The Remix Tour game mode with power-ups and challenges has been cut. Instead, the classic campaign mode has been turned into a Road Trip mode where players try to defeat 30 NBA teams through six divisions. Initially there are three challenges per team (bronze, silver and gold) that mix up match settings, for instance, rewarding dunks or three-pointers with more points than usual. Another challenge puts a scoring player immediately on fire, instead of the regular three-consecutive baskets. Opponents can be chosen in any order and no specific career path needs to be followed. After all gold challenges have been completed, the platinum challenges become available. These are much harder, and the opponents start to copy the player's moves with artificial intelligence borrowed from the Fight Night series. The game mode does not tie the player to a single team. After each completed match, a new game can be chosen to work towards the overarching goal. For each won match or completed challenge, a bar is filled up to level up, and "Jam bucks" are provided to unlock new players, teams, and cheats. For the gameplay, this edition introduces a team fire ability by performing three consecutive alley-oops without a score by the opposition. It puts all players on the team "on fire" at once, which provides unlimited turbo. It also cannot be broken by a basket from the opposition. It lasts for 20 seconds at all times, unless the other team scores with an alley-oop. In the offensive department, defensive shoves can now be countered by performing a pivot, which throws the opponent off balance. The options also offer the ability to use a tag mode, where you always control the player with the ball, instead of being stuck with a single player. Even when controlling a single player, it is still possible to use buttons to quickly issue some commands to the computer-controlled team mate. Finally, there are razzle-dazzles, special moves that can be used in both offensive and defensive situations. Multiplayer in the Online Arena mode is available for up to four players, on a single screen, both offline and online.