GAMES MICROSOFT XBOX NBA 2K3 User manual

1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Default Command Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Main Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Playing a Quick Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Selecting Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
On The Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pause Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Choosing a Game Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Franchise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Playoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Setting Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Loading and Saving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Managing Your Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Sega Sports Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Safety Information
About Photosensitive Seizures
A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when
exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns
that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of
seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can
cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video
games. These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including
lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or
shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss
of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or
convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby
objects. Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you
experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask
their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are
more likely than adults to experience these seizures. The risk of
photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by sitting farther
from the television screen, using a smaller television screen, playing
in a well-lit room, and not playing when you are drowsy or fatigued. If
you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy,
consult a doctor before playing.
Other Important Health and Safety Information
The Xbox Instruction Manual contains important health and safety
information that you should read and understand before using this software.
Avoid Damage toYourTelevision
Do not use with certain televisions. Some televisions, especially front-
or rear-projection types, can be damaged if any video games, including
Xbox games, are played on them. Static images presented during the
normal course of game play may “burn in” to the screen, causing a
permanent shadow of the static image to appear at all times, even
when video games are not being played. Similar damage may occur
from static images created when placing a video game on hold or
pause. Consult your television owner’s manual to determine if video
games can be played safely on your set. If you are unable to find this
information in the owner’s manual, contact your television dealer or
the manufacturer to determine if video games can be played safely on
your set.Unauthorized copying, reverse engineering, transmission,
public performance, rental, pay for play, or circumvention of copy
protection is strictly prohibited.

Connect to Xbox Live
Important! Before using this product, read the Xbox
Instruction Manual for important safety information and
health warnings.
Step 1: Connect
To connect your Xbox console directly to broadband, see A. Or, to
share your broadband connection with a PC, see B. For more details
and other home networking options, including Internet connection
sharing, see www.xbox.com/live.
Direct Connection A
Shared Connection B
Step 2: Go Live
You’ll need to set up an Xbox Live account to play games online.
Here’s how:
1. Insert an Xbox
Live Starter Kit disc or game disc into the disc tray.
Check game packaging to see if the game supports Xbox
Live play.
2. From within the game, select the option for Xbox
Live . At this
point, the Xbox console will try to go online. If it works, create your
Xbox
Live account by following the instructions on screen and
entering your subscription code when prompted. If the Xbox
console can’t go online automatically, you’ll get an error message.
Go on to Step 3.
Step 3: Configure (if necessary)
If you can’t go online automatically, use Network Setup in the Xbox
Dashboard to enter some network settings. You may need to enter
information such as a host name, MAC address, or an ISP user
name and password, which you received from your broadband
provider when you signed up for service. Once you have the
information, enter it in the Xbox Dashboard.
Important! Xbox Live is a subscription service. You will need a
subscription code to set up an Xbox
Live account and play online. To
find out how to get a subscription code, visit your local retailer or see
www.xbox.com/live.
If you need more help: Should you have any problems connecting
to the Xbox
Live service, do not attempt to take apart, service, or
modify the Xbox console or peripherals in any way. Doing so could
present the risk of serious injury or death from electric shock or fire,
and will also void your warranty. For additional assistance see
www.xbox.com/live or call the Customer Support number:
United States and Canada: 1-800-4MY-XBOX (1-800-469-9269)
TTY users (requires special equipment for hard of hearing):
United States and Canada: 1-866-740-9269 or 1-425-635-7102
Cable/DSL router
Cable/DSL modem
PC
WAN/Uplink
LAN Ports
RJ-45 net ork cables
Cable/DSL modem
Ethernet cable (RJ-45)

1. Set up your Xbox™ video game system by following
the instructions in the Xbox Instruction Manual.
2. Press the power button and the status indicator
light will light up.
3. Press the eject button and the disc tray will open.
4. Place the NBA2K3 disc on the disc tray with the
label facing up and close the disc tray.
5. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to
this manual for more information about
playing NBA2K3.
Avoiding Damage to Discs or the Disc Drive
To avoid damage to discs or the disc drive
• Insert only Xbox-compatible discs into the disc drive.
• Never use oddly shaped discs, such as star-shaped
or heart-shaped discs.
• Do not leave a disc in the Xbox console for
extended periods when not in use.
• Do not move the Xbox console while the power
is on and a disc is inserted.
• Do not apply labels, stickers, or other foreign
objects to discs.
1. Connect the Xbox Controller to any controller port on the
front of the Xbox console. For multiple players, connect
additional controllers to available controller ports.
2. Insert any expansion devices (for example, Xbox Memory
Units) into controller expansion slots as appropriate.
3. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to this manual
for more information about using the Xbox Controller
to play NBA2K3.
Using the XboxVideo Game System Using the Xbox Controller

