T-Bone
bb005 · Sports
Basketball - NBA · 2003
Figure ID
bb005
Theme
Sports
Year Released
2003
Rarity
Uncommon; part of the early 2000s NBA initiative which was later discontinued.
Head
Light Flesh, Brown Thick Raised Eyebrows, Gritted Teeth, Chin Dimple, Mustache and Goatee with Lines on Cheeks; unique to the 'Street' style basketball figures.
Torso
White and Black Striped Jersey / Tank Top with 'T-BONE' on back; Yellow arms and Light Flesh hands.
Legs
White and Black Striped Shorts / Legs with spring-loaded mechanism for basketball gameplay.
Accessories
Includes two black 2x2 round tiles connected to the hands as weights/dumbbells in the image, though originally packaged with a basketball.
Color Scheme
White and black striped pattern (prisoner/referee style) with Yellow arms and Light Flesh skin tone.
Printing Details
Simple pad printing on torso front and back; no leg printing apart from base color strips; early use of realistic skin tones.
Variants
Standard version bb005; no major production variants besides part of different set bundles.
Condition Notes
Spring mechanism in legs often weakens; light flesh printing can fade; torso cracks at side are common due to spring tension.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $12.00 USD used complete; significantly more if in a sealed set.
Price (New)
$14.99 (Set 3549) / $19.99 (Set 3555)
Compatible Sets
3549 Practice Shooting, 3555 Streetball 2 on 2
Character Background
T-Bone is a fictional 'street' basketball player created by LEGO to complement the licensed NBA players during the Sports theme era.
Design Notes
Equipped with the unique 'Spring-Leg' mold that allowed figures to catapult a LEGO basketball into a hoop.
Similar Minifigures
Other streetballers like 'Hotrod', 'Dice', and 'Ice', or various 2003 LEGO NBA stars like Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal.
Collectibility
Moderate; niche appeal for Sports theme completists and fans of early 2000s LEGO experimentation.
History
Part of the first major push for realistic skin tones (Light Flesh) in LEGO figures, predating the 2004 wide-scale adoption.
Interesting Facts
The 'Streetball' sub-line used fictional characters to keep costs down relative to the high licensing fees of real NBA stars.
Display Suggestions
Best displayed on a LEGO basketball court baseplate with the official spring-action basketball hoop.
Modification Potential
Spring legs are difficult to repurpose outside of sports dioramas; torso is useful for referee or prisoner customs.
Overall Assessment
A nostalgic relic of LEGO's experimental 2000s era with unique functionality that remains fun for play but has modest collector value.