The players each control a basketball team competing in four timed quarters of game play.

It was sold by Sears for its private-label version of the Intellivision console, the "Super Video Arcade", without the NBA name or logo.

Gameplay is on a simulated regulation-style full court, whereas traditional three-on-three basketball games typically use only a half-court setup.

Theoretically, an offensive team can pass the ball continually and take only a single shot within a given quarter.

Basketball was reviewed by Video magazine in its "Arcade Alley" column where it was praised for its "superb" passing system.