7
COMPLETE CONTROLS
For a more complete listing of controls including advanced
dribbling, passing, shooting, and post moves, see On The
Court on p. 9.
GETTING STARTED
1. Turn OFF the power button on your XboxTM video game
system from Microsoft.
• Make sure an Xbox Controller is plugged into
the Xbox.
• If you’re playing against friends, plug additional Xbox
Controllers into the Xbox.
2. Turn ON the power button, then press the eject button.
The disc tray slides open.
3. Insert the NBA® 2K3 game disc into the disc tray, then
press the Eject button again. The disc tray slides closed
and the Xbox screen appears followed by the NBA 2K3
title screen.
• If these screens do not appear, begin again at step 1.
PROGRESSIVE SCAN FOR HDTV
You can take advantage of your High-Definition Television
when playing NBA 2K3 by setting your HDTV to 480p
Progressive Scan mode.
To enable 480p progressive scan mode:
1. Make sure the composite video cable is connected from
the Xbox Game Console to your HDTV.
2. Set your HDTV to Progressive Mode (480p or DTV).
3. Turn ON the power button on your Xbox and insert the
NBA 2K3 game disc.
4. Press and hold the A, X, Y, and Bbuttons during the
Xbox screen and look for the confirmation window.
6
DEFAULT COMMAND SUMMARY
OFFENSE
left thumbstick/Directional Pad Run/Dribble
Abutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pass
Xbutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shoot/Rebound
Bbutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crossover Dribble
Ybutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Passing Icons
* press corresponding button to pass to player
left trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back-down the Defender
right trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turbo/Speed Burst
White button . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toggle Pivot Mode
Black button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access Offensive Play Menu
* press corresponding button to select offensive play
left thumbstick button. . . . . . Call for Pick
right thumbstick . . . . . . . . . . Pass in Direction of Stick
right thumbstick button. . . . . Fake Pass
DEFENSE
left thumbstick/Directional Pad Run
Abutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch Player
Xbutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Block Shot/Rebound
Bbutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steal Attempt
Ybutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Switch Icons
* press corresponding button to switch to player
left trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Face-up the Ball Handler
White button . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call for Double Team
Black button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access Defensive Play Menu
* press corresponding button to select defensive play
Ybutton, then left thumbstick
button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch to Last Player Back
right thumbstick button. . . . . Intentional Foul

9
QUICK GAME
Play a quick exhibition game between any two teams. This
is the fastest way to suit up and lead your team onto the
court. (See Playing a Quick Game on p. 9.)
GAME MODES
Choose one of seven play modes including Street,
Franchise, Season, Playoffs, Tournament, Practice, and
Network. (See Choosing a Game Mode on p. 21.)
OPTIONS
Multiple categories of options give you the power to
customize your game at all levels, from the broadcast
booth
LOAD / SAVE
Everything you can customize in NBA 2K3 can be saved
and accessed later if you have a Memory Card inserted into
your game console. (See Loading and Saving on p. 47.)
ROSTER MANAGER
Use the Roster Manager to make team personnel decisions
such as releasing free agents, initiating trades, and editing
ratings. (See Managing Your Roster on p. 47).
SEGA SPORTS CHALLENGE
Prove how good a sports gamer you are by posting your
NBA 2K3 statistics to the Sega Sports Challenge online
ranking board. (See Sega Sports Challenge on p. 50.)
PLAYING A QUICK GAME
This one-game format is a perfect introduction to NBA 2K3,
and when you have mastered the game, it’s perfect for
schooling your friends.
• To begin a Quick game, from the Main menu, choose
QUICK GAME. The Team Select screen appears.
SELECTING TEAMS
Choose from over 35 teams, including all 29 NBA
franchises, the 2002 NBA all-star teams, and fantasy squads
made up of legends from past decades, and if you created
8
5. Select YES to load NBA 2K3 in 480p mode or NO to load
on a NTSC TV.
Warning: Enabling 480p progressive scan mode on a TV
that does not support 480p may harm your television!
TITLE SCREEN
Once you’re up and running, the NBA 2K3 Title Screen
appears.
• To go directly to the Main Menu, press the START button .
(See Main Menu on p. 8.)
• If you do not take an action, a game demo begins
featuring two computer-controlled teams in a randomly
generated matchup.
• To exit a game demo and return to the Title Screen, press
any button.
MAIN MENU
NBA 2K3 is the complete pro basketball experience. More
than a game, in NBA 2K3, you can own and operate your
own NBA franchise and help your team win from the court,
the clipboard, and the GM’s desk. But it’s not all business;
NBA 2K3 also has a stripped-down Street mode, where you
play for love of the game.
To access menu controls for any game menu, press the Xbutton.
• To select a Main menu item, D-Pad to highlight it, then
press Ato select. The appropriate next screen appears.

1110
any new NBA 2K3 teams, they’re here too.
To select teams:
1. D-pad to move your icon to the side you wish to
control during the game. The Away team is on the left;
the Home team is on the right.
2. Press left/right trigger to cycle through the teams until
you see the one you want.
• If you assign your name to your controller, you can
save your personal stats. To create a user name, see
(Sega Sports Challenge on p. 50.)
• To assign an existing user name to your controller,
press White/Black button to scroll options.
• If you want to customize the game, you can bring up
the Team Options screen and select uniform types,
load any team’s playbook, or choose to play in any
NBA 2K3 arena.
• To access the Team Options screen, press the Y
button. To change an option, press the press the D-
pad to highlight it, then press A/Ybutton to cycle
forward/back through choices.
3. Press the START button to continue. ESPN’s Bob Steele
and Rod West breakdown the matchup, while the teams
step onto the court for player introductions.
Note: If you leave all Controller icons in the center of the
screen, the game is played in Simulation mode, which
means all players are computer controlled.

