According to IGN Electronic Arts have approached the American National Basketball Association (NBA) about making exclusive games based around the NBA franchise, but they have refused.

After Electronic Art's recent purchase of the exclusive rights to publish titles based around the American National Football League (NFL) it seems they want to see just how far they can go. Despite being granted a five-year exclusivity deal by the NFL it appears that the NBA are not so keen.

IGN suggests that the reason for the NBA refusing the deal is because EA's NBA-based games are not as successful as their NFL-based games.

While neither EA or the NBA have commented on the issue the effects of the NFL deal are certainly causing a stir within the gaming community. Companies such as Take-Two have voiced their concern over the NFL-deal, and Midway have announced they are making a "more brutal" football game, titled Blitz: Playmakers.

Despite NBA's rejection it does not mean that they will not try again.