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By: Aaron Thomas

Because basketball is the one major North American sport for which players don't wear any sort of headgear, the NBA has always featured some of the world's most recognizable athletes. As a result, NBA video games have often led the way when it comes to re-creating players' likenesses. Thanks to the power of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, video game characters are closer to the real thing than ever. But just how good are they? We've taken screenshots of 11 NBA All-Stars (and the unfortunate-looking Chris Kaman) from NBA Live, NBA 2K8, and NBA 08 to see how they compare to the real deal. The results may vary, but one thing's for sure--basketball video games have come a long way since the Atari 2600.

If you're going to judge a game by its screenshots, as we are here, NBA Live 08 is the clear winner; players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James look amazing. Obviously the basic models in Live are extremely accurate, but it's how the game makes effective use of lighting and sweat that really takes the players' appearance to the next level. NBA 2K8 is no slouch, but the players almost look as if they're wearing makeup, and there's very little variety to players' eyes--they all seem like the same pair. NBA 08's players lag far behind those in Live and 2K8. Many of the faces seem flat-out wrong, while others have exaggerated features, skin that's too light, or wrinkled foreheads that make them look 10 years older than they really are.

All screens were taken in 720p from the PlayStation 3 version of each game, using the best possible angle from a first-quarter instant replay. Player photos are from NBA 2K8. Note that some of the images have players looking in different directions. This is due to in-game ball tracking.

What do you think? We've included a poll for each player, so you can vote for the game that nails each player's likeness the best!

To compare images, move your mouse over the player's name. For example, Kobe Bryant's in-game photo can be seen by moving your mouse cursor over "Kobe Bryant 1." His NBA Live 08 version can be seen by moving your mouse cursor over "Kobe Bryant 2."


Kobe Bryant 1     Kobe Bryant 2     Kobe Bryant 3     Kobe Bryant 4     
Player PhotoNBA Live 08NBA 2K8NBA 08

Gilbert Arenas 1     Gilbert Arenas 2     Gilbert Arenas 3     Gilbert Arenas 4     
Player PhotoNBA Live 08NBA 2K8NBA 08

Tim Duncan 1     Tim Duncan 2     Tim Duncan 3     Tim Duncan 4     
Player PhotoNBA Live 08NBA 2K8NBA 08

Kevin Garnett 1     Kevin Garnett 2     Kevin Garnett 3     Kevin Garnett 4     
Player PhotoNBA Live 08NBA 2K8NBA 08

Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts on how NBA players appear in video games today.

758 Comments

  • bullsfan769

    Posted Jan 3, 2009 8:28 am GMT

    why are the players in the nba live pics always really sweaty

  • R41N_M4K3R

    Posted Nov 4, 2008 6:30 pm GMT

    I dont see what is wrong with KGs pic

  • Crusader-Z

    Posted Nov 3, 2008 8:11 pm GMT

    holy...look at KG!

  • mechberg Works for a game publisher or developer

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 10:40 am GMT

    Holy God, what bridge did Chris Kaman emerge out from under?

  • flexappeal

    Posted Oct 3, 2008 9:55 pm GMT

    I find that NBA Live have always had the edge in terms of graphical presentation when compared to NBA 2K or the NBA series (which is just plain horrible. But when it comes to gameplay, I will always pick 2K over anything. Now I can't wait to grab my copy of NBA 2K9... just downloaded the demo and I'm jonesin for more!

  • matiss6

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:20 am GMT

    Well Better faces are in nba live 08,but i still love nba 2k8.

  • Shlomiki

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 2:56 am GMT

    2K8 NAILS em all. I mean, honestly, look at Live 08's faces' color palettes and way too bright skin colors? NBA 08 doesn't need heeding, the graphics are 50% cartoon.

    CLEAR WINNER: NBA 2K8
    FAR 2ND: NBA LIVE 08
    3RD AND WORST: NBA 08

  • NoseWeed619

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 6:18 pm GMT

    Wow. NBA Live 08 dominated every single one of these pictures.

  • boylcp

    Posted Aug 3, 2008 7:39 am GMT

    In all honesty, they all sucked. I think that NBA 2K8 sucked the least.

  • markid4

    Posted Jul 2, 2008 11:03 am GMT

    wtf...nba 08 has the worst graphics EVER.. i mean look at T-mac for nba 08 lol.....NBA 2k8 is the best it has the best gameplay,graphics...

  • Big-POPE

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 12:05 am GMT

    this game is a total disaster it has horrible graphics, terrible game play, and is no comparison to nba 2k8

  • G-Rat06

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 10:28 am GMT

    Go look at T-Mac in NBA 08, thats just ridiculous. That looks more like Damon Jones ha.

  • mrkillya

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 6:43 pm GMT

    i dont think nba live has the best graphics its just they look real beacuase they sweat but they really dont look like the actuall players

  • jubba910

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:25 pm GMT

    has anyone noticed that steve nash is in his phoenix uniform in tim duncans pic in 2k8?

  • Drumm3rdude

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:00 pm GMT

    Whats up with all the players in NBA Live looking like they're cross-eyed or have a lazy eye?
    KG looks bad in all, along with Chris Kaman.

  • is0lati0n

    Posted May 4, 2008 4:38 am GMT

    Live 08 has the best basketball graphics to date.

  • JDubs07

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 7:05 am GMT

    The NBA Live 08 picture of KG makes him look crossed-eyed. I'm sure that he won't appreciate that.

  • KingDre410

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 9:18 am GMT

    go suns

  • Naiman14

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 6:08 pm GMT

    NBA players in this next generation appear the best in NBA Live hands down! I dont know what the others are doing, but their character models are horrible. NBA 2K can pass because it was one of my favorites back in the days of the Dreamcast. NBA 08 etc...by Sony just doesnt cut the cake in terms of character design but in the end it all turns out to gameplay. I still rather my NBA Live and NBA 2K Franchises.

