NLSC Podcast #613: 2026 Basketball & Basketball Gaming Plans

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #593: WNBA Coming to NBA 2K26 MyTEAM

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

As the NBA 2K26 preview season rolls on, the big news revealed last week was that the WNBA has now been integrated into MyTEAM, which includes the ability to team WNBA players up with current NBA players and Legends. The announcement certainly drew some mixed reactions from the wider basketball gaming community, so this week we're providing our take on the situation - from the discourse to our opinions on the news itself - and also reading out some thoughts from our listeners. We also react to some of the other key points that were outlined in the NBA 2K26 MyTEAM Courtside Report, from Game Changer Cards to the promise of greater rewards throughout the mode.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #594: Early NBA 2K26 Gameplay, Influencers & Iconic Nicknames

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

With NBA 2K26 right around the corner, a community event has given us all a detailed look at this year's game in action. Although we're reserving final judgement until we get our hands on the sticks, we have a few thoughts about what we've seen so far. We also discuss what some of the influencers who attended the event are saying about the game, in particular how they're shouting down valid criticisms in rather disrespectful ways. We also react to the Courtside Report on MyNBA and MyGM, and join the community in picking some of our all-time favourite basketball nicknames. Some of our choices probably won't be surprising, but we also shout out some creative monikers that don't get enough credit.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #595: NBA 2K26 First Impressions

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

NBA 2K26 is already in gamers' hands thanks to the early access pre-order bonus that was provided by the Superstar and Leave No Doubt editions. To that point, this week we join the community in sharing our first impressions of this year's release! From gameplay to the Eras rosters, this episode is a comprehensive breakdown of the pros and cons that we've observed so far, including some issues that too many content creators are excusing or simply ignoring. We also make a few recommendations for getting the most out of NBA 2K26, discuss some disappointing news regarding cross-platform roster sharing, and touch on the concept of aura farming. That's right: we're still cool and with it!

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #596: EA Drops Out, 2K Going Back to School

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

In a shocking and rather unfortunate development, EA Sports has rescinded their proposal for a college basketball game in light of Take-Two reaching agreements with several schools to develop their own "college basketball experience". This week, we join the community in reacting to the news and speculating on what we can expect from 2K as far as DLC and possibly a standalone game within a couple of years. Interestingly, not everyone is in favour of 2K beating EA to the punch here, but there certainly is interest in what they've hinted at. We also follow up on last week's show with some further impressions of NBA 2K26, now that we've both had a chance to spend ample time with this year's game.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #597: NBA 2K26 Tips & How We Play

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Need help mastering NBA 2K26? We've got you covered as this week's show provides some detailed tips, from what to do on the sticks to suggestions for gameplay sliders and camera settings! We also join the community in discussing how we're playing NBA 2K26, along with the other basketball games that are currently in our rotations. Speaking of which, our NBA 2K9 Bulls Association continues to be a blast, as we played a couple more games over the weekend. In addition to quickly recapping those satisfying victories, we once again reflect on what a strong release NBA 2K9 was, and briefly ponder where it ranks in both the NBA 2K series and among our all-time favourite basketball games in general.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #598: Why We Still Play Basketball Games

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Why do we still play basketball video games after all these years? This week, we discuss the factors that keep us hooked on the virtual hardwood, from a love of competition and shared experiences with friends and family to the way that it allows us to feel connected to and indeed more informed about our favourite sport. In fact, through a combination of modding, new releases, and a library of old favourites to revisit, we're arguably enjoying basketball gaming as much as ever with the options that we have at our disposal nowadays! We also reflect on the lingering stigma surrounding gaming as an adult, and push back on the notion that it's a childish hobby that needs to be left behind.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #599: The Best & Worst Music in Basketball Video Games

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Music is a vital part of the atmosphere in basketball video games, and as such, it's often connected to our nostalgia for them. This week, we join the community in reflecting on basketball video game music, from some of our all-time favourite soundtracks in NBA Live and NBA 2K to the tunes that just didn't seem to be a good fit for the virtual hardwood. After all, while we may like certain songs in other contexts, they're not always ideal for getting us pumped up to virtually ball! We also discuss the joy of discovering new music through gaming, and the appeal of remixed songs with new lyrics that reference basketball, or tracks that were produced specifically for a game.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #600: Two Friends Talking Basketball Video Games