13
you get the more likely you’ll have the ball picked by
the defense.
• To call for a pick, press the left thumbstick button. When
your teammate comes out and stands still near you,
dribble past him, using his body to block your defender.
• To call a set play, press the Black button to access the
Offensive Play menu, then press the button that
corresponds to the play you want to call.
POST MODE
• To enter Post mode, press and hold the left trigger. The
ball handler turns his back to the defender in order to
protect the ball.
• While in Post mode, press the D-pad or left thumbstick
into the paint to backdown the defender.
PIVOT MODE
• To enter Pivot mode, press and hold the White button.
The ball handler maintains his dribble but holds his
ground.
• While in Pivot mode, press the D-pad or left thumbstick
to jab step left/right. Try to get the defender to commit,
then go past the other way.
• While in Pivot mode, press the D-pad or left thumbstick
forward to step into the defender while protecting the ball.
Get him on his heels, then crossover right by.
PASSING
• To pass the ball to a teammate, press the D-pad or left
thumbstick in the direction of the player you want to pass
to, then press the Abutton.
• For more accurate passing, press the Ybutton to access
teammate icons, then pass to the player you want by
pressing the button that corresponds to his icon.
• For passing on the fly, while dribbling, press the right
thumbstick in the direction of the player you want to pass
to. The pass is automatic.
12
ON THE COURT
When both teams are on the court, the arena announcer
introduces the starting five for each team. Following player
intros, the teams line up for the opening jump.
• To bypass player intros and go directly to the opening
jump, press the Abutton.
Note:The controls described in this section are defaults. For
information on alternate configurations, see Setting
Options on p. 44.
THE OPENING JUMP
To start the game, both teams send their big men to center
court to take part in the opening jump. The referee stands at
center court with the ball, and when he tosses it up, the each
player jumps and attempts to tip the ball to a teammate.
• To go for the tip, press the D-pad in the direction of the
goal you’re defending, then wait for the referee to throw
up the ball, and press the Xbutton. The game is on.
• If you gain possession, get ready to set up your offense.
If you lose the jump, hustle back on defense.
OFFENSE
DRIBBLING
• To dribble the ball, press the D-pad or left thumbstick in
any direction. The ball handler maintains his dribble as he
moves in the direction you choose.
• To run while dribbling, press and hold the right trigger.
• To perform a crossover move and try to get by a defender,
press the Bbutton.
• To fake a defender and go back the other way, press the B
button to start a crossover move, then press Black button
mid-move to quickly reverse back the opposite way.
• To spin past a defender, hold the right trigger to run
toward the defender, then press the Bbutton.
Sega SportsTip: Be careful with your dribbling.The fancier

15
the Abutton.
• For more accurate control, press the Ybutton to access
teammate icons, then switch to the player you want by
pressing the button that corresponds to his icon.
• To control the last defender back, press the Ybutton, then
press left thumbstick button. Control switches to the
player closest to the basket you’re defending.
• To face-up the ball handler and halt the dribble, press the
left trigger. The defender challenges the ball handler in a
low defensive stance.
• To call for a double-team, press theWhite button.
• To commit an intentional foul, press the right
thumbstick button.
• To call a set play, press the Black button to access the
Defensive Play menu, then press the button that
corresponds to the play you want to call.
STEALING
• To attempt a steal from the ball handler, press the
Bbutton.
• To attempt to steal a pass, get in between the two players
and press the Xbutton when the pass is on its way.
• For a lunging pass steal attempt, hold the right trigger for
a speed boost, then press the Xbutton.
BLOCKING
• To attempt a shot block, press the Xbutton as the ball
handler releases his shot.
• For a swat block or a lunging block attempt, hold the right
trigger for a speed boost, then press the Xbutton.
PLAYING WITHOUT THE BALL
• To go up for a rebound, press the Abutton to control your
player closest to the ball, then press the Xbutton to jump
up for the rebound.
14
• For a fake pass, press the right thumbstick button. Your
player makes a passing motion but holds on to the ball.
Sega SportsTip:When playing with the Ball Handler Auto
Switch option OFF, press theY button to call for a pass.
SHOOTING
• To shoot a jump shot, press the Xbutton and release at
the height of your jump. The type of shot is determined by
your court position.
• For a layup, dribble into the paint, then hold the right
trigger to run toward the basket and press the Xbutton.
If the player has a high dunk rating, he may go for a slam.
• To pass out of a layup, press the Abutton in mid-move.
The player dishes off.
• For a pump fake, tap the Xbutton once quickly. The player
makes a shooting motion but holds on to the ball.
• To attempt an Alley-oop, pass to a player breaking for the
basket. If the timing is perfect, he’ll go for the slam as he
receives the pass in the air.
FREETHROWS
• When a foul sends you to the line, press the left trigger
and right trigger to bring the two green arrows together.
When the two arrows become one, pointing directly into
the hoop, press the Xbutton to shoot.
DEFENSE
PLAYING D
• To control the defender closest to the ball, press
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Show/Hide Controls
Save Replay
Reposition Camera
Rotate Camera
Fast Forward
Rewind
Play/Pause

