NBA THE RUN launches with over 30 playable characters ready to go, but 10 of them stay locked until you put in the work. Five unlock through rank progression, and five more require Cred from the in-game shop. Knowing which path leads to which player saves you from grinding in the wrong direction. This guide breaks down every unlock method, the exact requirements, and the fastest ways to reach them.
Full character roster overview
How do you unlock all characters in NBA The Run?
The game splits its locked characters into two categories: rank-based unlocks and shop purchases. The rank-based characters are all original streetball personalities, not real NBA players. The shop characters are throwback rookie versions of five NBA superstars.
Here's the complete breakdown:
Unlocking all five shop characters costs 25,000 Cred total. Deluxe Edition owners get Curry '09, Durant '07, and Doncic '18 automatically, plus 1,000 Cred at the start, which cuts the remaining shop grind down to just LeBron '03 and SGA '18 at 10,000 Cred combined.
How does the rank system work?
NBA The Run has 50 ranks total, each tied to a reward. Five of those rewards are playable characters. To check your current rank, head to the Profile Section and it will land you directly on the Rank Unlocks Page. That screen shows your current standing and every reward attached to each rank milestone.
Ranks go up by earning XP, and XP comes from playing matches. The key detail here is that longer tournament runs award more XP than quick exits. Staying in tournaments as long as possible is the most efficient way to push your rank up fast.
Rank Unlocks progression screen
The five rank-locked characters all have their own distinct stats, so they're not just cosmetic alternatives. Each one plays differently on the court, which makes the grind worth it if you want to find a playstyle that clicks. Bobbito Garcia at Rank 45 is the deepest unlock and the most work, but he's a legitimate streetball icon with a unique presence in the game.
How do you earn Cred quickly?
Cred flows in from two sources: playing matches and leveling up ranks. Every game you complete drops some Cred, and rank-up rewards also include Cred payouts alongside the character unlocks and other items.
Cred isn't just for players. The shop also stocks taunts, cosmetics, and badges, so you'll want to be selective about what you spend on if your goal is completing the player roster first.
In-game shop Cred purchases
The math works out cleanly if you own the standard edition: 25,000 Cred for all five throwback rookies. With the Deluxe Edition bonus of 1,000 Cred at the start and three players already unlocked, you're looking at 10,000 Cred for the remaining two. Either way, consistent play and strong tournament runs are the fastest path.
For a closer look at which players perform best once you have them available, the NBA The Run best players guide covers the top picks and their strongest combinations.
What's the full launch roster?
Before you start grinding for unlocks, it helps to know what's already available. The base roster covers a strong mix of current stars and veterans across both NBA players and original streetball characters.
NBA players available at launch:
- Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes
- Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Stephen Curry
- Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid
- Cooper Flagg, Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden
- LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey
- Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, Jayson Tatum, Amen Thompson, Victor Wembanyama
- Zion Williamson, Trae Young
Original streetball characters available at launch:
- DJ (Destiny Jackson's base version)
Unlockable original characters (via ranks):
- Shen Tong, Destiny Jackson, El Gigante, Spin Cycle, Bobbito Garcia
The variety here is real. You get defensive anchors like Wembanyama alongside scoring machines like Curry and Durant. The original streetball characters add a different flavor that the NBA players can't replicate, which is reason enough to push through the rank grind.
NBA The Run is one of the more interesting entries in the sports games genre right now, bringing that classic arcade 3v3 energy to modern hardware with a roster that covers both current stars and original legends.
Unlock priority: where should you start?
If you're just starting out, the rank-based characters come naturally as you play. Shen Tong at Rank 5 arrives quickly, and by the time you're deep into tournaments, Destiny Jackson at Rank 15 won't be far behind.
For the shop characters, prioritize based on playstyle. All five throwback rookies have their own stats, so if you're already familiar with how the current versions of LeBron, Curry, Durant, Doncic, or SGA play, the rookie variants offer a different statistical profile worth testing.
The Deluxe Edition advantage is real if you're planning to collect everyone. Three players unlocked from day one and 1,000 Cred in your pocket means you start with momentum instead of starting from zero.
For more tips, strategies, and character breakdowns, the full NBA THE RUN strategy guides collection has everything you need to get the most out of every player in your roster.