NBA 2K26 reveals its incoming rookie attribute landscape ahead of the Sept. 5 global release, headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the Standard Edition cover, with Carmelo Anthony and Angel Reese on other editions. The Leave No Doubt Edition binds all three covers. The top 100 rookies begin their rating drip on Aug. 16, following a rollout of the ten highest rookie ratings, spotlighting lottery picks and immediate fantasy-interest players.

Key names from the draft class surface: Cooper Flag gunning for DAL, Tre Johnson to WAS, Kon Knueppel to CHA, VJ Edgecombe to PHI, Collin Murray-Boyles to TOR, and Egor Demin to BKN, among others. Oklahoma City’s Shai headline the roster, while veterans and cross-league crossovers pepper the chatter. The ratings push fantasy managers to eye early-season roles, minute share, and potential breakout paths, especially for rookies tied to team rebuilds and young cores.

In fantasy terms, the ratings set a framework for early roster decisions and dynasty pivots. Expect these rookie ceilings to inform draft-day value, situational roles, and strategic adds as teams refine rotation plans after the rollout and into training camp.