If you’re itching to know who the best shooters are in this year’s NBA 2K release, you’re in luck. The first wave of NBA 2K26 ratings is officially underway, spotlighting the most lethal perimeter and mid-range assassins on the virtual hardwood. With 2K’s annual Specialist Ratings reveal kicking off today, fans finally have their first peek at which players will be raining threes and finessing mid-range jumpers when NBA 2K26 drops.
This year’s early reveals focus on two crucial specialist categories every MyTeam and MyCareer fanatic lives for: Three-Point Shooting and Mid-Range Shooting. And yes — Steph Curry’s still the king.
Draining from Deep: NBA 2K26’s Top 10 Three-Point Shooters
Let’s be real: no list about long-range threat is complete without Stephen Curry, and 2K knows it. Taking the top spot with a jaw-dropping 99 three-point rating, the Warriors legend continues to be untouchable from beyond the arc.
But what’s interesting this year is the presence of some new names and unexpected contenders. Kevin Durant — now with the Houston Rockets — lands firmly at second with a 91 three-point shot. Not a typical top-tier NBA shooter by 2K standards, but KD’s range and offensive versatility clearly earned him the nod.
Here’s the full list of NBA 2K26’s top three-point marksmen as of the first ratings reveal:
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – 99 3PT Shot
- Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets) – 91 3PT Shot
- Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks) – 89 3PT Shot
- Desmond Bane (Orlando Magic) – 88 3PT Shot
- Isaiah Joe (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 88 3PT Shot
- Zach LaVine (Sacramento Kings) – 87 3PT Shot
- Grayson Allen (Phoenix Suns) – 87 3PT Shot
- Luke Kennard (Atlanta Hawks) – 87 3PT Shot
- Sam Hauser (Boston Celtics) – 87 3PT Shot
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) – 87 3PT Shot
It’s great to see a spread across teams and play styles. There’s a blend of pure shooters like Hauser and Kennard, plus athletic scoring guards like Edwards and LaVine, all cracking the top tier.
Money from Mid-Range: NBA 2K26’s Smoothest Operators
Now let’s pivot to the area between the arc and the rim — the mid-range game. Often neglected in favor of dunks and treys, this clutch zone still separates the cold-blooded bucket-getters from the casual scorers. And leading the way is none other than Nikola Jokić and Kyrie Irving, who each boast an elite 98 mid-range rating.
Other mid-range maestros include perennial scoring threats like Devin Booker, Kevin Durant (yes, again), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Let’s break it down:
- Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) – 98 Mid-Range
- Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks) – 98 Mid-Range
- Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets) – 97 Mid-Range
- Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) – 97 Mid-Range
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 97 Mid-Range
- Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers) – 97 Mid-Range
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – 97 Mid-Range
- DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento Kings) – 96 Mid-Range
- Miles McBride (New York Knicks) – 96 Mid-Range
- Khris Middleton (Washington Wizards) – 96 Mid-Range
One thing stands out: variety. Whether it’s size like Jokić, finesse like Kyrie, or footwork like DeRozan, these players deliver their buckets in dramatically different ways. And seeing underrated names like Andrew Nembhard and Miles McBride get high ratings only makes players curious about how 2K’s revamped shooting mechanics might favor mid-range assassins this year.
When can we expect full NBA 2K26 Player Ratings?
This week’s reveal is just the beginning. 2K will be dropping player rankings in batches, all building up to the big unveil of the game’s Top 100 ranked players starting on August 16. And the hype will hit its peak on August 21 when 2K finally names the #1 ranked player in NBA 2K26.
For those keeping score at home, that’s less than a month away. Sharpen those sticks, dial in your shot release, and keep your eyes peeled: if the specialist ratings are any indication, NBA 2K26 is going to shake the meta up in major ways.