1999 CHARLOTTE HORNETS ROSTER PRO
1999 CHARLOTTE HORNETS ROSTER LICENSE

The lockout ended, the 1999 season was salvaged, and an abbreviated offseason brought a flurry of trades and signings.

1999 CHARLOTTE HORNETS ROSTER PRO

Players who had actually been rookies during the 1998 season, such as Tim Duncan, had their Years Pro updated to reflect their one season in the league.įortunately for PC gamers, EA Sports were eventually able to provide a solution. With Chris Webber using number eighty-eight as a placeholder, Peja was assigned number eighty-nine. Peja was actually drafted in 1996 and finally decided to make the jump to the NBA in 1998, signing his contract before the lockout went into effect. As for the lone rookie in NBA Live 99, that would be Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings. It also marked the final time that Michael Jordan was represented by a Roster Player in NBA Live, now wearing number ninety-nine for the Bulls. Chris Webber is notably wearing number eighty-eight for the Kings, as Corliss Williamson did not officially give up his number four until after the lockout. NBA Live 99’s final 1998 season rosters include postseason and Draft day transactions, such as the Sacramento Kings’ trade of Mitch Richmond to the Washington Wizards for Chris Webber (completed May 14th 1998, during the Playoffs), as well as the deals during the 1998 Draft that sent Nick Van Exel to the Denver Nuggets, Steve Nash to the Dallas Mavericks, and Antonio Daniels to the San Antonio Spurs. Therefore, they could be included in NBA Live 99. This means that any transactions that were made by non-Playoff teams during the 1998 postseason, as well as trades made during the 1998 Draft, technically happened during the 1998 season. Although the Draft is commonly considered to be a part of the offseason, as it follows the conclusion of the NBA Finals, it technically takes place during the previous season (though Draftees cannot sign their contracts until the offseason begins). How was this possible? Well, in terms of contracts and transactions, an NBA season actually runs through the end of June, including the Draft.

However, some players were already playing for new teams, and there was actually a single rookie to be found in the default rosters. Because the lockout also prevented any other player movement, effectively postponing the beginning of the 1998 offseason until a new agreement was reached, the game also shipped with final 1998 season rosters.

1999 CHARLOTTE HORNETS ROSTER LICENSE

Players who were active during the previous NBA season can be included of course, so games developed during a lockout don’t have to ship with entire rosters of generic players.īecause of these restrictions with the NBA license and the subsequent ramifications of the lockout of 1998-99, NBA Live 99’s default rosters didn’t feature Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Antawn Jamison, Mike Bibby, Dirk Nowitzki, and the rest of the Class of 1998 rookies. As I’ve previously discussed, the Super Nintendo version of NBA Live 96 found a way around that with Create-a-Player presets. A lockout obviously delays that from happening, and as such, they cannot appear in any NBA licensed products (like video games), until the labour dispute is resolved. It’s an interesting and unusual situation, so let’s take a look back…way back…įor those who are unfamiliar with the consequences of an NBA lockout as it pertains to video games, until Draftees can sign their rookie contracts, they’re not under the NBAPA licensing agreement. Because of the lockout, the game couldn’t ship with the Class of 1998 rookies, but out of the box, it did actually feature updated 1998 season rosters. In the midst of the turbulent offseason and prolonged labour dispute of 1998-99, EA Sports released NBA Live 99. It was also something of a transitional season following Michael Jordan’s second retirement, with the defending champion Chicago Bulls being broken up, a lot of key players around the league moving on to new teams, and early signs of a new era beginning in the NBA. It was the first season in which games were cancelled due to a lockout, and indeed, the first time it appeared as though an entire season may be lost due to a labour dispute. The 1999 NBA season isn’t considered a classic year for the league, but it’s certainly interesting and significant in its own right. This week, I’m taking a look back at the 1998 rosters in NBA Live 99. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia.

1999 charlotte hornets roster