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ESPN NBA 2K5
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ESPN NBA 2K5 (USA)

Xbox
🇬🇧
Reviewed in
2004
86
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✪ Reviewed on January 20, 2024
74

Excellent NBA basketball simulation by ESPN/2K with smooth gameplay and a complete franchise mode. A serious competitor to NBA Live at the time, and even superior in many fans' eyes.

Your verdict
Category
Sports 4 players 3+
Description
ESPN NBA 2K5 basketball simulation on Xbox.

ESPN NBA 2K5 review

4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾5,7 GB 📅28/09/2004
Published by 2K Sports

ESPN NBA 2K5 (Xbox) price, value & rarity

Common
Q1 loose
 $4 Q6 complete
 $7 Q10 new
 $16 !
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Other versions
ESPN NBA 2K5
Europe
28/09/2004
🇬🇧

Collector interest

A basketball sim by Visual Concepts, praised for its fluidity and authenticity at a slashed price that defied the competition, a peak of the 2K line on the original Xbox. Its collecting interest stays measured and rests on this reputation as a genre benchmark rather than scarcity, the Western run having stayed wide. A piece valued by fans of virtual basketball of the time.

Is ESPN NBA 2K5 still worth playing in 2026?

Visual Concepts' 2004 basketball simulation is still regularly cited among the most accomplished of the early 2000s. The IsoMotion stick controls give dribble a rare expressivity, the ESPN broadcast presentation is fully committed and the Association mode offers genuine franchise depth around scouting and contracts. The rosters and commentary obviously have not aged and the closure of the original online servers removes a sizeable slice of content. Still one of the finest NBA portraits available on original Xbox and a strong pick for basketball fans and sports game collectors.

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