Explore · Test · Confirm
The Lab
The game strips the HUD on purpose, so half of what players "know" is guesswork. The Lab is where we settle it — each hidden system is an open question we test with evidence and move from Theory → Testing → Confirmed (or Busted).
Open investigations9
Live questions the community is testing right now. The newest work sits on top — jump into any Evidence Locker and post what you see.
Goaltending: The Rim-Camp Block and What the Aug 10 Nerf Left Standing
Now testingTestingWhen do you jump, what actually earns the block (does your hand have to pass through the ball?), and is goaltending driven by height or Blocks rating — LeBron looks like the best at it post-nerf, and he's neither the tallest nor the highest-rated blocker.
The August 10 Patch: Hidden Nerfs, a Goaltending Reveal, and Two Zone Swaps
TestingWhich of the August 10 patch's stated changes moved hidden values without flipping a bar — and how big are those invisible moves in real games?
Jump & Block Height: Is It Height, Block Rating, or Power?
TestingDoes a player's vertical (block/dunk jump height) come from their height, their Block rating, their Power, or a combination?
In the Zone: Your Meter, the 30-Second Boost, and Signature Abilities
TestingWhat charges a player's In the Zone meter fastest — dunks, dimes, tricks, or buckets — and how long does the active window really last?
Enhanced Guard & Enhanced Block: The Hidden Defense Inputs Nobody Talks About
TestingEnhanced Guard (RT+LT) verifiably drains stamina while plain guard doesn't — so what does that stamina buy? And what does Enhanced Block (RT+Y) do?
Stamina: The Ring Under Your Feet and Why Late Possessions Win Games
TestingExactly which actions does empty stamina disable, and how much does refill rate vary by character?
July 21 Patch: Brunson's New Crowns, the Rookies & the Steal Nerf
TestingHow deep does Peterson's Deep Threat range dot actually run, did the second steal nerf kill the passing-lane gamble, and does Block Party flip squad-building toward blocks?
June 25 Patch: Which 'Updated' Players Actually Changed?
TestingThe patch says Bam, SGA, and Wembanyama were updated — but their visible bars didn't move. Did they get hidden buffs, and do identical bars hide different real values?
Shoving: How Much Does Power Decide a Bump-Off Turnover?
TestingDoes a higher Power rating reliably win shove battles and force turnovers — or did the dev tuning flatten it so Power barely matters?
Case closed3
Questions this process already settled — tested with evidence, then written up as reference. This is what the open threads turn into.
The Shot Meter (There Isn't One): How Shooting Really Works
ConfirmedIs there a hidden shot meter, and what exactly triggers a perfect 'on-fire' shot?
Hotspots: The Range Dot Under Your Feet Explained
ConfirmedAre the green/yellow/orange/red range dots purely about distance, or are they per-character hotspots?
Rebounding: Height Is a Real Bonus on the Glass
ConfirmedDoes a player's height give a measurable rebounding advantage on top of their Rebound rating?