17
• To dive for a loose ball, press the Xbutton. If the ball is
going out of bounds, your player will attempt to save the
ball and direct it toward a teammate.
• To post up, hold the left trigger to enter Post mode, then
use the left thumbstick to battle for position in the paint.
PAUSE MENU
You can pause the game at any time to access Pause menu
options or just take a break from the action. The game clock
stops while the Pause menu is active, so you’ll rejoin the
action exactly where you left off.
• To pause the game, press the START button at any time.
The Pause menu appears.
• To return to the game from the Pause menu, press the
START button.
REPLAY
Step into the broadcast booth to run the film on the
last play and view the action from virtually every
possible angle.
• To return to the Pause menu from the Replay screen,
press the START button.
16

19
COACHING
From the Coaching screen, you can make mid-game
strategy adjustments such as defensive assignments, Play
menu selections, double team tactics, and more.
MATCHUPS
Each of your players on the floor has an assignment to
guard a specific player on the other team. If your team is
getting beat at any position, edit the assignment to try to
correct the mismatch.
To edit a matchup assignment:
1. Highlight the name of the player whose assignment you
want to change, then press the Abutton. A check mark
appears next to his name.
2. Highlight your other players on the floor and compare
their stats to the assigned player’s stats.
3. When you see a matchup you think is better for your
team, press the Abutton. The players switch assign-
ments.
• Repeat until you have made all the edits you want.
4. When you are finished, press the Ybutton to return to
the Paused menu. The edits take place immediately.
PRESSURE
Determine how much defensive pressure your players
should apply on their man assignments.
• To change Pressure settings, highlight the player you
want to edit, then press the A/Yto cycle forward/back
through options.
Sega SportsTip: If the matchup is even, apply Regular
pressure. If your man is consistently getting beat, apply
Loose pressure to keep the opponent in front of you. If you
have the advantage, applyTight pressure and play
aggressive D.
18
CONTROLLER
Access the Controller Assign screen to switch control from
one team to the other or to allow newcomers to join the
game in progress. This screen works similarly to the Team
Select screen (p. 25).
OPTIONS
See Options on p. 44.
TIMEOUT
Both teams begin the game with six Timeouts. Take
a Timeout when your team is fatigued, you need
to strategize, or when your opponent has too
much momentum.
• You may take a Timeout only when your team has
possession of the ball. When you are on defense,
this option is not available.
SUBSTITUTIONS
You have five players in the game and seven on the bench
at all times. There are countless reasons to send in a
substitute: when your star player is in foul trouble, you’re
down late in the game and want your best shooters on the
floor, or simply to rest a tired player.
To make a player substitution:
1. Highlight the name of the active player you want to take
out of the game, then press the Abutton. A check mark
appears next to his name.
2. Highlight the name of the player on the bench you want
to send into the game, then press the Abutton. The
players switch position in the list and status.
• Repeat until you have made all the substitutions you want.
3. When you are finished, press the Ybutton, then press
the Abutton to confirm and return to the Paused menu.
The substitutions will take place at the next break in play.

21
• To double-team a player, highlight his name in the
list, then press A/Ybutton to cycle forward/back
through options.
• When you select the IN PAINT option, the player will be
double-teamed only when he is in the key.
Sega SportsTip: Any time you double-team a player
you leave another one unchecked, so only double-team
your opponent’s strongest players. If you double-team
an average player, you may end up leaving their star
wide open.
OFFENSIVE PLAYS
NBA 2K3 features 25 different offensive plays. Use the
Offensive Plays screen to choose the four plays you want
access to on the court in the Offensive Play menu.
To set your offensive plays:
1. Press the D-pad to highlight a play you want to add to
your Offensive Play menu, then press the Abutton to
select. The Button Assign screen appears.
2. Press the D-pad to the button you want to assign to
the play, then press the Abutton to select. The Offensive
Plays screen appears with the button assigned.
• Repeat until you have made all the edits you want.
3. When you are finished, press the Ybutton to return to
the Coach menu. The edits take place immediately.
DEFENSIVE PLAYS
NBA 2K3 features 10 defensive plays, which you can assign
to your Defensive Play menu. Set defensive plays the same
way you set offensive plays (above).
STATS
From the Game Stats screen, you can access compre-
hensive team and player stats, as well as an injury report,
for the current game at any time during the contest.
20
SETTINGS
Coach Settings are options you can set to assume more
control over coaching duties such as calling timeouts and
substitutions and setting a game plan.
Timeout: Choose MANUAL to call your own timeouts or
AUTO to have them automatically called when appropriate.
Substitution: Set MANUAL to call your substitutions or
AUTO to have them automatically called when necessary.
Offense Playcall: Set MANUAL to call your offensive
plays or AUTO for automatically called plays. Select
W/MSG to display the name of the play on the screen
during transitions.
Defense Play Set: Set MANUAL to call your defensive
plays or AUTO for automatically called plays. Select
W/MSG to display the name of the play on the screen
during transitions.
Late Game Fouling: Late Game Fouling is your last resort
when you’re trailing at the end of the game. Set to AUTO
for automatic intentional fouls when necessary. W/MSG
displays your strategy.
GameTempo: Move the slider to the right to speed up the
tempo for a faster paced game or to the left to slow down
the tempo.
Fast Break: Move the slider to the right to play a fast break
style, where your players move the ball up court as quickly
as possible.
Crash Boards: Move the slider to the right to play an
aggressive rebounding style of play or to the left to focus
on the transition to D.
DOUBLE TEAM
If your opponent has a player or two that consistently
record career games against your team, than consider
double-teaming them.

