It’s summer and not much is going on, so let’s discuss where the Sacramento Kings land in the NBA 2K26 ratings.
As part of its marketing rollout for the release of this year’s version of the game, NBA 2K has been releasing various ratings in several categories over the last few weeks, most recently rolling out its top 100.
Three Kings made the top 50:
- Domantas Sabonis (33)
- Zach LaVine (47)
- DeMar DeRozan (50)
Interestingly, our old pal De’Aaron Fox was slotted in between LaVine and DeRozan at 48.
Rising into the Top 50 ?
Who are you surprised to see here in the #NBA2KTop100? pic.twitter.com/oCJYJYuE8t
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 18, 2025
Who are you surprised to see here in the #NBA2KTop100? pic.twitter.com/oCJYJYuE8t
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 18, 2025
Speaking of Sabonis, he ranked third in “Post Control,” with Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic above him.
Precision in the paint ?
The players with the highest rated Post Control in #NBA2K26 pic.twitter.com/RpeQHdX9Ii
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 15, 2025
Sabonis has the highest overall rating on the Kings of 87, down from 88 last season.
Here are some other Kings who ranked in the top 10 in specific categories:
- Keon Ellis is fifth in steals
- LaVine is sixth in three-point shot
- LaVine is eighth in driving dunk
- DeRozan is eighth in mid-range shot
In real life, Ellis is in the 94th percentile in steal percentage, according to Cleaning The Glass. LaVine is in the 96th percentile in three-point percentage. DeRozan is in the 85th percentile in midrange percentage.
Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud did not make the top 10 rookies list. And Dennis Schroder, the Kings new point guard, has an overall rating of 78.
As far as the team, the Kings have an overall rating of 82, with a dismal 54 rating on defense and 54 for rebounding.
2K’s ratings are based on a “formula” that includes physical and mental attributes. There are around 30 attributes that get thrown into a formula for the overall rating.
What do you think about the ratings? Surprised by any? Don’t care?
And nothing about in their ratings take into account the Vegas Summer League Finals! What the actual heck? Does this figure into the odds of Kings winning the In Season Tournament Emirates Cup?-
Apologies if I seem to be dismissive – thank you for adding this to our Summer reading Blake. I am not a sports gamer (MMO RPG for me, which is it’s own pathology) but it is interesting, just silly in my book. It’s another pundit, different format, sharing pundit opinions. /shrug
Is this a motivator for NBA players? A point of pride or ridicule? Inquiring minds want to know.
I too have very little knowledge of 2K ratings, other than it’s from a video game. Are the rankings somewhat scientific with some merit, or are they akin to fantasy stats that over value boxscores (LaMelo Ball) as opposed to skilled winning style of basketball (Alex Caruso)?
They’re supposed to be realistic, but base some players and their ratings moreso on their stats I think
Teams with an opponents PPG within 1 point of the Kings last year:
Better: Pacers, Raptors
Worse: Mavs Sixers
Teams more than 1 PPG worse than the Kings:
Suns +1
Spurs +1
Grizz +1
Nugz +1
Pellies +4
Hawks +4
Bulls +4
Wizards +5
Jazz + 6
And yet, only the Bulls have a worse Drtg than the Kings.
These ratings are insane, but I guess that’s why they make ’em. For people to talk.
Last time I played a basketball video game:
NBA Street Vol II is an all-timer. That was my last.
Is this made by the same team that did Jordan vs Bird? lol
My older brother and I used to have an annual matchup on Thanksgiving in Double Dribble on NES, we started in the late 80’s and it went on through the early 2000’s until the NES finally broke.
Maybe we can get 1357 comments on
potentialmake-believe/pretend/fantasy trades to these video game rosters.Supposedly MLB is thinking of expansion and realignment. Any chance that Sacramento, with its crippling lack of hotel space, is considered at all? Would the Kings under Vivek be better as a baseball team?
They’d probably be looking at Portland, Louisville, Memphis, and maybe San Jose since the Bay Area is down to one MLB team. Charlotte or Raleigh-Durham might be in the mix. Actually, Denver might enjoy a professional baseball team.
MLB ought to expand itself right back to Oakland with a new team owned by somebody who doesn’t throw nickels around like manhole covers.
Salt Lake is actually a pretty strong contender right now along with Nashville.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/07/20/mlb-trade-deadline-rumors-second-half/85289236007/
“Hey, just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”
-HJS
Badge Legend