NBA 2K1 on Sega Dreamcast | Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

NBA 2K1, developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega, hit the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 and marked a major leap forward for basketball video games. Building upon the success of the original NBA 2K, this installment introduced online multiplayer for the first time in the series, making it one of the earliest sports games to feature online play on a home console.

With updated rosters, enhanced player animations, and deeper gameplay mechanics, NBA 2K1 gave fans a more authentic basketball experience. The game featured all 29 NBA teams of the 2000-2001 season and added new street courts for players to battle it out in pick-up style games. Players could take their favorite team through a full season, playoffs, or hop into exhibition and street matches. NBA legends like Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal lit up the courts with signature style and realism.


Fun Facts About NBA 2K1:

1. Online Pioneer: NBA 2K1 was one of the first sports games to feature online multiplayer on a console, using the Dreamcast’s built-in modem.

2. Allen Iverson Era: This was the second of five consecutive NBA 2K games to feature Allen Iverson on the cover, solidifying him as the series' first cover icon.

3. Streetball Courts: The game introduced street mode, featuring real-life locations like Rucker Park in Harlem, NY, for intense blacktop battles.

4. No Commentary Yet: NBA 2K1 still didn’t have full broadcast-style commentary. That wouldn't come until NBA 2K2 and beyond.

5. Ahead of Its Time: Despite the Dreamcast’s short lifespan, NBA 2K1’s gameplay and online features were so far ahead of its era, many consider it a spiritual blueprint for today’s NBA 2K games.

6. Roster Snapshot: Playing NBA 2K1 is like jumping into a basketball time machine — teams like the 2000-01 Lakers featured prime Shaq and young Kobe, while the Pacers had stars like Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose.

7. Legendary Matchups: NBA 2K1 let you recreate matchups from the 2000 NBA Finals or create new rivalries on the street courts—something that gave the game added depth and replay value.