23
Quit: Quit the game and return to the Main menu.
Rematch: Quit the current game and immediately start a
new game between the same two teams with the same
game settings.
Simulate to End: Quit the game but have the remainder of
the match simulated. All individual and team stats will be
compiled and recorded.
CHOOSING A GAME MODE
Use the Game Modes option to choose one of NBA 2K3’s
seven unique, in-depth game modes including Street,
Franchise, Season, Playoffs, Tournament, Practice,
and Network.
STREET
Take it to the street. This is hoops at its most basic and
most fun; in fact, this is the way they’re probably playing at
your neighborhood park right now. Set the playground
rules and hit the asphalt court.
• To begin playing in Street mode, set the Street options,
then press the START button. The Controller Assign
screen appears.
Mode: Play 2 on 2 (two players on each team), 3 on 3, 4 on
4, or 5 on 5 for a regulation-style game.
Court: Choose from nine legendary playgrounds and gyms,
where some of the greatest got their starts.
Game Point: In Street ball, regular baskets are worth one
point and “treys” are worth two. The first team to hit Game
Point (7-21) wins.
Win By: When set to 1, the winning team is the first to hit
game point. When set to 2, the winner must hit game point
and be leading by two points.
Note: If a team hits game point but is not leading by two,
the game continues indefinitely until one team goes ahead
by two points.
22
TEAMS
Compare the two teams in 22 categories including number
of timeouts remaining, free throw percentage, points off the
bench, team fouls, assists, blocks, and more.
HOME
The Player Stats screen posts stats for the home team in 19
categories including multiple categories for rebounds, field
goals, free throws, and three pointers.
• To sort players by leaders in a particular category, press
the D-pad to highlight the category, then press the A
button to select.
AWAY
View stats for the away team exactly as you would for the
home team (above).
SHOT CHART
The Shot Chart screen uses broadcast-style graphics to
show the spot on the court from which each shot was taken
and indicates whether or not the shot was made.
• To view shots by the entire team or by individual players,
press the left/right trigger.
• To toggle between the home team and the away team,
press the White/Black button.
• To view shots by single quarter or by all quarters played,
press the A/Ybutton.
INJURIES
The Injuries lists any injuries sustained by players during
the game and informs you of how long the injured players
will be out of the lineup.
QUIT
Quit playing the current game in progress. When you
choose QUIT from the Paused menu, a series of Quit
options appear.
Cancel: Return to the Paused menu without quitting the game.

25
• If you are playing against the computer and you set CPU
Player Select ON, the computer will select its own player,
if you set it OFF, you must select a player for the
computer-controlled team.
4. Continue selecting Street players until both rosters are
complete, then press the START button to head down to
the court. (See On The Court on p. 9.)
Sega SportsTip: Don’t worry if your teammates have never
played together on the same team.The Ballers will be
wearing blue and the Ringers will be in red, so you can tell
who is on which team.
FRANCHISE
Choose an NBA franchise and operate it – from the front
office to the free throw line. As GM/Coach/Player, you can
take care of all personnel decisions, play the role of coach
on the bench, and execute the game plan on the court.
• To begin playing in Franchise mode, set the Franchise
options, then press the START button. The Team Select
screen appears.
• If you set Customize League ON, the Customize League
screen precedes the Team Select screen.
Season Length: Play 14, 28, 56, or full 82-game seasons
with your Franchise.
Preseason Games: Set ON if you want to play the
preseason matches or OFF to begin playing with your first
game of the regular season.
Trade Deadline: If you want to continue making player
transactions beyond the standard NBA trade deadline
period, choose OFF.
Point Limits: Points are what you use to pay players and
coaches in NBA 2K3, so playing with Point Limits creates a
virtual salary cap.
Trade Override: When ON, you have the power to push
your trades through even if the other team does not agree
to the terms.
24
CPU Player Select: If you are playing against the computer,
set this OFF to select the computer team’s players or ON to
let the computer select its own players.
Duplicate Players: Set this option ON to allow players
appearing on both teams or multiple times on the same
team or OFF for no duplicates.
Weather: Weather conditions, such as HEATWAVE, FOG,
and RAIN affect players and the court just as they would in
real life. This option is not available for gym, where every
game is played indoors.
Time Of Day: Choose DAY to play under the sun or NIGHT
to play under the lights. This option is not available for
gym, where every game is played under the lights.
CONTROLLER ASSIGN SCREEN
All Street games are played between the Ringers and
Ballers fantasy teams. At this screen, you can assign your
controller to the team you will represent in the upcoming
game and assign your user name to your controller.
• This screen works similarly to the Team Select screen (p.
25).
• When your controller assignment is complete, press the
START button. The Select Street Players screen appears.
SELECT STREET PLAYERS SCREEN
You can populate your Street team with any combination of
players available in NBA 2K3.
To select Street players:
1. Press left/right trigger to choose the team from which
you want to select a player.
2. Press the D-pad to highlight the player you want to add
to the roster.
3. Press the Abutton to select. The player is added, and
the highlight moves to the next player slot on the
opposing team.

