NBA 2k26 rolled out its early access on August 29, with the full release coming on Friday, available on both old-gen and next-gen Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, as well as on PC. The NBA’s feature video game has admittedly declined in quality and has gotten stale over the years, but it remains popular due to a lack of competition and, in my experience, Stockholm syndrome. Why do so many people spend money on games that they know aren’t worth the money? Who knows!
With the Knicks projected
to be one of the best teams in the NBA in 2025, they obviously got some high marks on the 2k26. Rating inflation makes it hard to compare to prior games (Notably, Karl-Anthony Towns would be the third-highest rated player in 2k16), but we can still use it as a note.
In terms of team rankings, the Knicks grade out as an 84 overall. According to the game, they’re a mediocre defensive and rebounding team, a great scoring team, and an okay playmaking team. They are tied for the second-best overall, behind the Thunder. Despite a 59 team rebounding, that’s still top-ten. Their weakest attributes as a team are playmaking and defense, both bottom ten.
Jalen Brunson is one of the highest-rated players in the game, coming in as a 93 overall. It’s his same overall as last year, which means it is tied for the highest overall a Knicks player has ever been in a 2k game, along with 2k11 Carmelo Anthony. He’s tied for the tenth-highest rated player in the game with Kevin Durant, Tyrese Haliburton, and Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks’ captain has a fair breakdown in his stats, boasting elite scoring and playmaking while being mediocre defensively. He does have a 73 perimeter defense, a solid testament to Brunson’s aptitude when not overwhelmed physically.
Right behind Brunson is KAT, who comes in as a 92 overall. This is the first time the Knicks have ever had two 90s, as KAT was an 88 last year. It’s also the highest overall of his career, previously peaking at a 91 in 2k19. Only Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Anthony Davis are higher among bigs. Towns’ strengths are scoring at the rim and deep, but he only has a 69 mid-range and is mediocre in terms of playmaking. Of course, if the 2k graders saw that one Orlando Magic game, he would be elite at both.
His weaknesses are also apparent on defense and, apparently offensive rebounding, which I think is an overreaction. There are a couple of harsh grades here, but KAT is overall graded out well. He’s a borderline top-ten shooter, as well.
Wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges sit at an 85 and 84 overall, respectively. Bridges being just one overall better than Cam Johnson doesn’t sit right, nor does Anunoby being the same overall as 2025 Kristaps Porzingis.
Anunoby grades out as an elite defender, with his 90 perimeter defense rating being ninth in basketball. He’s got really bad passing and rebounding attributes, but makes up for it by being a good shooter and doing a lot of little things. OG also has a mediocre mid-range, which he can hopefully improve with more of his patented “green animations”. One last note on OG, he apparently pressed 2k’s head honcho about his rating, which I call BS on. OG? Of all people?
Bridges stagnated at an 84 after being s an 86 as recently as 2k24. He has one of the best close and mid-range shots in the game after shooting incredible numbers on both last season, and still has an 83 3-ball after a challenging season from the perimeter. His defense has regressed, especially on the interior, steal, and block. He has 92 stamina and 95 hustle, something that could honestly be higher.
Josh Hart comes in at a 81, going down one overall point from last year. Hart has a 91 close shot, as he’s one of the best finishers in basketball and a 79 three-pointer. He has 99 stamina and 96 hustle, which, of course. His defense hasn’t taken a hit despite questionable periods last season, but the biggest question I have is the rebounding. 81 defensive, 57 offensive? Do we know who we’re talking about?
Mitchell Robinson is down to a 78, which is unfortunately the lowest overall he’s been since his rookie year. The injuries just piled up, and I guess a guy with no offensive versatility will not grade out well in a video game. Who gave him a 68 mid-range, though? He hasn’t made one in seven years! Mitch only has a 49 perimeter defense and 76 vertical, which is much too low. Do we not remember Game 6 vs Boston?
His best attribute? 98 offensive rebounding, the highest in the game by two (Steven Adams, 96). That’s more like it.
After that, we get the bench. Jordan Clarkson is a 78, Guerschon Yabusele is a 77, and Deuce McBride is a 76. Deuce’s three-pointer is the same as Yabusele’s, which either means he’s getting disrespected or we’re gonna have some fun with Yabu.
Deuce suffers from what I call “role player blur”, where the ratings don’t properly reflect the player because he’s one of dozens of role players who do similar things. For example, he has some disrespectful defensive ratings. His only above-average grade is an 81 perimeter defense, which is also low. He also has a laughably high 96 mid-range, something that’s odd considering it’s not something he’s known for.
As for the rest, Tyler Kolek is a 71, Ariel Hukporti is a 70, and both Pacome Dadiet and Kevin McCullar Jr. are 69s. Hukporti might be a bit low here based on what we’ve seen, but it’s fair to call him unproven. Kolek’s attributes look fine, although I’d give him a playmaking boost. Notably, Mo Diawara is not currently in the game.
So, what do you think about the grades? Is anyo ne too high? Too low? Did 2k get it right? You can do your own snooping at 2kratings.com
