Menu
Home | Tag: Australia

Tag Archives: Australia

Wayback Wednesday: NBA Returns After Extended Absences (Part 3)

Wayback Wednesday: NBA Returns After Extended Absences (Part 3)

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at some more NBA players that made returns after extended absences from the league.

Look, when it comes to NBA trivia and its representation in video games, I can’t get enough! When The BBall Pundit suggested this topic, it required a bit of research, which is always fun. We remember the big names that made returns to the NBA after extended absences – at least two years or more – but there have been other key role players and memorable journeymen that surprised us when they inked new contracts. Perhaps it’s a reminder to never underestimate the intrigue of a young player who still has potential to fulfil, or a capable veteran who can slot right back into a lineup.

In case it isn’t clear, I should note that by returns after extended absences, I’m talking about players who were out of the league entirely. Someone like Klay Thompson, who missed two consecutive seasons due to injury, doesn’t count as he was still on the Warriors’ roster. Comebacks after missing multiple years due to injury is another topic altogether – and there are certainly some interesting examples I could cover – but this is about players who were retired or out of the league and not expected to return. With that being said, let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

The Friday Five: 5 Times NBL Players Appeared in Classic Games

The Friday Five

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Friday Five! The Friday Five is a feature that I post every Friday in which I give my thoughts on a topic that’s related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games, as well as the real NBA, and other areas of interest to our community. The feature is presented as either a list of five items, or in the form of a Top 5 countdown. This week’s Five lists five times that NBL players appeared in classic NBA video games.

After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the original start of the season, the Australian NBL is tipping off its 2021 campaign today. I’ve always been more of an NBA fan, but I do have an affinity for my country’s league; even if my hometown has lost two teams since the league was founded here in 1979. In any event, it’s been great to see the NBL grow, and become a viable path to the NBA. Not only have more and more home-grown talents made it to the NBA, but American players are opting for the NBL over college. Examples include Terrance Ferguson, and more recently, LaMelo Ball.

The number of players who spent time in both leagues has resulted in several NBL alumni appearing in NBA video games. Luc Longley played two games for the Perth Wildcats in 1986 before he was drafted in 1991, and became the first Australian to play in the NBA. Journeyman point guard Doug Overton played a season for the Illawarra Hawks before beginning his NBA career with the Washington Bullets. You may be familiar with them thanks to their NBA careers and video game appearances, as well as more recent NBL alumni such as Joe Ingles and Torrey Craig. There are some older appearances you may not recall however, such as these five examples.

Read More »

Wayback Wednesday: When Australia Got NBA Live 06 Early

Wayback Wednesday: When Australia Got NBA Live 06 Early

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. This week, I’m taking a look back at the early Australian release of NBA Live 06 PC.

I’m a proud Australian who loves his country and its culture, and I would say that being an Aussie is part of my identity. However, there are drawbacks to living in the Land Down Under, and it’s not just about us having blistering hot summers and more dangerous and deadly creatures than just about anywhere else in the world! As a basketball gamer, living in a PAL region such as Australia has resulted in me missing out on some titles over the years that I’d have really liked to play. I’ve only recently been able to get my hands on some college games, thanks to now owning a PS3.

Even with games that were actually released here, it wasn’t uncommon for us to have to wait until the following week, or sometimes longer, before they were available in Australian stores. As late as NBA Live 16, worldwide releases were often at least a couple of days after the North American launch. However, there was a time when we got a basketball game before the rest of the world: the release of NBA Live 06 PC. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

NBL 2K20 Mod Demo Now Available for NBA 2K20 PC

NBL 2K20 Mod Demo

Back in Episode #331 of the NLSC Podcast, I mentioned an NBL mod as a roster project I’d like to take a run at, if I ever had the time. As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one with that idea. More importantly, they also had the time and inclination to get it done! MonkeyManJSV, Shuajota, Xiskeg, Mahmood, Dlubell, losjosh, PettyPaulPierce, Krush, Thadoughboy15, Evy53 and karinge have been hard at work on an NBL 2K20 mod for NBA 2K20 PC, and a demo version is now available.

The demo allows you to replay the Finals matchup between the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats. Both teams have accurate jerseys and player faces, and even the basketball has been updated for maximum authenticity. You can download the NBL 2K20 demo here, and find the support/release topic here in the Forum. Also see below for a video showcasing gameplay with the mod.

Please note that as is the case with all total conversion mods – and 99.9% of uploads in our community, for that matter – this project is for PC only. The console versions of basketball games simply don’t facilitate the same level of modding that’s feasible on PC. MonkeyManJSV and company are working hard to get the full mod completed, so stay tuned for further updates!

