Picking the right motion style used to be one of the first things fans did when starting their careers in NBA 2K. After all, your choice affects how fast your player moves when off-possession, as well as their running, and, in many cases, defending/rebounding animations.
But did you notice how we said ‘used to’? Well, NBA 2K26 decided to shake things up and lock all non-guest animations behind two stats (Speed and Agility), a change that both adds to the usual grind and might have unintentionally gatekept many casual players upon arrival.
Stat Locks Turn Motion Styles Into Gatekeepers
What do we mean by gatekept? Well, take Donovan Mitchell and Alex Caruso’s styles as an example, which provide the highest speed boost for players under 6’4 and 6’5 to 6’9. As you can guess, that means that until you can meet their stat requirements, you will be at a disadvantage against fellow guards and forwards, especially amidst the sweaty fest known as even the most casual mode in The City.
We know this change can be seen as a positive for many hardcore fans already used to the 2K model and the franchise’s practices, as it adds another layer of realism to your build and gives more importance to your stats. I, however, cannot help but lament how gone are the days in which you could stay competitive by using the right style early on and experiment to your heart’s content without having to give in to monetization. To help you keep up, here are the requirements for the best motion styles for all heights in NBA 2K26. For a more detailed look, go to our best motion styles guide.
- Donovan Mitchell (85 Agility and 80 Speed): The fastest motion style in NBA 2K26.
- Alex Caruso (84 Agility and 72 Speed): The ultimate pick for players 6’10 and under. Provides the biggest boost in speed within its class.
- Chet Holmgren (At least 6’5 / 60 Agility and 60 Speed): The overall fastest big man motion style due to its top-tier performance on both ends of the court, as revealed in NBA 2K Tutes’ Big News on MOTION STYLES for BIGS: NBA 2K26 video.
Low-Requirement Animations That Outperform Expectations
As mentioned above, you won’t have access to the stat thresholds for all of the game’s meta motion styles early on in NBA 2K26. However, that does not mean there are no worthy alternatives. Here are a few budget motion styles sure to outperform in NBA 2K26:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Under 6’10 / 74 Agility and 62 Speed): A personal pick bringing to the table a great performance on multiple fronts.
- Drew Eubanks (At least 6’5 / 52 Agility and 51 Speed): Eubanks’s style shines as a low-budget but still elite alternative for most players, from PFs to centers.
So you can fine-tune your build even further and unlock the best badges for your big man, we also highly recommend that you take a look at Best Center Builds in the game. If you are also counting the days to the start of the regular 2026/27 season, make sure to also take a look at What 10 2K26 Simulations Told Us About The Upcoming Season.
