NBA 2K26 introduced the "Green Window" mechanic for shooting, which has become a major feature in the game. This mechanic allows players to time their shots perfectly within a specific "green" zone, giving them the best chance to score. While the green window is much larger and more forgiving in NBA 2K26 than in past versions, some players are still debating what the ideal shooting system should look like.

Green Window vs. RNG: What Is the Real Skill Gap?
Random Number Generation (RNG) in previous NBA 2K games made shooting outcomes partly luck-based. NBA 2K25 was criticized for having "RNG on steroids," where even skilled timing couldn't guarantee a basket. NBA 2K26 moved away from that by giving players a massive green window, making it much easier to score with good timing.

Despite this, many believe the real skill gap—the true test of player shooting ability—comes not from a big green window, but from a shooting system with no RNG and a small green window. This means shots require precise timing, removing randomness and rewarding pure skill.

The History: What Happened in 2K24?
At the start of NBA 2K24, the game featured a small green window and less RNG, creating a challenging but more skill-based shooting experience. However, many players complained the shooting was too hard, leading 2K to expand the green window and add more randomness to make shooting "easier" for the majority. Similarly, some fans complained about the grind in MyTEAM, which is why they prefer to buy NBA 2K26 MT instead of spending hours chasing rewards.

Why Was Shooting Made Easier in NBA 2K26?
The gameplay director, Mike Wang, reportedly designed NBA 2K26’s shooting mechanics with a larger green window and reduced RNG to avoid the complaints that plagued 2K24. The idea was to balance accessibility and skill so that players could feel rewarded without needing to overly buff shooting during the season.

What Could Be Better?
Many longtime NBA 2K players wish for the old system with no RNG and a smaller green window, as it clearly defines the skill gap between players. Such a system would reward consistency and practice rather than luck, pushing the competitive scene to higher levels.

NBA 2K26’s green window is a big step forward from the chaotic RNG in 2K25, giving players a fairer shooting mechanic. However, the ideal would be removing RNG entirely and focusing on a tighter green window that rewards true skill. Whether 2K will return to this model in the future remains to be seen, but for now, the bigger green window is a compromise between skill and accessibility.