History VideoGame / NBABallers

''NBA Ballers'' is one of the SpiritualSuccessor titles Creator/MidwayGames created after losing the ''VideoGame/NBAJam'' name to [[Creator/{{Acclaim}} Acclaim Entertainment]]. The original was released in 2004 for the Platform/PlayStation2 and the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}. The game was a hit, both critically and commercially, thanks to its hybrid of Midway's fast-paced, easy to learn but hard to master gameplay with the rival ''NBA Street''[='=]s emphasis on flashy moves and the GlamRap lifestyles that captured the public's attention stood out from every other basketball game before it.

The game went on to have two sequels, subtitled ''Phenom'' and ''Chosen One'', as well as a game on UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable subtitled ''Rebound''. However, now that Midway is out of business and EA has revived ''Jam'', it is unlikely there will be another installment in the ''Ballers'' series.

* ExecutiveMeddling: An [[InUniverse in-universe]] example. The story mode kicks off with two network executives trying to come up with a hit TV show. They come up with ''NBA Ballers: Rags to Riches Edition'', the show within a show your character is the star of. Said executives will go on to mess with the events of the show as your created character rises in prominence, culminating in putting you in three-way matches for the entire final tournament.

* RulesOfTheGame: In the original ''Ballers'' and ''Phenom'', certain matches will impose special rules that can help or hinder you against your opponent. These range from not letting your opponent score a certain amount of points, legal fouls and goaltending, points being deducted if your opponent is in Fire Mode, and so on. In Rags to Riches mode, this is justified by way of the show's executives, who are actively trying to screw you, and make you lose all your earnings.

''NBA Ballers'' is one of the SpiritualSuccessor titles Creator/MidwayGames created after losing the ''VideoGame/NBAJam'' name to [[Creator/{{Acclaim}} Acclaim Entertainment]]. The original was released in 2004 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}. The game was a hit, both critically and commercially, thanks to its hybrid of Midway's fast-paced, easy to learn but hard to master gameplay with the rival ''NBA Street''[='=]s emphasis on flashy moves and the GlamRap lifestyles that captured the public's attention stood out from every other basketball game before it.

** In the first game, you can buy one of multiple Cadillacs and put it in your character's custom mansion court. The game also plugs MC Supernatural's album ''The Lost Freestyle Files'', which was released a year prior to ''Ballers''