Any sports-gaming veteran knows that you can never have enough controllers around the house. After marathon sessions of NBA Street or Live, your old DualShock is in constant danger of giving out at crucial moments. Whether the X button gums up, the plastic casing cracks, or the analog sticks become as responsive as your parents when you ask for more allowance, there’s always a need for a new controller.

And that’s where the new line of NBA-centric controllers from Mad Catz comes in. If you’re looking to upgrade your controller collection and you’re an NBA fan, this line of good-looking, and hard-playing, remotes definitely deserves a spot in your starting five.

The device packs the team name, logo and mascot in a unique design on the housing. Thirty teams, 30 designs, even cellar dwellars like the Atlanta Hawks still get a cool controller.

Third-party controllers used to be considered subpar when compared with the first-party offerings from Sony. But Mad Catz has learned from its mistakes. The latest upgrade includes more sensitive buttons, allowing for you to take advantage of passing nuances in hoops games. Quick taps deliver lob passes; while firm button presses result in a lengthy bounce pass down the court. While it seems logical, this hasn’t always been the case with third-party remotes.

We also especially appreciated the nifty gel grips on the controller. The addition of the grips significantly decrease palm slippage during a sweat-soaked fourth quarter in the virtual NBA Finals.

Finally, the poly-carbonate impact-resistant finish means that the controller can stand up to some serious abuse. Whether you toss your remote in the air after a triumph or launch the controller at the wall after a devastating loss, these sturdy controllers will likely survive the impact. In other words, game on.

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