NBA Jam 99 brings back the classic 2-on-2 arcade gameplay of the series to the Game Boy Color, offering a fun and fast-paced basketball experience. The game's story is not heavily focused on narrative, instead emphasizing competition and individual team performance.
The gameplay in NBA Jam 99 is straightforward, with players controlling one or both members of a team using three simple buttons: turbo, passing, and shooting. This control scheme remains consistent throughout the various game modes, including single games, full seasons, playoffs, practice mode, and head-to-head matches.