Originally scheduled to release on May 22, 2018, the game was delayed to October 16 due to Saber finalizing a publishing deal with 2K.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 received several content updates after its release, which added new courts, cosmetics, and players.

In order to unlock new characters, card packs have to be bought with Baller Bucks, the in-game currency.

[4] There are nine different abilities, including freezing the opponent's basket for a limited time and double points for dunks or three-pointers.

[4] On April 17, 2018, following a rating by the Australian Classification Board, Saber Interactive announced that the game, then known as NBA Playgrounds 2, would release for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Saber Interactive told Polygon that the pre-orders were refunded because they felt that it was the "right thing to do for our fans".

[17][18][19] Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch stated that 2K was committed to bringing a "great basketball experience" to players.

[20] Commenting on the partnership, Visual Concepts president Greg Thomas stated that the game would have some "added NBA 2K flair".

[26][27][28] While 2K did not make an official announcement, a listing on Best Buy Canada showed that a physical version of the game would be available for the Nintendo Switch.

[31] In an October interview with Polygon, Karch stated that 2K Sports helped make "substantial" contributions in the game's development.

[33] NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 16, 2018.

[44] The update included a Halloween-themed playground, new outfits, a lottery pick called the Ankle Breaker, and the addition of former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

[44] Multiple technical improvements and balance changes were introduced, including blocking rates, character speed, and three-pointer percentages.

[47][48] In February 2019, the All Star update was released, adding a playground based on the court of the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

[49][50] The update added daily challenges, an item that can level up players to Diamond, and an unranked Championship Mode.

Stability fixes and improvements were introduced, including the ability to see player challenges in the pause menu.

[51] The update was released on March 7, adding a court dedicated to Alex Schachter, a victim of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

[56][57][58] Brandon Marlow from Push Square rated the game 5/10 stars, describing it as a "lacklustre effort" and a "disappointing" sequel.

[4] Ty Edwards from Nintendo World Report liked the addition of the Season mode, and commended the ability to unlock specific characters.

[60] Michael Higham from GameSpot praised the Lottey Pick power-ups, writing that it provided a "fun twist".