  • Lord_of_Games12

    Posted Mar 17, 2008 2:11 pm GMT

    1.NBA Live 08
    2.NBA 2K8
    3.NBA 08

    Best Recreation: Kobe Bryant NBA Live
    Worst: K. G. NBA Live 08 K.G. was made unfairly ugly in all three games.

    The Best is playing Basketball in real life!!!

  • ps2forever

    Posted Mar 15, 2008 11:10 am GMT

    NBA 08 is such a joke! looks the worst out of the bunch. but i feel bad for Kaman lol he looks bad an all three games. lol. Nba live looks the best out of the three. Nba 2k8 stands second, and yes nba 08 stands for the worst. lol.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 7:01 pm GMT

    this is old, nothing from the feature article has changed from last year. who are they trying to fool?

  • daphenom901

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 6:24 pm GMT

    nba 08 is horribly unrealistic, nba live 08 has the best on all of them except the kevin garnett

  • Vito2323

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 2:40 pm GMT

    Okay...we know that nba 2k8 has better motion graphics but for faces its kinda wierd!But few players are similar to real life also in nba live 08!ubt in NBA 08? What are they?zoombies? But overal nba 2k8 is way better then nba live 08 and nba 08 together!

  • chasman99

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 9:54 am GMT

    Live has more facial detail but the skin tone is too ashen. Merging the two styles would be perfect.

  • iboo01

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 8:23 pm GMT

    live 08 has sick faces but no substance in the gameplay 2k8 owns these 2

  • bicigo

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 4:09 pm GMT

    and chris kaman

  • bicigo

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 4:07 pm GMT

    nba live has best graphics except for one or two kevin garnett

  • lilflex1

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    This Isn't a contest NBA Live has the better graphics. NBA Live 2005 and older has better graphics than NBA 08. That game was a waste of money to buy and make.

  • jaybun3030

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 2:39 pm GMT

    If only EA would put the same effort into improving overall gameplay.....

  • bullsfan769

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 2:21 pm GMT

    yup i cant even believe they would compare nba 08 seeing as how it is the worst of the three in graphics and in gameplay

  • stickstick86

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 12:48 pm GMT

    this is old...again? why? in nba live players look better, but nba2k8 is da best game!

  • tennisacerg

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 12:46 pm GMT

    kdt55, they didn't do it again; for some reason it just popped up in the updates again

  • kdt55

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 12:02 pm GMT

    This has already been done. Why is Gamespot doing this again?

  • Treblemaka

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 7:18 pm GMT

    NBA 08 players look like bad clones. Live 08 characters have bad lighting (NBA arena lights are much brighter) and 2k8 players look like bad charactures*. Did anybody notice the audience sprites are all the same? Hmmm...

  • PiverSmine3

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:14 pm GMT

    Kobe was definetley the best; NBA 08, you need some work lol

  • james1607

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 4:13 pm GMT

    In NBA LIVE 08, the players all have the same sweat patterns: two streaks on the left and one on the right.

  • Smithster82

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 11:33 pm GMT

    Well id say EA did an really good job on Live 08 (player wise) the player detail and sweat looks awsome but One of T-mac's Pupils looks like its going to disapear if he looks to his right, Nash is a bit like that aswell. Are the 2k8 players pics from the ps2 version? if there for the 360 or ps3 thats a pretty average job and i agree with dfassa102 about the nba 08 players lookn like there 40 yrs older than they are. Even if the gameplaysucks i still wana get NBA Live 08.

  • Daquon34

    Posted Jan 3, 2008 8:31 am GMT

    nba 08 didnt get anybodys face right and i admit live has good visuals but sucks in da gameplay department

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 9:06 pm GMT

    shaq's head isn't long-- that's what he looks like when he bows his head a bit.... the shot isnt good

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 9:03 pm GMT

    "I meant that nba 08 wade looks like nba 08 t-mac and nba 08 shaq looks like the real alonzo mourning"

    i'll correct that it's supposed to be karl malone not alonzo mourning

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 8:56 pm GMT

    i think NBA live 08 and NBA 2k8 is just the same but 2k8 has more realism in it... too bad I had to buy live 08 cause 2k8 was out of stock but live is just about the same

  • estevie69

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 7:20 pm GMT

    LOOK AT KAMAN ON NBA 08!!! FUNNIEST PICTURE

  • nbaliveking07

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 9:56 pm GMT

    NBA Live did an awesome job of getting the faces right even though Dirk Nowitzki's photo looks like Brad Miller from the Sacramento Kings. Too bad the gameplay sucks!!!! What was NBA 08 thinkin'? No wonder they don't do well, no one looks like themselves, everyone shoots and plays da same way. At least Live got everyone playin' like themselves. 2K8 ain't the perfect game so of course it's gon have its cons. Overall, 2K8 is still da best.

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 3:10 pm GMT

    I meant that nba 08 wade looks like nba 08 t-mac and nba 08 shaq looks like the real alonzo mourning

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 3:06 pm GMT

    every game has there ups and downs......



    as for nba 08, there's no ups but there are downs.... )
    lol wade looks like t-mac and shaq looks like alonzo mourning in nba 08 hahahahahaha this is so hilarious!!!!!

  • ashbr2

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 12:13 pm GMT

    WHy dont THe maKERs of NBA 08 jus stop making video games the suk and the player models look nothing like their real life counter parts
    NBA 08 Gamemakers stop making terrible games PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Spann37

    Posted Dec 27, 2007 9:34 pm GMT

    KG looks cross eyed in the Live version of him.

  • Diegocr

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 10:18 am GMT

    Lol, funny.

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