The countdown to NBA 2K26 is heating up, and with it comes one of the most debated reveals of the year — the player ratings. Ahead of its September 5, 2025 release, 2K Sports has dropped the ratings for players ranked 100 through 51, and let’s just say not everyone made it out unscathed.
Some of the league’s most recognisable names have suffered dramatic drops this year. Paul George, Draymond Green, and Brandon Ingram — all former top-50 regulars — have seen their virtual stock take a notable dip. For long-time NBA and 2K fans, these declines feel like more than just numbers on a screen. They speak volumes about changing tides in the league.
Paul George’s era as a star takes a hit
It’s the fall no one saw coming, or maybe we just didn’t want to believe it. Last year, Paul George was a top-25 player with an 89 overall rating. Fast forward a year, and he’s landed at 92nd overall with an 81 rating, a staggering 68-spot freefall.
At 35 years old and coming off an inconsistent season with the Philadelphia 76ers, the decline was rooted in reality. George has battled through injuries and shifting roles, no longer the alpha scorer but more of a steadying veteran presence. NBA 2K26 pulls no punches, reflecting his reduced impact with a rating that might feel harsh to his fans — but fair to anyone following closely.
Draymond Green: From dynasty anchor to diminished presence
In the world of NBA 2K, defensive specialists often get overlooked, and Draymond Green knows this well. Once sitting safely in the top 65, boasting an 83 overall, Green now finds himself 90th, tied with George at 81 overall.
This drop likely doesn’t surprise fans who’ve watched the Warriors’ dynasty slowly fade. Green’s role has evolved: still vocal, still high-IQ, but clearly entering the twilight of his career. NBA 2K26 captures the mood shift perfectly: respect, but no longer reverence.
Ingram’s slippery slope
Brandon Ingram is one of those players that always felt like a breakout away from stardom. Last year, he was 49th with an 85 rating. This year? He’s sitting at 55th with an 84, hanging on to top-60 status by the skin of his teeth.
While a one-point drop doesn’t scream disappointment, context matters. Ingram, now 28, is in what’s supposed to be his prime. But NBA 2K clearly expected more evolution, and without that next step, he’s now part of the game’s competitive middle tier, brimming with promise but lacking transcendence.
The Full 100–51 Player Ranking List
Here’s the full breakdown of players ranked 100 through 51 in NBA 2K26, released across August 16 and 17:
- 100. Bobby Portis Jr. – 81
- 99. Shaedon Sharpe – 81
- 98. Aaron Nesmith – 81
- 97. Alexandre Sarr – 81
- 96. Jalen Johnson – 81
- 95. Andrew Nembhard – 81
- 94. Immanuel Quickley – 81
- 93. Onyeka Okongwu – 81
- 92. Paul George – 81
- 91. Josh Hart – 81
- 90. Draymond Green – 81
- 89. Anfernee Simons – 81
- 88. C.J. McCollum – 81
- 87. Dejounte Murray – 81
- 86. Jrue Holiday – 81
- 85. Herbert Jones – 81
- 84. Luguentz Dort – 81
- 83. Walker Kessler – 82
- 82. Toumani Camara – 82
- 81. Jaden McDaniels – 82
- 80. Isaiah Hartenstein – 82
- 79. Cooper Flagg – 82
- 78. Trey Murphy III – 82
- 77. Jalen Suggs – 82
- 76. Jalen Duren – 82
- 75. Nikola Vucevic – 82
- 74. Naz Reid – 82
- 73. Deni Avdija – 82
- 72. Brandon Miller – 82
- 71. Aaron Gordon – 82
- 70. John Collins – 82
- 69. Josh Giddey – 82
- 68. RJ Barrett – 82
- 67. Michael Porter Jr. – 82
- 66. Stephon Castle – 82
- 65. Coby White – 83
- 64. Dyson Daniels – 83
- 63. Cameron Johnson – 83
- 62. Myles Turner – 83
- 61. Jalen Green – 83
- 60. Desmond Bane – 83
- 59. Jarrett Allen – 84
- 58. Norman Powell – 84
- 57. Rudy Gobert – 84
- 56. Mikal Bridges – 84
- 55. Brandon Ingram – 84
- 54. Lauri Markkanen – 84
- 53. Kristaps Porzingis – 85
- 52. OG Anunoby – 85
- 51. Scottie Barnes – 85
Rising stars and steady vets
It’s not all doom and gloom. The list is peppered with young risers like Coby White (83 at 65th) and Jalen Green (83 at 61st), who’ve made enough noise to move up the pecking order. Meanwhile, reliable two-way players like OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes landed solid 85 ratings, a nod to their lockdown defense and all-around play.
And then there’s Cooper Flagg, the viral rookie who hasn’t even stepped onto an NBA court yet — rated 82 and already cracking the top 80 at 79th. That’s a statement from 2K if there ever was one.
What these ratings say about the NBA
This mid-tier block of players is tightly packed, signalling a league where parity and positional versatility rule the narrative. NBA 2K26 doesn’t just mirror the stat sheet, it offers a temperature check on how players are perceived. For George, Green, and Ingram, the message is clear: the NBA is evolving, and the echelon they once dominated is shifting.
With the top 50 still under wraps, all eyes are on elite names like LeBron, Jokic, Giannis, and Doncic. But if this first reveal is any indication, 2K is ready to shake things up — no sacred cows, no rubber stamps.
And you know what? That’s what makes NBA 2K ratings so fascinating. They’re more than numbers: they’re paused moments in basketball’s ever-turning story. Now the countdown begins to see who will reign supreme at the top of NBA 2K26.