"ESPN NBA Basketball" was released in October and November 2003 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. It is the only game in the series to not feature "2Kx" in the title, and the first of two in the series to feature ESPN branding, both in the title and in the game itself. For the fifth and final time, Allen Iverson is the cover athlete. The game introduces 24/7 mode, a career mode in which the player can create a customizable character and use them to compete in basketball tournaments and other competitions. Online game modes are also present, and each player has a unique facial design, also a first. The game features a commentary team consisting of Bob Fitzgerald and Tom Tolbert; Kevin Frazier hosts pre-game shows.