NBA The Run

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)

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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!

Earlier this year, Play by Play Studios – a studio comprised of former EA developers – announced The Run: Got Next, a spiritual successor to the NBA Street series. Since then, Play by Play Studios has been able to acquire the NBA license. As such, the game will now be titled NBA The Run, and is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

The game will still feature 3v3 action, with a more casual, arcade-style approach to virtual basketball. The original characters now star alongside NBA players in a series of Knockout Tournaments staged at iconic street courts around the world. Tournament rounds last 2-5 minutes, and feature randomised rules such as “Dunk Fest” and “Speed Round”. As was the original plan with The Run: Got Next, NBA The Run is strictly an online game, though the developers are apparently leaving the door open for local and head-to-head play. New York DJ Bob “Bobbito” Garcia, the announcer for NBA Street Vol. 2, will be calling the action.

In a post over on the PlayStation Blog, Creative Director Michael Young describes NBA The Run as skill-based, equally fun on offense and defense, and a nonstop highlight reel. He touts the fluidity of the controls, rollback netcode for a smooth online experience, and the goal of creating a game that’s easy to pick up but rewarding to master. Young also describes it as “a game with spirit, a game with soul”, and refers to the characters having stories that will create a “living basketball universe”.

Although an online game may not be what most of us were hoping for, with EA backing out of developing a college basketball title, it’s good to know that other alternatives to NBA 2K are in the pipeline. Check out the teaser trailer below, as well as an overview of the features from the Steam listing. Dee and I will naturally discuss this development on an upcoming episode of the NLSC Podcast, but in the meantime, please share your thoughts in the comments, and join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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