3 pointers, layouts and broken budgets
Another Season, Another Shot
The NBA 2K series has become the LeBron James of gaming: always in the conversation, often dominant, but occasionally reminding us that even the greats brick a free throw now and then.
NBA 2K26 arrives dribbling down the court with confidence. After years of tweaks, resets, and enough microtransactions to make FIFA blush, this year’s instalment finally feels like a solid playoff contender. Not quite a dynasty—let’s not crown it the ’96 Bulls just yet—but definitely better than last season’s sluggish mess.
Think of it like the Phoenix Suns: moments of absolute brilliance, mixed with the occasional decision that makes you rage-quit and yell at imaginary referees.
So, lace up, adjust your sliders, and let’s talk about NBA 2K26—the game that’s smoother than a Kyrie crossover, but still wants you to remortgage your house for Virtual Currency.
Victory over Vertigo
Last year’s player movement felt like running through custard in Crocs. This year? It’s fast, fluid, and actually fun.
Thanks to the new ProPLAY Motion Engine, animations sync beautifully with player control. Crossovers feel sharp, defence has actual weight thanks to collision improvements, and post play is alive again. Pulling off Jokic’s Sombor Shuffle isn’t just possible; it looks and feels authentic. You can actually feel contact when boxing out or chasing down blocks. Sure, I still get cooked on the perimeter, but at least now it feels like my opponent earned it.
Three pointers like Clark… (not a mild-mannered reporter)
Let’s be honest: shooting in 2K25 was so confusing you needed a degree in cryptography. That cursed shot meter looked like something NASA used to land a rover.
2K26 fixes this. The new curved shot bar is intuitive, adjusts to defence, and “it’s nothing but net” rewards proper timing. No more praying to RNG gods. If you green it, it drops. If you don’t, well, you’re Draymond Green launching threes.
Even better, timing scales by game mode. Competitive play demands pinpoint accuracy, while casual modes give you wiggle room. Add in rhythm shooting and custom shot animations, and suddenly offence feels smooth, expressive, and occasionally improvised when you panic (like I do, when on a date…).
learning 2K: Boot Camp for Benchwarmers
Every year, newcomers complain about 2K’s steep learning curve. This time, the Learn2K tutorials actually save lives (and controllers).
Beginner drills ease you in with layups and basics. Intermediate lessons unlock spin shots, rhythm shooting, and rebounding (essential if you want to avoid being posterised online). Advanced drills cover almost everything, though defence still feels undercooked.
The mini-games are a gem: King of the Court, Knockout, even H.O.R.S.E (as a South African, I had to learn very quickly). It’s like basketball summer camp, except instead of roasting marshmallows, you’re roasting your mates in Shooting Frenzy.
MyCareer: Slam dunk dreams and Angry Birds!!
Let’s get real: MyCareer is the Steph Curry of NBA 2K. The undisputed star, the mode that keeps us coming back year after year, even when we swear, we’re done.
This year’s storyline, “Out of Bounds”, is surprisingly strong. You begin as an overlooked prospect and grind your way from obscurity to NBA stardom. Unlike past years, your performances actually matter. Miss assignments and you’ll slide in draft stock; ball out and you’ll climb. It’s immersive, tense, and just cheesy enough to be fun.
Then there’s The City, the hub world. Finally, it’s streamlined. No more skating marathons just to buy socks. Training gyms, shops, and arenas are closer together. You can even take a detour to race go-karts, though handling corners feels like trying to drift a shopping trolley.
There is peak comedy in Customisation. Nothing like being beaten by a guy wearing swimming attire, or having your shot blocked by a guy that leaves you wondering “ is that a bird, a plane or Superman?
But beware: VC lurks everywhere. Want to upgrade your rookie to an All-Star without grinding half your life away? That’ll be around R2000, thanks. NBA 2K’s business model remains as stubborn as Harden’s step-back.
MyTeam: Where Wallets go to Die!!
Ahhhhhhhh!, MyTeam. The mode where shiny player cards dangle in front of you like Infinity Stones.
Yes, microtransactions are everywhere. Packs are expensive, the Season Pass nags you constantly, and climbing tiers without spending real money feels like running a marathon in flip-flops.
But credit where it’s due: WNBA players are integrated into MyTeam this year. Pulling a Caitlin Clark early would feel like discovering a cheat code (unfortunately, this did not happen, as the 2K Gods hate me!!). Tutorials also give you a decent starter team, sparing you the humiliation of losing 40–2 in your first match.
