Game: NBA THE RUN
Developer: Play by Play Studios
With: NBA & NBPA
Update: Wave One — 2000s Legends
Date: September 29, 2026
Platforms: PS5 · Xbox Series X|S · Steam
Legends: 5,000 CRED each or $9.99 for all five
Everything Else: Free
🏀 NBA THE RUN’s biggest update yet lands September 29. “Wave One — 2000s Legends” adds Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki, plus a new court, new camera angles, custom matches and a practice mode — and it kicks off the game’s first official Season.
⚖️ You Can Earn the Legends, or Buy Them
Worth laying out clearly, because it’s the part readers will want to know.
The five legends are the only paid content in this update. Each can be unlocked for 5,000 CRED — the in-game currency you earn through normal progression — or you can buy all five instantly as a bundle for $9.99.
Everything else is free for every player. The new court, the new camera angles, the new dunks and taunts, the music, Custom Matches, Practice Mode and all the gameplay improvements come at no cost.
In other words, the money option buys you time, not access. If you play the game, you can get to the legends by playing it — which is a structure worth noting in a sports title.
Let’s run it back
Cross up opponents as Iverson, dunk as Carter, score from anywhere as McGrady, lock down as Garnett, rain threes as Nowitzki.
Play by Play Studios, the NBA and the NBPA have released a new trailer for NBA THE RUN’s “Wave One — 2000s Legends” update, arriving on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam on September 29.
It’s the 3v3 streetball game’s biggest update so far, introducing its first Hall of Famers — each with stylised looks and signature moves — alongside a substantial batch of free content for everyone.
The Five Legends
👟 Allen Iverson
Built for crossing up opponents.
💥 Vince Carter
Vicious dunks, as you’d expect.
🎯 Tracy McGrady
Scores from anywhere on the court.
🔒 Kevin Garnett
Locks down any player you put him on.
🌧️ Dirk Nowitzki
Rains threes from deep.
What’s Free for Everyone
🎁 The Rest of the Update
• Two new camera angles — the overhead Drive Cam and Drive Flip Cam
• The Dyckman NYC court, playable in both daytime and tournament variants — a nod to one of New York’s most storied streetball venues
• New dunks and taunts
• New original music, plus the game’s first licensed tracks
• A championship belt to celebrate tournament wins
• Custom Matches — create a private party and pick the court and ruleset for a single game with or against a friend online
• Practice Mode — choose your court and ruleset and drill against AI opponents
• Gameplay improvements — new standing dunks and driving layups, additional advanced moves, continued player tuning, and goaltending nerfs
Practice Mode is the quietly significant one. In a competitive online game, having somewhere to learn a new character’s moves without losing ranked matches matters — and it arrives in the same update as five new signature-move legends, which is good timing rather than coincidence.
Rollback Netcode in a Basketball Game
📡 Fighting Game Tech on the Court
One detail that sets NBA THE RUN apart from most online sports titles: it’s powered by true rollback netcode.
That technology is usually associated with fighting games, where a few frames of delay decides everything. The principle here is the same — every crossover, dive for a loose ball and alley-oop needs to sync simultaneously for every player, because 3v3 streetball lives and dies on timing and contact.
The roster runs to over 36 NBA stars plus fictional streetball legends and the new unlockables, each handcrafted with distinct playstyles.
The First Season Starts Here
📅 An Ongoing Content Plan
Play by Play have been adding to NBA THE RUN steadily since launch — additional players (including upcoming NBA rookies), courts, rulesets, game modes and unlockable items have all arrived post-launch.
“Wave One — 2000s Legends” formally kicks off the game’s first official Season, with more content updates promised. The “Wave One” naming makes the intent fairly clear: more legends are coming.
Price and Availability
🏷️ Base Game $29.99 · Deluxe $39.99 · Sale Incoming
NBA THE RUN is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam for $29.99, with a Deluxe Edition at $39.99.
To mark the start of the NBA season, the Standard Edition goes on sale for up to 34% off and the Deluxe Edition for 25% off across all platforms in the coming weeks — starting on PS5 first. Check your platform’s store for exact timing.
The “Wave One — 2000s Legends” update arrives September 29.
Hi there! I’m Marie, also known as CtrlQueen. I’m passionate about keeping up with the latest in gaming news and sharing my insights. RPGs steal my heart with their rich narratives and immersive worlds, but I also love unwinding with fun, casual games. Whether you’re here for deep dives into game mechanics or just to chat about your favorite casual game, you’ve found the right place! Let’s game and explore together.
