How to play Five Out
Five Out is a free daily NBA game, a kind of Wordle for basketball. Each day you draft a five-man lineup from any player in NBA history, a simulation plays an 82-game season, and you chase a perfect 82-0. It rewards lineup fit, not just star power.
The one-minute version
- Pick the day’s challenge (a legendary team to beat, or a style to nail).
- Spin and draft your five players from across NBA history.
- Simulate 82 games. Get your record, your grade, and a card to share.
The trick: the right five beats the best five
The thing that makes Five Out different from a fantasy draft is how it grades. Stacking the five best players almost never wins. They all need the ball, they cramp each other’s spacing, and they leave jobs uncovered. The simulation caps raw talent on purpose, so a balanced five that covers scoring, spacing, perimeter defense, and the interior will beat a roster of bigger names. Figuring out what the day’s challenge actually needs is the whole game.
Frequently asked questions
What is Five Out?
Five Out is a free daily NBA game, often described as a Wordle for basketball. Every day you get the same challenge as everyone else: draft a five-man lineup from any player in NBA history. A deterministic simulation then plays a full 82-game season and grades your lineup. The whole thing takes about a minute.
How do you play Five Out?
Pick the day's challenge, spin and draft your five players, then run the 82-game simulation. You get a record of wins and losses, a grade, and a shareable card. There is one challenge per day, the same for everyone.
How does the grading work?
Five Out grades on fit, not raw talent. The simulation caps star power on purpose, so stacking five superstars usually backfires: they all need the ball, they clog the floor, and they leave holes. A balanced five that covers scoring, spacing, defense, and the interior beats a roster of bigger names. Reading what the challenge needs is the real skill.
Can you really go 82-0?
A perfect 82-0 season is the goal and the hardest thing to do in the game. It takes a five that fits the day's challenge almost perfectly. Most strong lineups land in the 70s. The Hall tracks how close anyone has come.
What is the daily challenge?
One shared challenge per day, the same for every player, in the spirit of Wordle. Challenges rotate between beating a legendary team, such as the 1996 Bulls, and scenario briefs that demand a specific style, such as Spacing or Die, where every player on your five has to be able to shoot.
Is Five Out free?
Yes. Five Out is completely free and needs no signup. It plays in any web browser and can be installed to your home screen to play offline.
Is Five Out a Wordle for basketball?
That is a fair comparison. Like Wordle, Five Out is one short puzzle a day, the same for everyone, with a result you can share. The difference is that you are drafting an NBA lineup from any era instead of guessing a word.
Is Five Out affiliated with the NBA?
No. Five Out is an independent fan project and is not affiliated with the NBA or the NBPA. Player ratings come from a transparent, data-derived model.
Not affiliated with the NBA. Ratings are a transparent, data-derived model.