Learn how to alley-oop in NBA 2K26 with these simple tips and controls. This guide breaks down how to throw and call for an alley-oop – one of the most exciting plays in basketball. Follow these steps to time your passes right and throw down more alley-oops in NBA 2K26.
How to Throw & Finish an Alley-Oop
Here are the default controls for Alley-Oops.
| ACTION | PLAYSTATION | XBOX |
|---|---|---|
| Alley-oop Pass | Double tap Triangle to pass, Use LS to select receiver | Double tap Y to pass, Use LS to select receiver |
| Alley-oop to Self | Double tap triangle + move LS toward the hoop | Double tap Y + move LS toward the hoop |
| Call for Alley-oop | Double tap Triangle while cutting toward the hoop | Double tap Y while cutting toward the hoop |
| Finish Alley-oop | Press the button shown once the meter reaches the make window when receiving the pass | Press the button shown once the meter reaches the make window when receiving the pass |
Timing the Meter on an Alley-Oop
- To finish an alley-oop, TAP (not hold) the corresponding button (e.g. X, B, Y, etc.) that will be displayed at random during the dunking animation
- Time it as close to the white marker as possible. This well will increase the likelihood of finishing the alley-oop dunk.
Another alley-oop option, that is to NBA 2K26, is the addition of contextual auto lob passes. With this new “Auto Lob to Moving Passes” controller setting enabled, pressing the normal pass button or icon passing will throw lob passes to moving receivers in situations where a normal chest pass would be more risky and prone to getting intercepted.
Alley-Oop Tips
- Having a good passer to throw the alley-oop and a good dunker to finish it improves the odds of completing the play
- Look for good angles to perform the alley-oop pass and take good angles to finish the alley-oop
- Make sure there’s a clear path to the hoop
- As an alley-oop finisher, try to be in sync with the passer and vice versa for opportunities to perform alley-oops
- Utilize baseline backdoor cuts
- As a passer of an alley-oop, increase the Pass Accuracy attribute and equip the Versatile Visionary badge
- As a dunker of an alley-oop, equip the Aerial Wizard badge and increase Driving Dunk attribute for MyPLAYER
Alley-Oop Animation Requirements
| Animation | DD | SD | Vert | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigman Contact | 70 | 85 | 60 | 6'10" | 7'4" |
| Elite Alley-Oop | 85 | Any | 60 | 5'9" | 7'4" |
| Elite Contact | 92 | Any | 80 | 5'9" | 7'4" |
| Pro Alley-Oop | 70 | Any | 30 | 5'9" | 7'4" |
| Pro Contact | 84 | Any | 70 | 5'9" | 7'4" |
| Small Contact | 86 | Any | 85 | 5'9" | 6'4" |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 90 | 60 | 70 | 6'5" | 7'4" |
| Anthony Davis | 70 | 80 | 70 | 6'10" | 7'4" |
| Aaron Gordon | 90 | 60 | 70 | 6'5" | 7'4" |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 90 | Any | 70 | 6'5" | 6'9" |
| Malik Monk | 90 | Any | 70 | 5'9" | 6'4" |
| Zion Williamson | 87 | Any | 60 | 6'5" | 7'4" |
