NBA The Run

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #647 of the NLSC Podcast!

The use of generative AI in video game development is unsurprisingly becoming one of the most controversial issues in the industry, drawing heavy criticism but also spirited defense of the practice. To that end, this week we join the community in discussing how generative AI could potentially be used to enhance art, commentary, and other immersive aspects of basketball video games, as well as some of the known drawbacks of the technology. A recent video talking about NHL 27 provided a great example of the latter! We also react to the forthcoming implementation of microtransactions in NBA The Run – something that we unfortunately saw coming months ago – and recap a fun session of Blacktop in NBA 2K27 using custom sliders.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:04:25 — 44.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

August has brought us another patch for NBA The Run, featuring an assortment of updates to gameplay, visuals, and more. It should come through automatically on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

Key gameplay updates in the August 2026 patch for NBA The Run include reductions to goaltending, increased difficulty stealing the ball after a pump fake, a bigger speed boost when In The Zone, and a decrease in the amount of missed dunks. Various players have had their ratings, dribbling tricks, and In The Zone abilities changed. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are now sporting the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new 2027 jerseys, and Devin Booker’s jersey number has been changed to #15. Players who switched teams during the offseason, such as LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, are also now wearing their new teams’ jerseys.

You can find the full notes for the August patch below, as well as in the update history for NBA The Run in our Wiki.

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on how in 2026, offline play still matters in basketball video games.

Look, I don’t want to fall into the same trap that many of my fellow Elder Millennials appear to be; that is to say, focusing too heavily on the “elder” part! With that being said, at this point we’re not in the core demographic for pop culture. I’ll readily admit that some of my hobbies and interests have changed in ways that I don’t like. Once again, I’m reminded of that Grampa Simpson quote that tried to warn me as a kid: “I used to be ‘with it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m ‘with’ isn’t ‘it’, and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary to me. It’ll happen to you!”

At the same time, other things haven’t changed as much as some people like to claim. When it comes to basketball video games, offline play is a great example. A very loud minority of gamers – and the occasional gaming industry pundit or executive – will try to tell us that single player games and offline play in general are a thing of the past. It’s all about online play, and claiming otherwise is to be behind the times. Except, that clearly isn’t true! There’s plenty of evidence that single player campaigns and local co-op and head-to-head play are still extremely popular. To that end, basketball video games can’t ignore offline play, and they’re destined to be weaker if they do.

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A new patch has come through for NBA The Run. As always, the new update should download automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try checking for updates manually, or restart your console or Steam client.

The patch adds three rookies to NBA The Run, namely AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. All three are locked however, and must be purchased for 5000 CRED apiece. You’ll also need to have reached Level 25 in order to purchase them. The rookies all have unique jumpshots and trick moves.

A new ruleset – “Block Party” – has also been added. Under these rules, games are played to 15, with blocked shots subtracting a point from your opponent’s score (down to zero, so no negative points). This ruleset has been set to Common rarity. Meanwhile, the Oop City and Dunkfest rulesets have been set to Rare.

Bug fixes, tuning tweaks, and other enhancements are also included in the latest patch for NBA The Run. Please see below for the full patch notes, which you can also find here in our Wiki. The PC version of NBA The Run is currently on sale for anyone who’s been waiting for a discount. However, if you’d like to hear some honest impressions of the game before you buy, tune in to Episode #635 of the NLSC Podcast for our detailed review.

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Within the past couple of weeks, both NBA 2K26 and NBA The Run have received new official patches. To that end, I’m a little behind in posting this bulletin, though in the case of NBA 2K26 there wasn’t a whole lot to report!

There are no official notes for the latest NBA 2K26 patch, which isn’t surprising as it’s basically just an update for Season 8 in MyCAREER and MyTEAM. Nevertheless, I’ve added the release dates and a note about the Season 8 updates to the NBA 2K26 patches article in our Wiki.

Conversely, the first patch for NBA The Run is a more significant update. It includes several technical fixes, gameplay tweaks, and other enhancements based on gamer feedback. You can find the full patch notes below, as well as here in our Wiki. I’ve also created an article for NBA The Run itself, which you can find here. Our Wiki is intended to be a community project, so as always, any help with expanding and updating the articles is most appreciated!

With NBA 2K27 on the horizon, don’t expect any more major patches for NBA 2K26. There’ll be another update for Season 9, which will take the game through to the release of its successor, but we won’t see any significant technical fixes or changes to gameplay. Indeed, any patches that NBA 2K26 will receive from here on out will most likely just introduce advertising for NBA 2K27.