Read More »

Monday Tip-Off: Hopping On The Banned Wagon

Monday Tip-Off: Hopping On The Banned Wagon

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Start your week here at the NLSC with a feature that’s dedicated to opinions, commentary, and other fun stuff related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games. This week, I’m tipping things off with a few insights into our approach to banning people in our community, as well as the potential fallout when users do get banned.

Many years ago, we used to have a public “Banned List” in the NLSC Forum. It was started and maintained for a few reasons. First of all, it let people know that someone had been banned, pre-emptively answering questions as to where they had gone. The second reason was to emphasise the rules that had been broken, as we also listed the reason that the person had been banned. And, because we were all a bit younger and less mature then, the third reason was the humiliation factor involved. In other words, act up, and you go on the naughty list for everyone else to see.

Because of the third reason in particular, I was generally uneasy with the idea, and so we eventually put the kibosh on the Banned List. I also feel that if someone is acting up so badly that we feel compelled to show them the door, they shouldn’t be glorified or given any further attention, and the list did offer some measure of notoriety. I still feel that way, which is why I don’t like to talk about people who have been banned, even when they post inflammatory remarks about the site, me, or other NLSC staff. It’s sometimes awfully tempting to respond though, even if it’s only in general terms. To that end, I’d like to talk a little about those who hop aboard the banned wagon.

Read More »

Wayback Wednesday: Aussies in Basketball Games

Wayback Wednesdays: Aussies in Basketball Games

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. This week, I’m taking a look back at the history of Aussies in basketball games.

If you listen to the NLSC Podcast or pay close attention to the way I spell certain words, you’ll know that I’m an Aussie. Being a basketball fan in Australia hasn’t always been easy, even with the NBA’s explosion in popularity in the 90s, as well as the heyday of our own local league, the NBL. Sadly, the sport hasn’t always had the most favourable reputation with many of my fellow Aussies. While those of us who love hoops do so passionately, it’s always battled cricket, tennis, and at least three different codes of football (rugby, Australian Rules, and soccer) for popularity.

I’ve always felt that our struggles on the world stage have contributed to the game’s up-and-down popularity down under. The Boomers are yet to win an Olympic medal, but just this past week, they scored a huge win over the USA in the second exhibition game played in Melbourne; the first time they’ve ever defeated the US. It helps that we have a few more Aussies in the NBA these days, which also means that we see them on the virtual hardwood. In honour of the Boomers’ big win, I’m reflecting on the history of Aussies in basketball games. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

Ben Simmons Appearing on Australian NBA 2K19 Cover

NBA 2K19 Australian Cover featuring Ben Simmons

PlayStation Australia has revealed that 2018 Rookie of the Year and former number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons will appear on the Australian cover of NBA 2K19. This marks the first time that Australia has received a regional NBA 2K cover.

As reported by Operation Sports’ Steve Noah, the cover will be available in both Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, it will apparently be double-sided, with Ben Simmons on one side and Standard Edition cover player Giannis Antetokounmpo on the other.

The cover art is very similar to the Standard Edition and 20th Anniversary Edition, featuring slogans associated with Simmons and his journey to the NBA. As a Novocastrian, I was disappointed to see that there aren’t any references to his time in the city where he played rep basketball (and where his father played professionally in our NBL), but it’s still great to see him on the first Aussie NBA 2K cover.

Ben Simmons is the second Philadelphia 76ers player to appear on an NBA 2K cover, with Hall of Famer and original 2K cover player Allen Iverson being the first. Teammate Joel Embiid was confirmed as the cover player for NBA Live 19 last week.

Check out the full cover art below. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, as well as join in the discussion taking place in our NBA 2K19 Forum.

Read More »

File Additions for NBA 2K14

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

Here are the latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC! Today we have some conversions of a few NBA 2K17 courts including Team USA, the Australian Boomers, and the Gatorade practice gym, and a UCLA Bruins court. You’ll also find the latest versions of Med’s roster update and skoadam’s U R Basketball mod, the latter of which now contains a MyCAREER compatible roster for the 2017 season. Be sure to check out all of the latest releases at the links below.

iLaraxchii
NBA 2K17 USA Basketball Court for NBA 2K14
NBA 2K17 Australian Boomers Court for NBA 2K14
2017 UCLA Bruins Court for NBA 2K14
NBA 2K17 Gatorade Court for NBA 2K14

Medevenx
Med’s NBA Roster Appdata Files (Updated to v4.4b)

skoadam
2K14 U R Basketball V49 [33 Complete Seasons Mods] + Accurate 16-17 Roster/Rotations [ALL Transactions 30/11/16] (Updated)

As we tip off a new year here at the NLSC, I’d just like to remind everyone once again of our upload facilities, and our goal of creating a comprehensive collection of mods and tools for both NBA Live and NBA 2K. If you’d like to contribute your work to the Downloads section but you’re not sure where to begin, check out this video tutorial. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask me and I’ll help you out as best I can.