Hands-On Preview: NBA The Run is Throwing it Back to the NBA Street Days

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If you grew up loving sports and video games in the early 2000s, you probably remember the EA Sports BIG games – they were a big deal! As a huge basketball fan myself, I spent countless hours playing NBA Street and its sequel, Vol. 2. Seriously, if my old GameCube could’ve tracked playtime, the numbers would’ve been insane!

It definitely feels like the era of quick, self-contained sports games is over. Now, most sports titles are built to be long-term commitments, constantly encouraging players to keep playing and spending money. And in that shift, something valuable has been lost.

The NBA Street games weren’t just about basketball; they captured the energy, flair, and vibe of streetball culture. They really defined a specific moment in time, and a lot of fans have fond memories of them. Now, a new game called NBA The Run is coming out, and it looks like it’s going to bring back that same feeling – it already does for me, and I think fans of the classic games will love it.

Taking it Back

Last week, I had a chance to preview NBA The Run during a Discord event. I learned a lot about the game, and was particularly excited to discover that Mike Young, a veteran of EA Sports and the creator of every NBA Street game, is the Creative Director. If you’re a fan of the NBA Street series, that background alone should get your attention!

Big sports games are usually made by huge teams, but NBA The Run is different. It’s created by a smaller group of just 18 people at Play By Play Studios. This team is clearly driven by a genuine love for basketball, both its history and the game itself. They believe there’s a place for their game in today’s market, and I completely agree.

NBA The Run is a fast-paced 3-on-3 street basketball game with over-the-top dunks and impressive ball-handling. Each NBA player feels unique and fun to play, thanks to their exaggerated abilities. I especially enjoyed playing as Anthony Edwards – his energy and style from real life really shine through in the game.

Bobbito Garcia, the famous emcee from the original Street games, is returning to provide the energetic commentary fans remember. He’s already recorded over 3,000 lines of dialogue, and his witty remarks in The Run are sure to become memorable, giving players plenty of new phrases to use when playing basketball in real life.

It’s obvious the developers of NBA The Run listened to what players have been asking for. The reaction in our online community to each new announcement was incredibly enthusiastic! They’ve promised a game without annoying microtransactions, unfair pay-to-win elements, or lootboxes. NBA The Run seems to be exactly what many of us have wanted for years: a fun, fast-paced, arcade-style streetball experience.

This title reflects a deep love and enthusiasm for basketball, both its history and the game itself.

The game already features over 30 professional basketball players, including stars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Luka Doncic, as well as many other consistent all-stars. As a Pacers fan, I was thrilled to see Tyrese Haliburton included, and I’m optimistic about the team’s future. Players will be added based on fan votes, so you can help decide who gets in! The game also includes iconic courts like Rucker Park, which is a fantastic addition.

The Gameplay

NBA The Run certainly looks like the high-energy street basketball game many fans have been hoping for, but the question is whether it delivers in gameplay. After playing for about an hour, it’s not a perfect copy of the older Street games, and honestly, that’s a good thing! We don’t need an exact repeat. The Run actually feels like a fun mix of Street and NBA Jam, with an even stronger emphasis on fast-paced, arcade-style action.

When playing defense, you can push opponents to the ground to take control of the ball, similar to how it works in Jam. Instead of powerful ‘Game Breakers,’ players can enter ‘The Zone,’ which temporarily boosts their best skills – a mechanic similar to ‘On Fire’ in Jam. While dribble moves (using the right stick) aren’t as flashy as in Street, they’re still enjoyable and help you create space for a shot.

NBA The Run delivers the classic, high-energy, arcade-style street basketball experience many players have been hoping for years.

Overall, The Run definitely captures the essence of Street, but it also feels like a unique game in its own right. It’s surprisingly engaging and has a lot more to offer than simpler titles like Jam. I’m really looking forward to playing it more and getting better!

Several of us in the Discord chat noticed that the dunk takeoff felt a little too close to the basket. Luckily, the developers listened to our feedback and just announced they’ve made adjustments to fix it! It’s great to see they’re really paying attention to what players think and are already implementing the changes we suggested.

The Run is a tournament-style game with several ways to play. You can go Solo and control an entire team, join Squads where you control just one player, or create a custom tournament with Friends for up to 48 players. It’s played online with matchmaking, but you can also practice alone against computer-controlled opponents if you prefer.

Overall, The Run definitely captures the essence of Street, but it also feels like a fresh and unique experience.

In the tournament, winning a match lets you advance to the next one until a winning team is crowned. If you lose, you’ll quickly rejoin the matchmaking system and get back into playing, so you can keep the fun going. To keep things interesting, each game will have random scoring or style changes – for example, dunks might be worth more points, or all shots except three-pointers could be worth just one point.

Get Ready to Throw Down

I was really disappointed when my hands-on time with the game ended. It felt like I’d only just begun to explore everything NBA The Run has to offer, and I still had a lot of players I wanted to try. Luckily, the team announced some great news: NBA The Run is coming out very soon, with a planned release in June 2026.

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The game will be available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and players on all platforms can play together. This makes it easy to team up with friends, no matter what system they’re using.

A playable demo will be available on Steam starting May 1st. If you’d like to try the game early and share your feedback, be sure to sign up for the playtest through this link.

I’ve been a huge NBA Street fan for years, and I’m really excited about NBA The Run. Get ready, because I’ll be challenging you on the court!

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2026-04-29 19:10