As for NBA The Run, Play By Play Studios has announced new content updates and the eventual addition of an offline campaign, though it remains to be seen how long that will all take. We’ll of course cover any developments as they happen, as well as the details of any official patches. In the meantime, you can listen to Dee and I review the game in Episode #635 of the NLSC Podcast.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #635 of the NLSC Podcast!

NBA The Run was released last week, and so far it’s certainly drawn a mixed reception from basketball gamers. Having previously taken part in the playtesting sessions, this week we’re reviewing the full version of the new arcade streetball game from Play by Play Studios. This includes a detailed breakdown of the gameplay, a recap of our experiences playing in several tournaments, our views on the game’s depth (or lack thereof), concerns about the Shop, and predictions regarding its longevity and potential. We also read out some impressions that the community has shared with us, and touch once more on the toxicity that NBA The Run has unfortunately been cultivating.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:00:44 — 42.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on how I’m hoping for the best with the forthcoming release of NBA The Run.

NBA The Run, the new NBA Street-inspired arcade streetball game developed by Play by Play Studios, will be released this week. The basketball gaming community has had ample chance to see the game in action recently, thanks to a handful of closed and open betas. Whether you’ve taken part in those playtesting sessions for a hands-on preview of the game yourself, or you’ve seen other people’s footage and impressions, at this point you have a rough idea of what to expect. There’s definitely excitement, though not everyone is impressed. At the very least, there are some concerns.

If you’ve listened to any of our podcasts where Dee and I have discussed NBA The Run, you’ll know that we too have a mixture of complimentary and critical opinions of what we’ve seen and played so far, and feel both hopeful and concerned. We want to see the game succeed, but we’ve already identified some of the key challenges that it will face in its quest to do so. And so, I’m metaphorically crossing my fingers and hoping for the best as we enter the final countdown to the game’s launch. To that end, I’m sharing some last minute thoughts before I get my hands on the retail version of NBA The Run, and we ultimately see how it fares in the weeks and months to come.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #633 of the NLSC Podcast!

No matter the genre, online gaming undoubtedly has its ups and downs, depending on what you’re playing and who you’re playing with! To that point, this week we reflect on two very different online basketball gaming experiences. The first is the recent open beta for NBA The Run, while the second is our latest four and five-player Parsec sessions with NBA Live 96 for Super Nintendo and NBA Live 10 for PlayStation 3. We also have some further impressions of NBA The Run to share ahead of its release next week. We’ve still got our concerns about the game, but we’re keeping our minds open and fingers crossed for a successful launch, and are hoping for some fun times on the virtual blacktop.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 35:15 — 24.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #631 of the NLSC Podcast!

The second closed beta for NBA The Run took place last weekend, and we both had a chance to participate! To that end, this week we’re providing more detailed hands-on impressions of the upcoming arcade streetball game from Play By Play Studios, as well as discussing whether or not it’s worth the newly-announced price tag. We also clear up some misconceptions about the game in regards to solo play, and react to some of the toxic positivity that’s sadly stifling constructive feedback. Our fellow basketball gamers also have some strong thoughts on NBA The Run coming out of the second closed beta, which they shared in response to this week’s community question.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:08:07 — 47.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

When the gameplay trailer for NBA The Run dropped, we discovered that the game would be released some time in June 2026. We now have a specific date, as Play By Play Studios has announced that the game will be launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on June 9th. Additionally, we have confirmation of the price, and some other relevant details.

The standard edition of NBA The Run will be $29.99 USD. There will also be a Deluxe Edition for $39.99, which will include rookie variants of three players: Stephen Curry ’09, Luka Doncic ’18, and Kevin Durant ’07. While the game will only include 30 players at launch, different variants will offer some further choices. The Deluxe Edition will also include 1000 CRED, NBA The Run’s in-game currency that’s used to buy items. Play By Play has also confirmed that items are purchased with CRED directly, so there are no loot box mechanics. Purchasable items will include banners, player jerseys, taunts, and advanced dunk animations, with more items becoming available as you win games and rank up.

A second closed beta will also be taking place on May 16th. Play By Play has been listening to the feedback from the first closed beta, and outlined some of the improvements that they’re looking to make. Key areas of focus include reworking the animations to be less bouncy, making passes crisper with more variety, increasing dunk distance to avoid floaters three feet from the basket, and general tuning and balance.

