ESPN NBA 2K5
ESPN NBA 2K5 is a 2004 basketball simulation game developed by Visual Concepts and co-published by Sega and Global Star Software. It is the sixth NBA 2K game, following ESPN NBA Basketball and preceding NBA 2K6. Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons appears on the cover—the first time a player other than Allen Iverson was featured—and it marks the last NBA 2K game Sega released before selling Visual Concepts to Take-Two Interactive to form 2K Sports. It is also the third and last game in the series to carry ESPN branding on the front cover.
The game aims to realistically recreate the NBA experience, using real teams and players. It offers multiple modes, including 24/7 (create-a-player), Association (season play with a chosen team), various tournaments, and a street basketball mode. Visuals include detailed crowd animations, varied camera angles, and commentary. The presentation features Stuart Scott as host, with Bob Fitzgerald and Bill Walton as commentators and Michele Tafoya as a sideline reporter. Players can customize many aspects of the game and enjoy a range of visual flourishes.
ESPN NBA 2K5 received favorable reviews for its visuals and solid gameplay, though some modes like 24/7 and Association drew mixed responses. Critics also praised the game’s low price. Some noted AI quirks and a lackluster soundtrack, but many still regarded it as a rewarding basketball sim for its time.
Sales-wise, the PS2 version sold about 1 million copies in the United States by July 2006, earning roughly $20 million. Combined US sales across consoles reached about 1.6 million, and Next Generation ranked it the 57th best-selling PS2/Xbox/GameCube title released in the US from 2000 to mid-2006.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:00 (CET).