In basketball, there are numerous ways to score points, and it’s no different in NBA 2K26. When the ball is in your hand, there are a lot of different directions you can go in your pursuit of buckets. Whether it’s inside, outside, or a mix of both, you can really dominate the offensive game in NBA 2K26.
Many of the NBA’s greatest scorers had a primary skill they possessed. Someone like Ray Allen, who, although versatile, was known for his lethal shooting from long range. Shaq, as we know, was an elite scorer by imposing his will in the paint and just dominating his matchup with raw while also being a solid ball handler down in the post as well.
And that’s one of the beautiful things about basketball. No matter your position, you have offensive freedom on the court, even if you have a primary skill. In NBA 2K26, is basically the same thing as you can create versatile MyPLAYER builds (and add to that versatility thanks to Cap Breakers) but still dominate in certain areas. Here, we’re going to talk about five great ways to put the ball in the basket in 2K26.
Post Fade
Two of the NBA’s most iconic players were known for their heavy reliance on post fades: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Although they both were incredible at everything on offense, the post fade was arguably their most dangerous move.
And in NBA 2K26, it can be equally as scary. If you’re playing in MyCARRER/The City, then your mid-range rating has the strongest effect on how good your post fades are. What makes them dangerous is that they separate you from the defender, giving you a bigger green window.
And for defenders, they’re just a nightmare to guard. Lord knows I’ve gotten cooked bad by post-faders in Park games before. You’re not going to have time to close in and attempt a block or strong contest because it’s too late at that point. However, not everyone uses post-fades, and part of that is because getting comfortable with a post-fade animation takes a little practice. But once you master it, you’ll be a pain to deal with.
Drop Steps
So this isn’t a specific type of shot per se, but it is a move that can lead to easy points in the paint. If you’re in MyCAREER/The City, this is a perfect move for big MyPLAYERs. It is niche, however, as you’ll need a solid enough Post Control and Strength rating to execute a drop step effectively.
So if you have a big who’s skilled in the post, then this is a secret weapon. It makes your player do a quick post-spin type of maneuver, and on many occasions, defenders fall out of their shoes, leaving you alone right at the basket for an easy dunk or layup.
And it’s extremely easy to do. You just need to double-tap the square button (PS5) or the X button (Xbox) while backing down your opponent near the hoop. This is one of those moves that will have you feel like Shaq once you have it mastered.
Corner Three
The arguably highest percentage shot in all of basketball is the corner three-pointer. It’s a relatively short distance from the hoop, and it awards three points. It’s perfect. And it’s the same for NBA 2K26. As we know, there’s a green window when it comes to shooting. But some areas have bigger windows than others.
The corner three offers a much bigger green window than shooting from the top of the circle. In fact, the corner gives you such a large window that it’s almost automatic money anytime you’re left open. Even if you’re using a MyPLAYER with a three-ball rating in the low 70s, you’ll get a solid window from the corner.
However, due to how common corner threes are, a fair number of players in Park games will try to guard you heavily or anticipate the potential three and try to fly in for a block (if you didn’t fire up the shot yet, run past the flying defender for an easy inside basket). That’s the benefit of shooting from the top of the circle because defenders have a greater tendency to sleep on those shooters. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t sleep on corner shooters as well, and when they do, that’s an easy three for your stat line.
Post Hook
You know post fade now, right? Well, say hello and give a warm welcome to the post hook. It’s just as dangerous as the post-fade in NBA 2K26 and for essentially the same reason. It’s a move that gives you space between you and the defender, opening up a bigger green window as you’re firing the shot.
And the really nice thing about post hooks is that there are no requirements for your MyPLAYER, whether it’s height or attributes. Anyone can grab a post hook animation. You just need to ensure your Close Shot rating is decent enough, as this determines the effectiveness of hooks.
But there are a few solid post hook animation options to choose from, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s iconic sky hook. But one animation I’d recommend taking a look at is Joel Embiid’s, as it has a really smooth green window and you can get comfortable with it pretty quickly.
Floaters
This is another move any player can use, no matter the position. Floaters can hit defenders in a hurry as you jump up and make the basketball pop out of your hand. It’s another very tough shot to defend because of how high the ball tends to go.
It’s mostly popular with guards, but bigs can be effective with them as well. And you can hit them from a pretty far distance as long as you’re inside the three-point line, of course. It’s a dangerous mix of a layup and a mid-range shot that’s always pretty to look at.
The Driving Layup and Close Shot attributes are what affect floaters the most, and you can get the Float Game badge for your MyPLAYER when either of those attributes reaches certain requirements. Floaters do take a little more practice to master, but when you do, it’s a great move to add to your arsenal.
