With nearly 40 players on the roster, picking the right one in NBA THE RUN can feel overwhelming. The game pulls from a deep pool of real NBA All-Stars, rookie versions of select players, and a handful of fictional characters built around specific playstyles. Not all of them are created equal, and the stat system rewards certain archetypes far more than others right now.
Each player carries unique attributes and a Zone Ability tied to their real-world strengths. That familiarity helps, but NBA The Run layers its own priorities on top, meaning some players punch well above their real-life reputation while others underperform. After testing the full lineup across tournament runs, five players consistently separate themselves from the pack.
Who are the best players to pick in NBA The Run?
The short answer: Victor Wembanyama, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Maxey. Each one brings either elite offensive output, defensive dominance, or both. Here's the full breakdown.
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama sits at the top of the current roster with no real competition. His block stat is the highest in the game, and he has maxed-out values in 2s, dunks, guard, rebound, and aura. Six maxed stats on a seven-footer who can also step outside the paint makes him nearly impossible to counter.
On offense, you can post him up or spread him to the perimeter depending on what the defense gives you. On defense, park him under the basket and let his height do the work. Blocking shots with Wemby feels almost unfair.
Best combo partner: Ja Morant. Morant's speed covers everything Wemby doesn't need to do. He can push in transition, play perimeter defense, and find Wemby with passes that lead to easy finishes. The size and speed combination is hard to stop.
Wemby dominates the paint
Stephen Curry
Curry's default version has maxed-out 2s, 3s, handles, passes, stamina, and aura. His defense is the obvious weak point, but that barely matters when you're launching threes from anywhere on the court and opponents are forced to chase you around screens.
High stamina means Curry stays active longer than most players, which lets you run him off movement patterns to get open looks. Once defenses start doubling him, the passing stat becomes just as important as the shooting.
Best combo partner: Jayson Tatum. Tatum doesn't have a glaring weakness in his stat spread, and his passing stat is strong enough to find Curry on the move. His special ability boosts passing, which stacks well with Curry's shooting ability. The two complement each other without overlapping.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis might surprise players who scroll past him, but six maxed-out stats back up the pick. He's right behind Wembanyama as the best defensive big in the game, and his offensive flexibility is genuinely underrated. AD can operate in the post or stretch out to the perimeter, and his passing stat makes him useful as a hub player regardless of where he's positioned.
Best combo partner: Jalen Brunson. Brunson is one of the best pure shooters in the game and brings excellent handles and passing to go with it. Whether Davis is drawing attention in the post or waiting on the perimeter, Brunson can operate independently or feed him at the right moment.
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards has eight maxed-out stats, four of them in the offensive categories. That's the highest count in the entire roster. His power, speed, and stamina numbers are all high, which means he works as a dunking threat, a perimeter scorer, or both depending on how you want to play him.
Ant is the pick if you want pure offensive output. He doesn't ask you to play around his weaknesses because there aren't many on the offensive end.
Best combo partner: Nikola Jokic. Jokic slows the game down compared to Edwards' pace, but that contrast works in your favor. Jokic's rebounding cleans up any misses, and his shooting stat lets him operate as a secondary scorer. Edwards' passing can also set Jokic up for open looks when the defense collapses.
Ant's eight maxed stats show
Tyrese Maxey
Maxey rounds out the top five as the best player in the game at converting defense into offense. Stealing and blocking are both highly effective mechanics in NBA The Run right now, and Maxey is built to do both. After a steal, his speed lets him push the full length of the court before the defense recovers, and his shooting stats are strong enough to finish at the perimeter if he doesn't get to the rim.
Best combo partner: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis can't match Maxey's speed, but he provides a tall, physical presence that thrives off Maxey's passing and cleans up rebounds in the post. Two defensive and offensive threats on the court at the same time puts opponents in a difficult position every possession.
Roster selection screen
What's the best two-player combo in NBA The Run?
Based on stat synergy, Wembanyama and Ja Morant is the strongest pairing. Wemby's paint dominance on both ends combines with Morant's perimeter speed and ball-handling to cover every area of the court. The gap between this combo and others is noticeable in tournament play.
For a pure offensive pairing, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic is hard to argue against. Eight maxed offensive stats on Edwards plus Jokic's shooting and rebounding creates a two-man lineup that can score from anywhere.
For more tips on getting the most out of the game, the NBA THE RUN strategy guides cover everything from Zone Abilities to tournament formats. If you're exploring other sports games with similar arcade energy, there's plenty to find in that space right now.