NBA Jam T.E. features 2-on-2 fast-paced and unrealistic basketball. Following in the tradition of NBA Jam this game is filled with super dunks and has no out-of-bounds. Also featured are 9-point plays, rookie and all-star teams, injuries, and fatigue. A variety of power-ups allow: monster jams from anywhere, speed increase, power increase, unlimited turbo, increased 3-point ability, catch fire, and a bomb that flattens all of the other players.
There can be anywhere from three to five players included from each of the 27 NBA teams. Overall more than 120 players are included, some of which will have to be unlocked before you can use them. The T.E. in the title stands for Tournament Edition, which is what sets it apart from other games in the series. In the tournament all power-ups and cheats are disallowed.