27
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the league is set the way you
want, then press the START button to advance. The Team
Select screen appears.
TEAM SELECT SCREEN
At the Team Select screen, you choose one team franchise
to own and operate. You can base your choice on personal
favorite or stats and rankings, which are displayed for
every team.
• To select a team, press the left/right trigger to scroll to the
franchise you want, then press the START button to
advance. The Coach’s Desk screen appears.
• If you set Fantasy Draft ON, the Fantasy Draft screen
precedes the Coach’s Desk screen.
FANTASY DRAFT SCREEN
In the Fantasy Draft, every player is up for grabs in a round-
by-round selection process that completely shuffles the
NBA team rosters. Devise your own draft strategy and put
together a totally custom team.
• When it is your turn to make a draft pick the Fantasy Draft
screen appears for the current round.
To draft players:
1. Press the left/right trigger to cycle to the position you
want to fill, then D-pad to the player you want to pick,
and press the Abutton to select.
2. When the confirmation prompt appears, select YES to
draft the player or NO to cancel.
3. After every team drafts a player, the next round begins.
Repeat these steps until all players are assigned to
teams, at which point the draft is over and the Coach’s
Desk screen appears.
26
Round Format: Set the duration of each round of
postseason action from 1 GAME elimination to a
BEST OF 7 series.
Fantasy Draft Roster: Set ON to build your team roster
through a fantasy draft.
Customize League: With this option set to ON, you can
customize the league by moving any team into any
conference and division you wish.
Import NCAA 2K3 Class: If you have an NCAA 2K3 class
saved to a memory unit or the hard disk, select ON and you
can draft players as NBA rookies.
Quarter Length: You can play with default 5-minute
quarters or adjust quarter length from 1-12 minutes.
Simulated Quarter Length: Set quarter length for simulated
games from 1-12 minutes for fast game simulation, but
don’t be surprised to see single-digit scores for really
short games.
User Name: If you assign a user name for your Franchise,
you can save your personal stats. To create a user name,
see Sega Sports Challenge on p. 50.
CUSTOMIZE LEAGUE SCREEN
If you set the Customize League option ON, this screen
precedes the Team Select screen. At the Customize League
screen, you can adjust what teams appear under which
NBA conference and division.
To customize the league:
1. Press the D-pad to highlight a team you wish to move,
then press the Abutton to access the scrolling arrows.
2. Press the D-pad to the team you wish to swap spots
with, then press the Abutton to select. The teams
switch places.

29
TRADE PLAYER
The players you have on your team today may not be the
group that can bring home the NBA Championship at the
end of this season. Chances are you’ll have to improve your
team through player acquisition to reach the next level.
To make player trades:
1. At the Player Trade screen, highlight a player you are
ready to trade, then press the Abutton. The player
appears in your trade offer.
2. Press the White/Black button to select the team you want
to trade with, then highlight the player(s) you wish to
trade for and press the Abutton to add them to the offer.
• Each team may offer up to three players or draft picks
in one trade. As you set the trade, the interest bar
shows the other team’s interest in your offer.
• To remove any player from the trade offer, highlight
him again is the roster list and press the Abutton.
3. When you think the offer is fair, press the START button,
then select YES to make the offer. If the other team
accepts the offer, the players switch teams. If the other
team rejects the offer, you can modify the offer, initiate a
trade with another team, or wait until later in the season
and try again.
• Remember the 500,000 per year limit. You may trade
player(s) that take you over the point limit and teams
over the limit can trade as long as the point values
match up. A team over the point limit or a team in
making a trade that would take them over the limit may
acquire in trade no more than 115 percent plus 10,000
pts in point value of the players being traded out.
TRADING BLOCK
The Trading Block is where you display the players you
think you can get along without and entertain trade offers
from other teams coming to you.
28
Sega SportsTip: As the draft progresses, press the right
thumbstick left to cycle to your roster and keep up on your
team’s needs. It’s great to pick the highest rated player
each round, but in the long run, it is more valuable to build
a balanced team. Press the right thumbstick right to return
to the draft.
COACH’S DESK
This is where you conduct transactions, create and evaluate
game plans, track player stats, and more.
CALENDAR
The Calendar lists daily league games and keeps note of
final scores. You can use the Calendar to confirm your next
opponent and select whether to play or simulate the game.
• To page through the Calendar to check out your schedule,
press the left/right trigger.
• To play the next game, make sure the box next to the
matchup is checked, then press START. The game
summary begins as the teams take the court. (See
On The Court on p. 11.)
• To simulate your next game, uncheck the box next to the
matchup, then press the START button. When you are
prompted to confirm your decision, select YES.
• When all games have been played or simulated for the
day, press the START button to view the Nightly Wrap-Up
and advance to the next day.
FRONT OFFICE
This is where player personnel decisions are made. You can
negotiate contracts, initiate trades with other teams, place
your players on the trading block, and field offers as they
come in.
• To begin wheeling and dealing, choose a Front
Office option.

