NLSC top 10 plays returns with NBA 2K26 and nine-game showcase

Year 6 opens with real momentum

NLSC’s Top 10 Plays is back, and the big tell is right in the opening line: the feature is “tipping off Year 6.” That is not the language of a throwaway community post, it is the language of a series that has earned its place on the calendar. The May 16 showcase also pulls from nine different basketball video games, which immediately gives it more texture than a single-game highlight reel.

Nine games, one shared highlight language

The best part of this kind of feature is that it does not flatten the hobby into one franchise or one era. The May 16 countdown stretches across nine basketball games, so the clips feel like a cross-section of how people actually play, from current-gen competition to retro runs and modded setups. That wide spread is what keeps the series from feeling stale, because the same basic thrill, making something ridiculous happen on the court, shows up no matter the badge system or the graphics engine.

NBA 2K26 sits at the center without taking over

NBA 2K26 is in the mix, but the feature does not treat it like the only game that matters. That matters for 2K players, because it puts the game in a living basketball-gaming ecosystem instead of isolating it as the whole story. The NLSC NBA 2K26 portal also lists the May 16 Top 10 Plays entry as a current featured item, which is a pretty clear signal that 2K26 is being watched as an active part of the site’s coverage, not just another annual release.

Poster dunks still carry the loudest reactions

Some things never change, and poster dunks are still one of the easiest ways to force a clip into the conversation. The May 16 post leans on that same instinct, with the kind of finish that makes everyone pause for a second and replay the possession. In 2K terms, it is the same old lesson: if you can get a clean lane, finish it with authority, because that is the kind of play people remember and share.

Blocks matter because they flip the whole possession

The countdown also includes huge blocks, which is exactly the sort of defensive clip that separates a decent highlight from a proper momentum swing. A big block is not just rim protection, it is a trigger for transition offense, a morale hit for the other side, and a clean way to show off timing. In a community reel like this, those stops matter because they prove the game is not only about scoring.

Buzzer beaters are still the best kind of flex

The May 16 showcase includes a buzzer-beating shot in NBA Hangtime and another game-winning buzzer beater, and that is the kind of thing the basketball gaming crowd never gets tired of seeing. A good buzzer beater works in any era because the setup is simple: one shot, one clock, one crowd reaction. That is also why these clips travel well in the community, because the drama is instant and nobody needs a long explanation.

NBA Hangtime still knows how to steal the show

NBA Hangtime showing up with a buzzer-beating shot is a reminder that old games still know how to land a punch. The title has enough personality to make a late-game clip feel extra sharp, especially when the possession ends with that all-or-nothing pressure you only get in basketball games. The series keeps titles like Hangtime in the conversation for a reason, because a good play in an old engine can still hit harder than a routine highlight in a newer one.

Mods keep the scene from going flat

The post also notes that a couple of the week’s moments came from mods being enjoyed, and that is a crucial part of why this series still works. Modded basketball games are where a lot of the community’s creativity lives, whether that means new looks, fresh rosters, or simply changing the feel of an old favorite. In a week like this, the mod clips are not side notes, they are proof that players are still finding ways to make these games feel personal.

NBA Live 95 on Super Nintendo is still in the rotation

Five-player online team play in NBA Live 95 for Super Nintendo is exactly the sort of detail that reminds you how broad this hobby really is. That is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, it is evidence that people still want to test old games in new social settings. When a feature can jump from 2K26 to a Super Nintendo basketball session and still make sense, it has a real grip on the community.

Dee Brown’s repeated cameo and the submission loop keep it alive

The week also includes a couple of appearances by Dee Brown, which is the kind of recurring personality touch that gives the reel some extra character. Just as important, the feature makes the submission path obvious: post clips in the forum topic, send Dee a message, or hit him up on X. That open door, plus the fact that the archive already shows weekly entries for May 9, May 2, April 18, and January 17, is what turns Top 10 Plays into a real rhythm rather than a one-off spotlight.

That is why the May 16 edition lands the way it does. It starts with Year 6, swings through nine games, and ends up proving the same point the series has been making all year: if the clip is clean, the moment is loud, and the basketball feels real, the community will keep showing up for it.