Just a month ahead of the 2025-26 regular season tip off, NBA 2K26 has arrived.

The game is already getting high marks among players and reviewers for its improved shooting mechanics, fluid gameplay and engaging storyline. It boasts new additions, such as the inclusion of WNBA stars in the fantasy MyTeam mode, revamped online The City world and soon, the long-requested implementation of NCAA teams. But what about those digital sneakers?

Just like the photorealistic depictions of players and arenas, NBA 2K’s in-game sneakers have come a long way over the years. Once appearing as crude, pixelated blobs that may or may not actually resemble the real-life counterpart, today’s virtual footwear has become one of the most detailed elements in the entire game. The player’s shoes bend and flex at natural points just like they would in real life, bow-tied laces bounce in the air and lighting casts shadows on obscured panels. 

Brands ranging from major on-court players like Nike, Jordan Brand and Adidas to labels with less of a basketball presence such as Skechers are showcased in great detail. Even Jaylen Brown’s fledgling 741 brand and Chinese sportswear company Qiaodan, which infamously had a lengthy legal tangle with Jordan Brand in the 2010s, are featured.

“We work closely and are in frequent communication with our footwear partners about their upcoming models and key colorways. Once we know what’s coming, we scan physical shoe pairs to make sure every sneaker that we add in-game is represented as accurately as possible,” Greg Brownstein, vice president of global partnerships at 2K, told Footwear News.

And like any NBA 2K player has come to learn in recent years, the sneakers don’t stop on the court. Through the game’s online The City mode, players are able to equip lifestyle and retro sneakers from a variety of brands. Want to wear Shaquille O’Neal’s classic Reebok Shaqnosis shoes from 1995? They’re in the game. Or for those seeking something more current, like New Balance’s on-trend 1906R model, there are plenty of options there. Classics including the Nike Air Force 1 and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star are also in the mix.

Even more, each pair can be thoroughly customized allowing players to choose colors, materials, and patterns for nearly every part of the shoe. Imagine if Nike’s personalized By You platform had zero limitations — that’s what it’s like to customize a sneaker in NBA 2K26.

“What started as a focus on strictly on-court basketball shoes has grown into a much broader offering, now including lifestyle and off-court staples that players and fans are wearing daily,” Brownstein says. “This evolution has helped us capture sneaker culture more authentically, while giving players more options to express their own styles.”

There are more footwear brands featured in NBA 2K26 than any other previous NBA 2K title. Yet, as comprehensive as the collection is, there are bound to be some sneakers that don’t quite make the cut in time for the game’s release. Fans who have already been putting in time on the court may have noticed some notable pairs like the Adidas Anthony Edwards 2 and the Reebok Angel Reese 1 aren’t yet available. Brownstein says that’s because the in-game releases are timed to line up with the real-life launches.

“It is a 365 day process with our footwear partners,” Brownstein tells FN. “We are continually adding new models and colorways throughout the game’s life cycle.”

This year’s installment of the game brings another fashionable asset to the blacktop: designer footwear. For the first time, American luxury fashion house Coach is featured in the game, with the label’s Soho sneaker available for purchase along with apparel ranging from puffer jackets to sweatpants. 

Beyond the luxury looks, NBA 2K26 features a variety of popular sportswear and streetwear brands including Brain Dead, Crocs, Denim Tears, Essentials, Hellstar and True Religion. 

Ronnie Singh, the face of NBA 2K better known to fans as Ronnie 2K, said it’s important for the in-game fashion to include what pros are wearing in the real world. 

“We typically have a set number of slots each year to bring brands into the game, and we’re very intentional about how we fill them,” Singh says. “Our main goal is to reflect what NBA and WNBA players are actually wearing in real life, from tunnel fits to courtside fashion. To do this we keep a close eye on trends, what the athletes are rocking, what’s showing up at events like fashion week or the brands bubbling up online. This ensures that there’s a healthy mix of established names fans know and love, along with up-and-coming labels we think are about to have a moment.” 

In years past, NBA 2K has also featured in-game challenges in which players could unlock access to exclusive physical sneakers. The first came in 2014, with a special Nike LeBron 11 made for NBA 2K14. In 2019, Nike and 2K took the partnership further with a new feature dubbed Game Exclusives which featured signature sneakers from the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George. And in 2022, a New Balance collaboration featuring Jamal Murray’s Two Way V3 sneaker was featured in NBA 2K23. 

While the real-life sneaker unlocks have slowed, Brownstein wouldn’t rule out future projects. 

“We’re always looking at ways to create unique, culture-driving partnerships,” he says. “The Nike x 2K Gamer Exclusive program is a great example of how we were able to connect the in-game and IRL sneaker experience in a meaningful way. Activations like that require the right fit for both us and our partners, and we’re absolutely continuing to explore opportunities that deliver something equally innovative and exciting for our players.”

As an annual franchise, each yearly installment of NBA 2K is always hotly debated amongst fans. While much of that is subjective and depends on the way each respective players enjoys to play the game, one thing is certain: the sneakers have never been better. Not only does NBA 2K26 boast more brands and individual models than any previous version, but the shoes look more accurate than ever. Brands are being integrated into the online action in new ways. And it sounds like there’s even a possibility of bringing back real-life sneakers connected to in-game achievements. 

For 2K players who are also sneaker enthusiasts, it’s hard to ask for much more.