31
COACHING
COACH CARD
The Achievements screen posts your franchise performance
under your tenure as GM. You can check your ranking vs.
other teams and track your records, playoff appearances,
NBA Championships, and more.
SIGN COACH
Securing the right coach for your franchise may be the
most important move you make as a GM. Coaches are
ranked poor, average, good, and master in three vital
categories. Try to sign the highest ranked coach you
can afford.
• To sort coaches by leaders in a particular category, press
the D-pad to highlight the category, then press the Y
button to select.
To sign a coach:
1. Press the D-pad to highlight the coach you want to
sign, then press the START button to select. The Build
Offer screen appears.
• At the Build Offer screen, you can change the default offer
by highlighting WAGE or YEARS and pressing the A/Y
button to build an offer that you can afford.
2. When the offer is set, press the START button to pitch it
to the prospective coach. If he accepts, the new coach
joins the team and your former coach becomes
a free agent.
LEAGUE INFO
NEWS
As GM, you probably have a good handle on what is
happening with your team, but you’ll want to check the
News From Around The NBA to study the status of your
rivals. As player injuries, transactions, and other key
events occur, they are posted on this screen.
30
To place a player on the trading block:
1. Highlight one of the three trading block slots, then press
the Abutton to select. Your team roster appears.
2. Highlight a player you would consider trading to another
team, then press the Abutton. The player appears in
the trading block slot, although he also remains on
your roster.
• To remove a player from the trading block, highlight
him in the trading block slot, then press the Abutton
and select WITHDRAW ITEM.
• If another team is interested in trading for the player
at any time during the season, that team will make its
interest known on this screen.
Entertaining trade offers from other teams:
• When another team is ready to offer a trade for one of
your players on the block, you are notified on the Player
Trading Block screen.
1. Highlight the offer, then press the Abutton and select
VIEW DETAILS. The Player Trade screen appears
displaying the complete offer.
2. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the offer, then press
the START button to give an answer.
3. Select YES to accept the offer or NO to reject it.
ROSTERS
Roster options are the player-related functions of
franchise management. You can only allocate up to
500,000 per year for your entire roster, unless it is to
resign your own free agents.
TEAM NEEDS
The Team Needs screen is a handy guide that informs you
if your team is lacking any position players. At the
minimum, you should have a starter and a backup for each
position. If your team has a need it is highlighted in red on
this screen.

33
Defense Aggressiveness: Move the slider to the right to
play an aggressive style of defense.
Offense/Defense: If you are more defense-minded, move
the slider to the right; if you are more focused on putting
up points move to the left.
Offense Strategy: Select INSIDE if you like to post up and
score from the paint, OUTSIDE if you like to shoot the
jumper, or BALANCED ATTACK.
Defense Strategy: Choose MAN TO MAN to match up in
consistent guarding assignments or a ZONE option to
patrol areas of the floor.
Primary Off Option: This is the player in whose hands you’d
most like to get the ball.
Secondary Off Option: This is your second choice to have
the ball on offense.
ACTIVE
You must have at least 12 active players on your roster in
order to field a team. If you have more than 12 players, 12
are active players and the rest are reserves. At the Activate
Players screen, you can determine which players will be
available to play in your next game and which players will
be reserves.
To activate a reserve player:
1. Press the D-pad to highlight the reserve player you
want to activate, then press the Abutton to select. A
check mark appears in the box next to his name.
2. Press the D-pad to highlight the active player you want
to swap positions with, then press the Abutton to select.
The players exchange status and swap positions.
3. Continue until you are satisfied with your lineup of active
players for your next game.
32
TEAM INFO
The Team Information screen is a snapshot of the state
of your franchise. You can view player injuries, traded
draft picks, waived players, released coaches and the
36,000 exception.
TEAM POINTS
Player compensation is just one slice of the financial pie
that you must manage as GM – coaching salaries and
workout costs are also key considerations in building a
championship-caliber team. At this screen, you can
monitor your franchise to ensure you’re getting the
most bang for your buck.
GAMEPLAN
OFF. PLAYS
Using broadcast-style graphics, the Offensive Plays screen
displays an animated example of each of the 25 offensive
plays available to you. Select the four plays you want
access to on the court in the Offensive Play menu.
• To set your offensive plays, see Offensive Plays on p. 19.
DEF. PLAYS
NBA 2K3 features 10 defensive plays, which you can assign
to your Defensive Play menu. Although defensive plays are
not animated, you can set them in the same way you set
offensive plays. (See Offensive Plays on p. 19.)
STRATEGY
Since you do not control your players when a game is
simulated, set the strategy you want your team to play in
your absence when you choose to simulate a game.
Tempo: Move the slider to the right to speed up the
tempo for a faster paced game or to the left to slow
down the tempo.
Fast Break/Crashboard: Move the slider to the right to
play an aggressive offense style of play.

