Players can create and name players which can be added to the roster. Players can also be upgraded to 99 using a special feature. Although the player can be named in any way, the commentator can speak out their last name if given certain names.
Teams can be unlocked by progressing through the game and completing unique challenges. The game features stars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, and many others. They are all on one of the All-Star teams, which include the 50s All-Stars, 60s All-Stars, 70s All-Stars, 80s All-Stars, and 90s All-Stars. (The Legend Teams are not available for the Xbox 360)
The game features the voices of Marv Albert and basketball player Steve Kerr. This was the last NBA Livegame to be released on the original Xbox. A PlayStation 3 version was cancelled because the design was progressed ambitiously.