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

It's the 600th Episode of the NLSC Podcast! A huge shout out to all of our listeners and the NLSC community at large for continuing to support all of our content throughout the years! To mark the milestone, this week we're simply getting on the mics to chat about basketball gaming. We share our latest thoughts on NBA 2K26, and reflect on some of the other games that we're currently playing, including our NBA 2K9 Association. We also once again touch on the joy of Virtual Hardwood Legends, discuss how realism can sometimes feel unrealistic in basketball video games, and share some interesting roster trivia about real players and their virtual counterparts alike.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #601: Electronic Arts Acquired in Massive Deal

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that Electronic Arts will be going private after being acquired in one of the biggest deals in the history of video games. This week, we share our thoughts on the news, and what it might mean for the future of basketball gaming (if anything). We also note some of the reactions that we've seen from the wider gaming community on social media. Needless to say, it's proving to be quite a controversial move! To that end, we also touch once again on the effectiveness of video game boycotts, and how much the average gamer realistically cares about who owns the companies that are developing their favourite titles and series.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #602: That's No Way To Treat A Customer

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Customer service, value for money, and quality products are topics that are on our minds this week. This comes in the wake of an eBay purchase that unfortunately became a deeply unpleasant transaction. After sharing that horror story, we do have some far more positive news about a successful upgrade to Windows 11, with old favourites still being playable on the new OS. We also discuss the big patch for NBA 2K26 failing to make the game better (and indeed, arguably making it worse). As we point out, some of the changes also have financial ramifications for MyCAREER and MyTEAM gamers. The show wraps up with some quick 2026 NBA predictions, though we're admittedly still more excited to watch classic games.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #603: Gambling, Flopping & Other NBA Blues

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

A week into the 2026 NBA season, the league has been rocked by a gambling scandal. Not only that, but many fans - us included - have been irritated by the amount of flopping and free throws on display. This week, we join the community in discussing the gambling scandal and the way it throws the league's credibility into doubt, issues with officiating and the style of play, and a few other NBA matters that are getting us down. We also talk about whether playing basketball video games makes up for feeling disappointed with real hoops, before wrapping up with some stories about the times we've been ejected on the virtual hardwood.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #604: NBA The Run Coming in 2026

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Big news last week as Play by Play Studios announced that they have acquired the NBA license. As such, their planned 3v3 online PvP arcade basketball video game The Run: Got Next is now titled NBA The Run, and is slated for release some time in 2026. To that end, this week we're joining the community in reacting to what we know so far about NBA The Run - including breaking down an illuminating and in-depth developer interview with Ballislife.com - as well as the latest teaser trailer. Although the game is aiming to be a worthy successor to the NBA Street series and we'd like to see it turn out well, we'd be lying if we said we didn't have some concerns at this point in time.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #605: How Much Should Video Games Cost?

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The price of video games - basketball and otherwise - remains a hot topic in 2025. Many people opine that they're too expensive, but plenty of others actually defend the current costs, and indeed suggest that video games should be even more expensive than they already are. This week, we're sharing our thoughts on the issue, including our reactions to an excellent 2023 article from The Gamer and some interesting comments from Fallout co-creator Tim Cain. We also join the community in suggesting what we believe would be fair prices for Triple-A games, indie games, online-only titles, and mobile releases. And yes, we do understand that video game development is a business, and no, we're not saying that games should all be dirt cheap or free!

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #606: The Steam Machine - Talking Specs & Predicting Cost

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Earlier this month, Valve announced the return of the Steam Machine - their console-like gaming PC - which is slated for release in early 2026. This week, we're joining the community in reacting to the news, including giving our thoughts on the announced specifications, discussing the potential advantages and disadvantages of a console-PC hybrid gaming device, stating our level of interest in possibly picking one up, and speculating on what it's likely to cost. Suffice it to say, while we may not all be completely sold on the Steam Machine as of right now, it's certainly an intriguing development that we're going to keep an eye on!

