What is Basketball Legends 2020?
Basketball Legends 2020 is a two-player sports game created by MadPuffers where famous basketball athletes face off in bobblehead cartoon matchups. You control superstar athletes in fast-paced arcade basketball games featuring high-flying slam dunks, long distance three-pointers, and character-specific superpowers. The game runs directly in your web browser with no downloads or installation required.
Key features
- Bobblehead superstar roster: Compete with cartoon caricatures of prominent basketball stars like LeBron James, James Harden, and Luka Doncic.
- Roster selection: Pick from 16 different teams inspired by major basketball franchises, each offering 3 selectable roster athletes.
- Character abilities: Utilize distinct powers for each athlete, including the mega dunk, defensive buffs, or rapid fast break moves.
- Super shot meter: Fill the energy gauge on the top left corner of the screen to activate high-impact scoring shots.
- Multiple competition formats: Compete solo against challenging computer opponents or share the screen in 1 vs 1 and 2 vs 2 showdowns.
- Extensive game modes: Participate in bracket tournaments, jump into quick play sessions, or practice mechanics in training.
How to play
- Select your game mode, choose your favorite team among the 16 available franchises, and pick your active athletes.
- Win the opening tip-off by timing your leap as the ball tosses into the air at center court.
- Dribble across the court using dashes to slip past your defender and create open passing lanes or shot angles.
- Execute jump shots, pull up for three-pointers, or drive toward the rim for an alley-oop finish.
- Charge your super shot gauge on the top left corner of the display to execute signature superpowers.
- Time your defensive blocks and steals when the opposing ball-handler attempts a shot or crossover.
- Outscore your opponent before the match timer expires to secure the victory.
Controls
Basketball Legends 2020 supports solo play and local two-player competition on keyboard.
| Action | Player 1 keyboard | Player 2 keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Move left or right | A or D | Left arrow or right arrow |
| Dash | A or D twice | Left arrow or right arrow twice |
| Shoot or steal | B (or X in solo) | L |
| Pump fake or block | S | Down arrow |
| Super shot | K (or Z in solo) | K |
Special abilities and super shots
Unlike standard basketball games, every character in Basketball Legends 2020 possesses a specific signature trait tailored to their court role. Athletes are categorized across three distinct special skills:
- Mega dunk: Propels the athlete into the air for an acrobatic, unstoppable rim attack. Note that pure perimeter shooters such as Steph Curry rely on shooting finesse rather than the mega dunk.
- Defense: Grants enhanced shot-blocking reach and elevated steal efficiency to stop aggressive drives.
- Fast break: Provides sudden bursts of acceleration to transition rapidly from defense into an open offensive drive.
Performing successful moves charges the special meter located at the top left of the screen. Once fully powered, triggering the super shot executes an extraordinary scoring move that keeps opponents on defense guessing.
Tips and strategy
- Match ability to playstyle: Choose athletes whose unique skills complement your tactical approach, whether you prefer perimeter shooting or physical rim attacks.
- Master the dash mechanic: Tapping direction keys twice allows you to quickly blow past defenders or recover defensively after a lost possession.
- Save super shots for crucial moments: Monitor the gauge at the top left of the screen and activate your special strike when you need an uncontested score.
- Anticipate shot releases: Position your defender near the shooter and time your block when they leave their feet to swat away field goal attempts.
- Use pump fakes: Tap the pump button to bait aggressive defenders into early leap animations, creating wide open paths to the basket.
Game modes
Basketball Legends 2020 offers diverse ways to compete across both single-player and multiplayer formats.
Tournament
Take your chosen franchise through a multi-round playoff bracket against increasingly skilled computer-controlled squads to claim the championship trophy.
Quick play
Jump straight onto the court for an immediate match against random opposition when looking for a fast basketball session.
Training and random matches
Use practice courts to refine shot timing, test dribble moves, and experiment with roster special abilities before high-stakes tournament competition.
Two-player matches
Share a keyboard with a friend to compete head-to-head in 1 vs 1 duels or team up cooperatively against opposing lineups in 2 vs 2 showdowns.
Similar games
If you enjoy head-to-head sports titles, check out these other popular browser games:
- BasketBros — A fast-paced side-scrolling basketball game with customizable characters and high-flying arcade dunks.
- Basket Random — A physics-driven two-player basketball title with unpredictable ragdoll movement and shifting court conditions.
- Tennis Masters — A competitive two-player racket sports game from the same developer featuring power-ups and rapid rallies.
Developer and history
Basketball Legends 2020 was developed by MadPuffers and released in September 2020. It serves as the official follow-up to Basketball Stars 2019, building upon the studio’s popular arcade sports portfolio alongside hits like Moto X3M.
Super helpful guide — really clear steps.