Arrow keys, WASD or swipe · U undo · N new game
Play NBA Players 2048 online
NBA Players 2048 is the classic merge puzzle with basketball legends on the tiles. Slide the board with a swipe or the arrow keys, and merge two matching players to move up to the next one. The goal is Bill Russell, the player with the most championships in league history. Play free in your browser on a phone or computer.
Arguments about the best players ever never end, so this ladder uses something you can count: NBA championship rings. It starts with Wilt Chamberlain, who won two titles and once scored 100 points in a game, and climbs through stars with three, four, five and six rings. Bill Russell won 11 titles with the Boston Celtics in 13 seasons.
The 11 NBA Players tiles
The tiles are ordered by NBA titles won as a player. Wilt Chamberlain has two, with the 76ers and the Lakers, and Larry Bird won three with the Celtics. Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Stephen Curry have four each. Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant have five. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six, one with the Bucks and five with the Lakers, and Michael Jordan won six with the Bulls in the 1990s. Players with the same number are listed by when their first title came. Bill Russell tops the ladder with 11 championships, a record that has stood since 1969.
2Wilt ChamberlainTile 2 · 2 rings
4Larry BirdTile 4 · 3 rings
8Shaquille O’NealTile 8 · 4 rings
16LeBron JamesTile 16 · 4 rings
32Stephen CurryTile 32 · 4 rings
64Magic JohnsonTile 64 · 5 rings
128Tim DuncanTile 128 · 5 rings
256Kobe BryantTile 256 · 5 rings
512KareemTile 512 · 6 rings
1024Michael JordanTile 1024 · 6 rings
2048Bill RussellTile 2048 · 11 rings
Tile photos by Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under free licences. See the photo credits.
How to play NBA Players 2048
Slide every tile at once
Use your arrow keys ( ← ↑ ↓ → ) or W A S D to move the tiles.
All tiles slide as far as they can in that direction, and a new Wilt Chamberlain tile appears after every move.
Play on your phone
On a phone or tablet, swipe anywhere on the board to move the tiles.
Your game is saved in your browser, so you can pick it up later on the same device.
Match two to unlock the next
When two tiles with the same picture touch, they merge into one.
Two Wilt Chamberlain tiles make Larry Bird, and every merge adds the new tile’s value to your score.
Reach the final tile
The goal is to build the 2048 tile: Bill Russell.
You can keep playing after you reach it and chase an even higher score.
2048Tips to win NBA Players 2048
- Pick a home court corner and keep your best player there. Once Michael Jordan holds the corner, a second Jordan beside him is all you need for Bill Russell.
- Build a row that drops in rings as it moves from the corner: Kareem, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson. Merges then pass along the row like a clean fast break.
- Never press the direction that pulls your star off the corner unless you have to. Merge small Wilt and Bird tiles first to open space instead.
NBA Players 2048 FAQ
What is the final tile in NBA Players 2048?
The final tile is Bill Russell. He won 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics between 1957 and 1969, more than any other player in league history. Since the ladder is ordered by rings, he is the clear choice for the 2048 tile.
How are the players ordered?
By the number of NBA championships each won as a player, from two up to eleven. When players have the same number, such as Shaq, LeBron and Curry with four, they are ordered by when they won their first title.
Why is Michael Jordan not the final tile?
Jordan won six titles, which ties him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The ladder counts rings, and Bill Russell won 11, so Russell finishes on top. Jordan is the 1024 tile, just one merge below.
Is NBA Players 2048 free?
Yes. It is free in any web browser on phone, tablet or computer. There is no download or sign-up, and it is not an official NBA product.
