PlayStation players will get their first hands-on crack at Nba The Run this weekend, when an open beta goes live on PS5 before the game’s June 9 release. The early test is the first real chance to feel how the streetball game plays on a controller, and it arrives with a promise that the action is built to feel like butter on the sticks.
That timing is why Shen Tong matters now. The 14-year-old prospect, who practices under the blinding sun at the Dongdan Sports Complex in Beijing, is one of the Street Legends players can unlock by reaching level 5 in the beta. If they do, they get Shen, whose In the Zone Ability is called Dropping Dimes. Players who jump in this weekend can also try Destiny Jackson, better known as DJ, Harlem royalty who calls Rucker Park her home court.
The beta is not just a preview; it is a test of whether the game’s feel matches its ambition. Spin Cycle, for example, was born in Philly and learned the game between work shifts delivering laundry, while El Gigante brings a 7’7 frame and Venice Beach roots to the lineup. Bobbito Garcia, also known as Kool Bob Love and DJ Cucumber Slice, serves as the game’s legendary voice, giving the project a personality that tries to match its on-court flash.
There is one wrinkle inside that setup. The Street Legends are described as fictional, built from the ground up, except for one character the game does not identify. That missing detail hangs over a roster otherwise defined by bold backstories, elite skills and clear weaknesses elsewhere, which is exactly why the beta should draw close attention from players who want to see whether the pieces fit before launch.
June 9 is the date that settles the question for PS5 owners. Until then, the weekend beta is the only chance to go hands-on, unlock Shen at level 5, and see how much of Nba The Run’s promise survives first contact with players.