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #607: New to Basketball? These Are The Players To Study

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

If you wanted to introduce someone to basketball, which players do you think stand the best chance of making them fall in love with the sport? This week, we're joining the community in naming our picks for both past and present players that we believe would get a new fan completely hooked on hoops. Some of the choices probably won't be a huge shock, but there are some interesting and unexpected ones as well! We also reflect on how the players of yesteryear solidified our love of basketball and the NBA as young fans, and the importance of appreciating all of the stars of the sport, whether it's the all-time legends of the game or the top players in the league today.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #608: Ranking This Generation's NBA 2Ks

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S very likely to be superseded by new consoles within the next few years, what are our thoughts on the most recent generation of NBA 2K games? This week, we're ranking NBA 2K21 through NBA 2K26 from best to worst, with a few members of the community also weighing in with their rankings and opinions. We also discuss our overall view of Ninth Gen NBA 2K, noting some of the key mistakes the series has made, as well as some of the things that it has done right. Additionally, we touch on our level of optimism for future releases, the issue of games feeling disposable nowadays, and the desperate need for competition in the basketball gaming space.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #609: Stan Van Gundy Disrespects NBA History

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

During a recent podcast appearance, former NBA coach turned analyst Stan Van Gundy made some eyebrow-raising claims: specifically, that Nikola Jokic is the GOAT, Luka Doncic is the best offensive player of all-time, and that the best 20 players in NBA history have all played within the last 20 years. This week, we join the community in responding to these hot takes, as well as speculate on the motivations behind making them. There's actually an interesting parallel with the basketball gaming community here! We also discuss a few other popular but nevertheless erroneous historical narratives that are about to complicate the GOAT debate, once fans and talking heads alike notice the contradictions.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #610: Revisiting NBA Live 19

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

With the NBA Live 19 servers shutting down next January, a recent kick has inspired us to take another look back at the final release in the NBA Live series...at least for now. From new perspectives on the last official patch and the gameplay experience, to thoughts on Ultimate Team, The Streets World Tour, Legends ratings, and depth, we reflect on our overall impressions of the game after giving it another chance. We also touch on developing a greater appreciation for other games upon revisiting them with fresh eyes, Ultimate Team lineups, where NBA Live 19 ranks in the series, and what should be done differently if NBA Live ever returns with a new console/PC release.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #611: NBA Comebacks We Would've Loved to See

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

What Ifs are always an intriguing topic in basketball discussions, especially when they involve comebacks that could've been, and comebacks that could potentially still occur. To that end, this week we're reflecting on a handful of historical comeback rumours, as well as returns that were reportedly very close to happening. Either way, they're What Ifs that we would've loved to have seen come to fruition! We also discuss whether there are any recently-retired players that could feasibly still have an impact if they were to make a return to the NBA today, and a novel comeback scenario involving a player who's been out of the league for over a decade after retiring young.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #612: Hoops Gifts for the Holidays

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Another year is almost in the books! And so, as 2025 draws to a close, this week we're joining the community in discussing the basketball and basketball gaming gifts that we gave and received during this holiday season. From shoes, shirts, and collectibles, to video games, DVDs, and new basketballs, it's clear that we're all still as passionate as ever about real hoops and the virtual hardwood alike. We also discuss the temptation to pick up a new ball whenever we see one on sale, the brilliance of the Ultimate Jordan DVD boxset, the price of collecting retro games, and ending up getting ourselves gifts while shopping for someone else.

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Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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[Andrew]

NLSC Podcast #613: 2026 Basketball & Basketball Gaming Plans

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Happy New Year, fellow basketball gamers and hardcore hoop heads! As 2026 gets underway, we're tipping things off by joining the community in discussing our plans for this year when it comes to basketball gaming and real basketball alike. From creating mods, polishing up old releases, and expanding our gaming rotations, to watching classic games, getting involved in local leagues, and simply shooting around more often, it's fair to say that we're primed to have a blast with hoops over the next twelve months! We also reflect on the most recent game in our co-op Chicago Bulls Association in NBA 2K9, which saw us pick up a very satisfying victory over a Divisional rival.

Tune in here!

Join in the conversation right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

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