Still, the grind is real. Unless you’re willing to pay, expect progress to be slow… like Shaq shooting free throws slow…
MyNBA and MyGM: The Half-Court Shot Nobody Wanted
MyNBA continues to offer four eras, customisable leagues, and online play. It’s deep, it’s flexible, and for hardcore sim-heads, it’s heaven.
Then there’s MyGM. On paper, the new Offseason Scenarios should spice things up. In practice? It feels forced, like your coach randomly breaking into jazz hands during a timeout.
The perk and attribute systems return but add little. Winning games still trumps everything. Honestly, MyGM feels like the Chris Kaman of 2K modes: technically fine, occasionally useful, but not why you bought a ticket.
WNBA: A Quiet Slam Dunk
The WNBA mode deserves applause. Career mode (The W) lets you create a MyPlayer and chase glory in the women’s league. Quick Play and full seasons are also available, with physics tweaks like realistic hair bounce that make animations shine.
Even better, WNBA cards appear in MyTeam, letting you build mixed rosters. Seeing A’ja Wilson swat shots alongside Embiid is pure joy.
While the writing isn’t quite strong enough to pull me away from the NBA side, the inclusion is meaningful progress and shows care for representation.
Atmosphere: Siri Sets the Worst Screen Ever
Presentation has always been 2K’s calling card, and 2K26 continues that tradition.
Crowds are excellent. Drain a dagger three at home and the roar hits like a gut punch. Player introductions and halftime shows keep the broadcast feel alive.
But commentary? Still inconsistent. Sometimes hype, often repetitive. Imagine Doris Burke replaced by Siri reading stats aloud. It’s serviceable, but it lags behind Madden’s dynamism.
Extras: Options, Customisation, and the Season Pass Circus
2K26 lets you tweak almost everything: sliders, HUD, difficulty, even shoe design. Sadly, still no custom button mapping, an oversight as glaring as missing a dunk.
The Season Pass is pure clutter: three messy rows of rewards, with premium tiers locked behind R250-500 real-world purchases. It’s functional, but the presentation screams “mobile battle pass”.
Meanwhile, Virtual Currency packs hit eye-watering prices. The biggest bundle is over R2500. For that money, you could buy box tickets to a Bok game and a Boerie Roll (almost).
Pop Culture Timeout
If NBA 2K were the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this year’s shot meter is Spider-Man’s Civil War entrance—fresh, exciting, and instantly iconic.
MyGM? Thor: The Dark World. Exists. Nobody’s rewatching it.
And VC? That’s the Green Lantern movie that Deadpool travelled back in time to stop happening… “4th wall break in a 4th wall break…. Thats like 16 walls”.
The Bad, The Good, and the Ugly
The Good
- The new shot meter is a massive improvement.
- Player movement feels fluid and responsive.
- MyCareer’s Out of Bounds storyline is the best in years.
- The City is easier to navigate.
The Bad
- Microtransactions are everywhere, especially in MyCareer and MyTeam.
- MyGM feels bloated and forced.
- Offline modes continue to lag behind.
The Ugly
- VC prices make me wonder if I should start selling organs.
- Shot timing is unforgiving outside of greens—prepare for bricks.
- Commentary still needs serious work.
Final Verdict: A Playoff Contender, but not yet MJ.
NBA 2K26 is the best the series has felt in years. Shooting is precise and rewarding. Movement is fluid. MyCareer’s Out of Bounds story is engaging, and The City finally feels like a place you want to hang out. The WNBA additions are fantastic, and MyNBA remains a sim-head’s playground.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: VC still dominates progression. MyTeam remains a wallet trap. Commentary is stale. And MyGM feels like filler.
So where does that leave us? NBA 2K26 is a strong playoff team. Capable of highlight reels, occasionally frustrating, but good enough to keep you invested until the final buzzer.
Entertainment – 4/5
Action – 4.5/5
Extra – 4/5
EAX score 4/5
The arena erupts with chants of “Defence! Defence!” as the energy hits playoff levels.
Big thanks to our all-star teammates over at Prima Interactive for the alley-oop that lets us ball out like never before! We’re lacing up, running fast breaks, and trust me, every dunk, three-pointer, and no-look pass we’re dropping is nothing but net. And if the other team thinks they’re getting an easy bucket? Forget it—we’re swatting shots into the stands all night long!
