Hidden Character Codes

NBA Jam · Sega Genesis / SNES · 1993 · Cheat Code

Enter initials and a specific date of birth on the player-select screen (e.g., initials HJS, DOB 06/14/1970 for Bill Clinton; varies by platform)

Effect: Unlocks playable hidden characters including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and various Midway staff members.

NBA Jam was packed with unlockable hidden characters accessed by entering specific initials and birthdates on the player select screen — a system that felt like genuine insider knowledge when players first discovered it. Hidden characters varied by platform and version but famously included then-President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, game producer Mark Turmell, and Beastie Boys members in some versions. The codes were spread primarily through word of mouth and magazine tip sections, and discovering a new hidden character became a major event in arcades and on the playground. The system established hidden celebrity cameos as a beloved tradition in sports games.

Key Facts:

Bill Clinton and Al Gore were playable in multiple versions of the game
Codes varied between the arcade, Genesis, and SNES versions
Producer Mark Turmell and other Midway staff were also hidden characters