The 2025-26 NBA season may seem like it’s a ways away, but it’s fast approaching.
One of the annual traditions in the lead-up to the NBA season is 2K Day, the name given to the date that NBA 2K releases. This year, 2K Day falls on Friday, Sept. 5, with early access to the game beginning on Saturday, Aug. 30.
For the second consecutive year, a champion will grace the cover, as Oklahoma City MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander graces the front of the standard edition. He’ll be joined by Chicago Sky All-Star Angel Reese and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as the game’s other cover athletes.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
After turning in a historic NBA campaign, Gilgeous-Alexander is sure to be one of the highest-rated players in this year’s game. Who will join him? The Sporting News has you covered with ratings updates from the release of NBA 2K26.
MORE:Â Everything to know about release of NBA 2K26
NBA 2K26 ratings
After the success of ratings reveals for NBA 2K25, the game is again revealing the top 100 players ahead of the release of NBA 2K26.
The rollout began on Saturday, Aug. 16, and continued throughout the following week. Here is a look at the top players in this year’s iteration of the annual NBA game.
| Rank | Player | Team | 2K26 rating |
| 11 | Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 93 |
| 12 | Anthony Davis | Mavericks | 93 |
| 13 | Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 93 |
| 14 | Tyrese Haliburton | Pacers | 93 |
| 15 | Kawhi Leonard | Clippers | 92 |
| 16 | Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 92 |
| 17 | Joel Embiid | 76ers | 92 |
| 18 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 92 |
| 19 | Ja Morant | Grizzlies | 91 |
| 20 | Devin Booker | Suns | 91 |
| 21 | Jalen Williams | Thunder | 90 |
| 22 | Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 90 |
| 23 | Trae Young | Hawks | 90 |
| 24 | Kyrie Irving | Mavericks | 90 |
| 25 | Paolo Banchero | Magic | 89 |
| 26 | Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 89 |
| 27 | Pascal Siakam | Pacers | 89 |
| 28 | James Harden | Clippers | 89 |
| 29 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | Grizzlies | 89 |
| 30 | Bam Adebayo | Heat | 88 |
| 31 | Chet Holmgren | Thunder | 88 |
| 32 | Damian Lillard | Trail Blazers | 88 |
| 33 | Domantas Sabonis | Kings | 87 |
| 34 | Alperen Sengun | Rockets | 87 |
| 35 | LaMelo Ball | Hornets | 87 |
| 36 | Darius Garland | Cavaliers | 87 |
| 37 | Zion Williamson | Pelicans | 87 |
| 38 | Ivica Zubac | Clippers | 87 |
| 39 | Derrick White | Celtics | 87 |
| 40 | Jimmy Butler | Warriors | 87 |
| 41 | Amen Thompson | Rockets | 87 |
| 42 | Tyler Herro | Heat | 86 |
| 43 | Tyrese Maxey | 76ers | 86 |
| 44 | Jamal Murray | Nuggets | 86 |
| 45 | Franz Wagner | Magic | 86 |
| 46 | Julius Randle | Timberwolves | 86 |
| 47 | Zach LaVine | Kings | 85 |
| 48 | De’Aaron Fox | Spurs | 85 |
| 49 | Austin Reaves | Lakers | 85 |
| 50 | DeMar DeRozan | Kings | 85 |
| 51 | Scottie Barnes | Raptors | 85 |
| 52 | O.G. Anunoby | Knicks | 85 |
| 53 | Kristaps Porzingis | Hawks | 85 |
| 54 | Lauri Markkanen | Jazz | 84 |
| 55 | Brandon Ingram | Raptors | 84 |
| 56 | Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 84 |
| 57 | Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | 84 |
| 58 | Norman Powell | Heat | 84 |
| 59 | Jarrett Allen | Cavaliers | 84 |
| 60 | Desmond Bane | Magic | 83 |
| 61 | Jalen Green | Suns | 83 |
| 62 | Myles Turner | Bucks | 83 |
| 63 | Cameron Johnson | Nuggets | 83 |
| 64 | Dyson Daniels | Hawks | 83 |
| 65 | Coby White | Bulls | 83 |
| 66 | Stephon Castle | Spurs | 83 |
| 67 | Michael Porter Jr. | Nets | 83 |
| 68 | R.J. Barrett | Raptors | 83 |
| 69 | Josh Giddey | Bulls | 82 |
| 70 | John Collins | Clippers | 82 |
| 71 | Aaron Gordon | Nuggets | 82 |
| 72 | Brandon Miller | Hornets | 82 |
| 73 | Deni Avdija | Trail Blazers | 82 |
| 74 | Naz Reid | Timberwolves | 82 |
| 75 | Nikola Vucevic | Bulls | 82 |
| 76 | Jalen Duren | Pistons | 82 |
| 77 | Jalen Suggs | Magic | 82 |
| 78 | Trey Mutphy III | Pelicans | 82 |
| 79 | Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | 82 |
| 80 | Isaiah Hartenstein | Thunder | 82 |
| 81 | Jaden McDaniels | Timberwolves | 82 |
| 82 | Toumani Camara | Trail Blazers | 82 |
| 83 | Walker Kessler | Jazz | 82 |
| 84 | Luguentz Dort | Thunder | 81 |
| 85 | Herb Jones | Pelicans | 81 |
| 86 | Jrue Holiday | Trail Blazers | 81 |
| 87 | Dejounte Murray | Pelicans | 81 |
| 88 | C.J. McCollum | Wizards | 81 |
| 89 | Anfernee Simons | Celtics | 81 |
| 90 | Draymond Green | Warriors | 81 |
| 91 | Josh Hart | Knicks | 81 |
| 92 | Paul George | 76ers | 81 |
| 93 | Onyeka Okongwu | Hawks | 81 |
| 94 | Immanuel Quickley | Raptors | 81 |
| 95 | Andrew Nembhard | Pacers | 81 |
| 96 | Jalen Johnson | Hawks | 81 |
| 97 | Alex Sarr | Wizards | 81 |
| 98 | Aaron Nesmith | Pacers | 81 |
| 99 | Shaedon Sharpe | Trail Blazers | 81 |
| 100 | Bobby Portis | Bucks | 81 |
MORE:Â Ranking the 15 best games on the 2025-26 NBA schedule
NBA 2K26 top WNBA players
On Aug. 15, NBA 2K revealed the top 10 WNBA players on NBA 2K26. The list is headlined by last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier, while reigning MVP A’ja Wilson isn’t too far behind.
| Rank | Player | Team | 2K26 rating |
| 1 | Napheesa Collier | Lynx | 98 |
| 2 | A’ja Wilson | Aces | 97 |
| 3 | Breanna Stewart | Liberty | 97 |
| 4 | Caitlin Clark | Fever | 96 |
| 5 | Alyssa Thomas | Mercury | 95 |
| 6 | Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 93 |
| 7 | Nneka Ogwumike | Storm | 92 |
| 8 | Satou Sabally | Mercury | 92 |
| 9 | Jonquel Jones | Liberty | 92 |
| 10 | Angel Reese | Sky | 90 |