We’ll be sure to post any further news on NBA The Run in the coming weeks, and of course continue to cover the game post-release. In the meantime, tune in to Episode #629 of the NLSC Podcast to hear Dee’s in-depth hands-on impressions from the first closed beta, and thoughts on how the game can improve. With the developers clearly taking feedback seriously, NBA The Run continues to be a promising prospect in a market that desperately needs alternatives, so we’re certainly hoping for the best!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #629 of the NLSC Podcast!

Last week, Play By Play Studios held a closed beta for NBA The Run, their upcoming arcade streetball game set for release in June 2026. Derek had the opportunity to take part in the closed beta, and so this week, he’s sharing his detailed hands-on impressions of the game, breaking down the key positives and negatives while also making some recommendations for how it could improve. We also read out the community’s thoughts on what they’ve seen of NBA The Run so far. While there’s definitely excitement for the game, not everyone has been impressed by the latest gameplay footage. We also once again touch on the importance of not letting hype get in the way of constructive feedback.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:01:30 — 42.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

If you aren’t subscribed to our YouTube channel…well, first of all, why not?!? Secondly, there’s a good chance that you’ll have missed Dee’s latest uploads, featuring highlights from NBA the Run and the PlayStation 2 version of NBA 2K11. If so, here’s your chance to catch up on those videos!

Dee had the opportunity to take part in the closed beta for NBA The Run this week, and he put together a reel of Anthony Edwards highlights from his session with the soon-to-be-released game. Be sure to tune into the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, as Dee will be providing his in-depth impressions of NBA The Run.

As we mentioned in Episode #628 of the NLSC Podcast, Dee and I recently revisited the PlayStation 2 version of NBA 2K11. The session produced a handful of exciting highlights – including one that made this week’s NLSC Top 10 Plays – and so Dee assembled a five-minute reel spotlighting the best moments.

Check out both of those videos below! Once again, we invite you to subscribe to the NLSC YouTube channel if you haven’t already. In addition to the Top 10, podcast, and gameplay highlight reels such as these, we also post game retrospectives and other video essays from time to time. As always, feel free to hit us up with suggestions for games that you’d like to see us play, as well as discuss in future episodes of the NLSC Podcast.

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We’ve been keeping an eye on NBA The Run since it was announced – indeed, since it was The Run: Got Next – and we’ve just been given a closer look with the first gameplay trailer. Additionally, there’s a forthcoming closed beta, and a few content creators have already got their hands on the game. As such, we can expect to hear more impressions in the near future.

Although the trailer naturally features cinematic cuts and angles, we do get to see clips of the game in action. They spotlight some of the flashy dunks that we’ll be able to pull off, long lobs off the backboard, and other moves including step backs and double alley-oops. Beyond that, the trailer also gives us a look at how the players move, and a general gist of what to expect from the gameplay.

Additionally, the gameplay trailer revealed that NBA The Run will be released in June 2026, with the game’s listing on Steam also being updated accordingly. Presumably, we’ll get a more specific release date in the weeks to come.

Check out the trailer below! Dee and I have been sharing our thoughts on NBA The Run on the NLSC Podcast, and you can be sure that we’ll have more to say in the wake of the gameplay trailer. You can listen to our most recent opinions in Episode #624, but stay tuned for more of our commentary and impressions! In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on the trailer in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #624 of the NLSC Podcast!

A new mixtape trailer featuring three former NBA MVPs has been posted for NBA The Run, Play By Play Studios’ 3-on-3 online PvP streetball game scheduled for release in 2026. This week we’re reacting to the trailer, and also break down some information that was provided in a recently re-posted Q&A that Play By Play held on X back in December. The community also weighs in with their thoughts on the latest previews, including their current level of excitement and how much they’d be willing to pay for a basketball video game that’s online-only; a drawback that apparently not everyone is aware of! Unsurprisingly, there are some common concerns and criticisms that we certainly share.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:11:07 — 49.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #604 of the NLSC Podcast!

Big news last week as Play by Play Studios announced that they have acquired the NBA license. As such, their planned 3v3 online PvP arcade basketball video game The Run: Got Next is now titled NBA The Run, and is slated for release some time in 2026. To that end, this week we’re joining the community in reacting to what we know so far about NBA The Run – including breaking down an illuminating and in-depth developer interview with Ballislife.com – as well as the latest teaser trailer. Although the game is aiming to be a worthy successor to the NBA Street series and we’d like to see it turn out well, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have some concerns at this point in time.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:16:52 — 53.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!