Over the past few days, NBA 2K26 has revealed ratings for several players in key areas such as 3-point and mid-range shooting. And now, we’ve been given a look at who 2K has crowned as the best first-year players in this year’s game.
The rookie class is always a hot topic in MyNBA, MyTEAM, and online play, and this year’s group has plenty of intriguing names. Here is the full list of the highest-rated rookies in NBA 2K26:
- Cooper Flagg – Dallas Mavericks (82 OVR)
- Dylan Harper – San Antonio Spurs (78 OVR)
- Ace Bailey – Indiana Pacers (77 OVR)
- V.J. Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers (76 OVR)
- Kon Knuppel II – Orlando Magic (75 OVR)
- Tre Johnson – Washington Wizards (75 OVR)
- Khaman Maluach – Utah Jazz (74 OVR)
- Jeremiah Fears – New Orleans Pelicans (73 OVR)
- Egor Demin – Brooklyn Nets (72 OVR)
- Collin Murray-Boyles – Charlotte Hornets (72 OVR)
The future is bright
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 12, 2025
Here are the Top 10 rookies entering the League in #NBA2K26 pic.twitter.com/EeQOe6zIAx
Cooper Flagg Leads The Pack
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to predict that No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg would top the list in terms of rookie ratings. While with Duke, Flagg stood out as easily the best college hoops player in the nation. With an 82 OVR, he’s one of the highest-rated rookies in a 2K game we’ve seen in a while, but it’s earned, and Mavericks fans should be excited to see how he develops in the NBA.
Dylan Harper (78 OVR) and Ace Bailey (77 OVR) round out the top three. Known for his crafty ball-handling and finishing ability, Harper should be a menace in his rookie season with the Spurs. Bailey, on the other hand, is more of a long-term project that will require top-notch coaching to truly unlock his potential (at least in real life). That said, he had the reputation of a deadly pull-up shooter in college. And if the modern style of the NBA is any indication, Bailey’s existing skillset should be a good fit, especially for the Pacers.
Sixers rookie V.J. Edgecombe (76 OVR) was a source of controversy in terms of his rating, at least on social media. Personally, I think his current ability should be higher than Ace Bailey’s right now, as Edgecombe excels in an area that good NBA coaches absolutely love — defense. On top of that, he’s an unreal athlete who seems to have NBA-level confidence. And, most importantly, he’s been putting in the work to be a more well-rounded player and not just rely on his explosiveness.
Outside of that, I can’t say I disagree with these ratings all that much. But what do you think of NBA 2K26‘s rookie ratings this year? Let us know in the comments!
