How to Make Money Playing NBA 2K26

Unlike in years past, almost every NBA team now has a cornerstone player that they want to build around both for the present and the future. This is both an exciting time for the NBA and for NBA2K26 players. You can use a variety of teams and compete at the highest level. After much deliberation and debate with the Players’ Lounge team, here are our top 3 teams in NBA2K26

3. Rockets

The upstart Houston Rockets come in at the number 3 spot in NBA2K26, led by offseason acquisition Kevin Durant. The 36 year old Durant is still one of the best scorers in the NBA, and comes into NBA2K26 with a 93 overall rating. The Rockets surround Durant with the best defense in both the NBA and NBA2K26. With elite defenders such as Amen Thompson,and Tari Eason, the Rockets can match up with any team defensively on NBA2K26. Offensively, the Rockets have Alphren Sengun, one of the best offensive centers in the NBA and NBA2K26, to go alongside the greatest of Durant. Sengun will be able to punish any team without a good defensive center. The Rockets strength is their well roundedness and versatility offensively and defensively. 

Kevin Durant

2.  Lakers

The Lakers check in at the number 2 spot, possessing two 10 top players led by the ageless wonder Lebron James, who despite entering year 23 of his NBA career, is still a 94 overall dominating force, and  Luka Doncic, the former Dallas Maverick who is currently a 95 overall in NBA2K25. The duo of Lebron James and Luka Doncic is simply overpowered, and their new center Deandre Ayton, gives them an inside presence that they didn’t have in last year's game. While people often went small with the Lakers team in NBA2K25 out of necessity, Ayton is a legitimate center that is great for Luka and Lebron’s skillset in NBA2K26! The Luka and Lebron combination alone is enough to score on any team!

Lebron James (left) and Luka Doncic (right)

1. Thunder

While you could make a case for multiple teams at the number 1 spot, it had to be last years NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder Led by SGA, the MVP from last season, Oklahoma City has shooting everywhere and is one of the few teams that also has a dominant double big lineup with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. The Thunder bring back practically the same roster as last year's team, simply a team without a weakness and SGA is just as much of a chat code in NBA2K26 as he is in real life. Until further notice, the NBA runs through Oklahoma City.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander (left) and Jalen Williams (right)

Players’ Lounge is the place to play your favorite games for real money

Players’ Lounge has all of your College Football 26, Madden 26 and now, NBA2K26 gameplay covered! Whether you’re a casual NBA2K player getting into the NBA2K world, or a NBA2K veteran, Players’ Lounge will have a great experience that is personally catered to your skillset with PL H2H. Players’ Lounge also has a bet against the house app, which allows you to bet on yourself and play Fortnite and other shooter games such as Apex Legends, Call of Duty and Marvel Rivals and more for real money! You can bet on yourself in things such as the amount of kills you get, if you win the match or not, and even parlay these things together! No matter the game, we believe in the ability to bet on yourself while playing your favorite games on Players’ Lounge!

Players’ Lounge is the number 1 place to play College Football 26, Madden 26, and now NBA2K26 for real money!