NBA Live 97 Genesis box art

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Sports

NBA Live 97

Deep cut

SystemSega Genesis / Mega Drive
GenreSports
DeveloperEA Sports
PublisherElectronic Arts
Players1–4 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesNBA Live
ESRBKA
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 5

Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, NBA Live 97 is a sports game developed by EA Sports and published by Electronic Arts.

It is part of the NBA Live series; on the Genesis you can also try Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, NBA Live 96 and Team USA Basketball. The series also appears on other systems with NBA Live 2001 (PS1) and NBA Live 2003 (PS1). EA Sports also made NHL 98, Mario Andretti Racing and Bill Walsh College Football for the Genesis.

NBA Live 97 supports up to 4 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to race and compete
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you have a friend to play against
  • you've played the Genesis hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you need current teams and rosters

What playing NBA Live 97 is like

Sports games bring football, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, wrestling and more to the console, from simulation-style management to over-the-top arcade action.

Tip for newcomers: Arcade-style sports games are the easiest to enjoy today; simulation titles may have outdated rosters but still offer satisfying gameplay.

NBA Live 97 gameplay screenshot on Genesis
In-game screenshot (Genesis)

NBA Live 97 cheats & codes

6 codes on file (Action Replay, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:

Team 1 Score ModifierFFF987:XX
Team 2 Score ModifierFFF8EF:XX

See all NBA Live 97 cheats

NBA Live 97 walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for NBA Live 97.

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Playing Genesis games today

Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.

NBA Live 97 FAQ

Who made NBA Live 97?

It was developed by EA Sports and published by Electronic Arts.

Is NBA Live 97 multiplayer?

Yes. NBA Live 97 supports up to 4 players.

How long does NBA Live 97 take to play?

As a sports game, NBA Live 97 typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about NBA Live 97 on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you