NBA Playgrounds new extended trailer and gameplay details

With a reveal announcement having occurred just a month before its planned release the next several weeks should offer a lot of news and media on NBA Playgrounds, the new league-licensed 2-on-2 street basketball game from developer Saber Interactive. NBA Playgrounds will release as a $20 digital download in May on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC and features over 200 current and retired players. A new gameplay trailer went out today along with details on the basics regarding the strategy behind how to play. 

Shooting and Dunking

Letting go of the shoot button at the peak of your shooting motion will not only increase your shot percentage, it will actually give you bonus points if the timing is perfect. The same goes for layups and dunks. This brings an added layer to NBA Playgrounds, where advanced players can be rewarded for learning the animations.

Defense

Timing your swipes to get steals is key. On the other side of the coin, if you see a defender going in for a steal, that’s the perfect time to pull off a crossover and sprint towards the basket or the 3-point line. A good player will also experiment with and learn the perfect time to jump to block a dunk or a jump shot. Key moments – like when a player is about to shoot a 6-pointer during the Lottery Pick 3-pointer bonus – also call for you to push your opponent down – it’s playground rules after all!

Lottery Pick System

Pour in enough buckets and your team will get to spin the Lottery Pick wheel for a short term bonus. Bonuses include super speed shoes, 12 inches of extra height on dunks, a glowing blue ball that increases your shot percentage, and a 2x 3-pointer. Another cool aspect of the Lottery Pick system is that it makes you think twice about pushing down your opponent on defense as you lose your lottery bar momentum. It’s playground rules, but playing a cleaner game can bring you some good karma.

Upgrade Your Player

NBA Playgrounds rewards winning by giving the player new card packs that unlock new current and retired players. Sticking with a team for a while and focusing on unlocking their XP by playing through games will give those players new moves. Lots of players also have signature moves, so be sure to keep progressing in the game!