game has overall been well received by fans of the franchise aside from the increase in micro transactions, which is a common grievance that players have with the gaming industry generally at the moment. Overall, NBA 2k is an absolute classic that anyone with an interest in the NBA needs to play. Especially with its new set of Michael Jordan themed features.

Playgrounds 2

Another addition to the NBA 2K franchise worth a look for any basketball fan is NBA Playgrounds 2. Released in October 2018, Playgrounds is a spin off from the other NBA 2K titles. Unlike the other games in the series, the playgrounds editions are arcade style games with a faster pace and a variety of other game modes. Game play tends to be based around 2v2 matches although there are multiplayer and single player modes with a CPU feature available also. In Playgrounds, many of the moves are over the top, fast paced and flashy and are a lot of fun when combined with the power up feature. To add to the fun, players can play both as real NBA stars and entirely fictional players, all have massively oversized heads… of course.

The City

Completing the NBA 2K part of this list is The City, which was recently added to NBA 2K21 and 22. The City offers players a previously missing open world element to the games. The main element of this game mode is the streetball games that enable you to score rewards and improve your players’ stats. Alongside this, there are many unlocks available throughout the city in the form of different skills and perks.

The City and Playgrounds are not necessarily the realistic and immersive NBA experiences that the other game modes offer, but it is a good bit of fantasy fun that any NBA fan can easily get caught up in. Exploring the city and finding new skills and rewards and running around as a fictional player with a massive head, power slam dunking on your friends is an opportunity not to be missed.

All the above games provide excellent gaming experiences for NBA fans out there. This list should cover all the bases that NBA fans desire when it comes to the gaming world. From realistic simulations of real NBA seasons, featuring real NBA stars including none other than Michael Jordan, to fun arcade and open world experiences that add a different element to the basketball gaming experience to be had either solo or with your friends.