35
All-StarsVotes: Payers who receive the most All-Star votes
in their positions are invited to play in the All-Star game on
Sunday, February 10. Keep up to date on the All-Star voting
results here.
OPTIONS
See Options on p. 44.
SAVE
• To save your Franchise, from the Save Game Data screen,
create a new file, then use the keyboard tool to enter a
name. This is the file you will load when you return to
continue playing.
QUIT
Quit playing. If you have not saved your game progress,
you are prompted to do so. After confirming your decision,
the Main menu appears.
THE OFFSEASON
At the end of the season, players and coaches retire and
contracts expire. This is the rebuilding period for any
Franchise, and as GM, it’s up to you to continue to build
your program. Check your Calendar for notes on items to
consider during the off season.
RESIGN PLAYERS
At the Coach’s Desk screen, a new Resign Players option
appears, which lists all your players whose contracts are
up. This option gives you the opportunity to re-negotiate
the players’ contracts if you choose to do so. Of course,
you also have the option to let them go and try to fill in the
holes with free agents and trades.
NCAA IMPORT
Following the four-week resigning period, it is time to look
to the future. At this time, if you have a an NCAA 2K3 class
saved to your hard disk or a memory unit, you can import
the players for an NBA entry draft.
34
LINEUP
Of the 12 active players available for your next game, five
start the game on the court; the others start on the bench
and are available to substitute in at stoppages in play. At
the Team Lineups, you can select your starters for the
next game.
To set your starting lineup:
1. Press the D-pad to highlight the bench player you want
to add to the starting five, then press the Abutton to
select. A check mark appears in the box next to his name.
2. Press the D-pad to highlight the starting player you
want to swap positions with, then press the Abutton to
select. The players exchange status and swap positions.
3. Continue until you are satisfied with your starting lineup
for your next game.
STATISTICS
If you like sports, then you love stats, and we’ve provided
enough here to keep you occupied until it is time to begin
preparing for your next game.
Team Stats: Check out how your team’s performance
on the court compares with any other team throughout
the season.
Player Stats: View individual player stats for your franchise
or any other team in the league. Stats are compiled after
each game and are broken down into 29 categories.
League Leaders: The League Leaders page ranks the top
players in the league by the compiled season stats in all the
standard categories.
RookieWatch: Rookie Watch follows the league’s rookies
through their first season and posts their performance on
the hardwood.
Team Standings: The Team Standings screen posts the
season records of every team and displays their current
divisional standings.

37
• To begin playing in Season mode, set the Season
options, then press the START button. The Team
Select screen appears.
• If you set Customize League ON, the Customize
League screen precedes the Team Select screen.
Season Length: Play a standard 82-game season, or choose
one of three shorter season options.
Trade Deadline: If you want to continue making player
transactions beyond the standard NBA trade deadline
period, choose OFF.
Round Formats: Set the duration of each round of
postseason action from 1 GAME elimination to a
BEST OF 7 series.
Fantasy Draft Roster: Set ON to build your team roster
through a fantasy draft.
Customize League: With this option set to ON, you can
customize the league by moving any team into any
conference and division you wish.
Quarter Length: You can play with default 5-minute
quarters or adjust quarter length from 1-12 minutes.
Simulated Quarter Length: You can reduce quarter length
from 12 Minutes down to 1 Minute for faster game
simulation, but don’t be surprised to see single-digit scores
for really short games.
CUSTOMIZE LEAGUE SCREEN
If you set the Customize League option ON, this screen
precedes the Team Select screen. At the Customize League
screen, you can adjust what teams appear under which
NBA conference and division. (See Customize League
Screen on p. 24.)
TEAM SELECT SCREEN
At the Team Select screen, you choose one team to lead
throughout the season. You can base your choice on
36
LOTTERY
The 13 teams that finished the season with the worst records
are included in a lottery for the top draft choices. The team
with the absolute worst record has the best odds of securing
the number one draft choice. After the lottery is run, draft
choices are announced and it’s time to start scouting.
SCOUTING
To scout, you organize workouts with the prospects you
have your eye on. Your Scouting Manager creates detailed
reports based upon the players’ performances, which
provides plenty of information to bring with you into
the draft.
NBA DRAFT
When it comes to selecting draft picks, the NBA Draft works
very much like the Fantasy Draft (p. 25), but the presentation
and spectacle of the event is like nothing you’ve ever
witnessed. Once the draft is complete, it’s time to sign
your rookies to contracts with your Franchise.
SIGN ROOKIES AND FREE AGENTS
This is a heavy negotiation phase. Sign as many key
players as you can while staying under the cap and
maintaining some points to run your franchise and
make transactions down the line. Following the contract-
signing marathon, it’s time to get back to basketball.
TRAINING CAMP
Have your players work on specific aspects of their game
to focus their abilities over the course of the season. Once
training camp is over, it’s time to start the next season in
the history of your Franchise. (See Coach’s Desk on p. 26.)
SEASON
Choose your favorite NBA team and take it through their
entire 2002 NBA season schedule. If you have what it
takes, you can lead your team to the NBA Finals!