NBA Live 09 is a basketball simulation game where you control the players and try to perform typical basketball maneuvers using your controller. You can choose to play a whole season, playoffs, or the FIBA World Championship. In Dynasty Mode, you take on the role of a team executive, making decisions on transfers and training. Live Academy Mode offers special challenges, such as scoring a certain number of points within a time limit. Be-a-Pro mode lets you control just one athlete.
The key innovation in NBA Live 09 is "Dynamic DNA", which syncs the game's statistics with real-life data from the league via the internet. This allows the game to make tactical moves automatically, although you can disable this and choose them yourself if you prefer. You also have the option to replay a match exactly as it happened in real life. New controls include Pick & Roll, where holding a button lets an athlete with the ball block it while you control another player to walk into position.