Latest news with #SuperstarEdition
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mavericks' Cooper Flagg ranked as one of the top 100 players in NBA 2K26
Tipping off the #NBA2KTop100 🚨Which players stand out to you to start the list? Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is ranked as one of the top 100 players in the initial batch of overall ratings in NBA 2K26 unveiled by 2K Games on Saturday. Oklahoma City Thunder guard and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of the latest installment of NBA 2K26. Joining Gilgeous-Alexander as cover athletes are Carmelo Anthony (Superstar Edition) and Angel Reese (WNBA Edition). Flagg will begin next season as the highest-rated rookie with an overall rating of 82, topping Dylan Harper (78), Ace Bailey (77) and VJ Edgecombe (76). He is ranked 79th among all players in the league ahead of the worldwide release of the popular video game on Sept. 5. Flagg was the AP national college player of the year after leading Duke to the Final Four, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks on 38.5% shooting from 3-point range. He became the 22nd player in program history to be a consensus first-team All-American. The No. 1 pick debuted with the Mavericks last month in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 35.7% shooting from the field. He produced 31 points in his second and final appearance on July 12. Flagg is viewed as a generational prospect on the court and enters next season with tremendous hype as the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year. He is projected to play a key role as a first-year player, and the team is eager to see him take the court.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Pelicans' Jeremiah Fears ranked among leaders in one NBA 2K26 category
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears was an electric player at Oklahoma, and the seventh pick will see that ability carry over in at least one category in NBA 2K26. Fears was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 43.4% shooting from the field in 34 games. He ranked seventh in the conference in scoring and seventh among all freshmen in the country. The 6-foot-4 guard showcased a quick burst last season that enabled him to blow past defenders for easy looks in the paint and trips to the free-throw line. 2K Games took notice and has him with an initial 92 speed rating with the ball, the fifth-best mark among all players. Oklahoma City Thunder guard and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of NBA 2K26, set to release on Sept. 5. Joining Gilgeous-Alexander as a cover athlete are Carmelo Anthony (Superstar Edition) and Angel Reese (WNBA Edition). Fears will begin the 2025-26 season with an overall rating of 73, the eighth-highest ranking among first-year players. He trails the likes of Cooper Flagg (82), Dylan Harper (78), Ace Bailey (77) and VJ Edgecombe (76), among other players. The 18-year-old debuted with the Pelicans in the NBA Summer League, averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals on 40% shooting from the field in five appearances. He finished off his stay in the desert with a 22-point, seven-rebound effort on July 18.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA 2K26 ratings revealed for Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, other top rookies
2K Games on Tuesday unveiled several player ratings from the incoming draft class for NBA 2K26 ahead of the global release of the popular video game on Sept. 5. Oklahoma City Thunder guard and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition of the latest installment of NBA 2K26. Joining Gilgeous-Alexander as a cover athlete are Carmelo Anthony (Superstar Edition) and Angel Reese (WNBA Edition). The three athletes are each on the Leave No Doubt Edition. 2K Games will begin rolling out the top attribute ratings on Aug. 11, with the top 100 to follow on Aug. 16. The franchise announced the 10 highest rookie ratings, which include many of the lottery selections from the draft in June. 10. Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors Draft Pick: 9th Overall Rating: 72 9. Egor Dёmin, Brooklyn Nets Draft Pick: 8th Overall Rating: 72 8. Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans Draft Pick: 7th Overall Rating: 73 7. Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns Draft Pick: 10th Overall Rating: 74 6. Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards Draft Pick: 6th Overall Rating: 75 5. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets Draft Pick: 4th Overall Rating: 75 4. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers Draft Pick: 3rd Overall Rating: 76 3. Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz Draft Pick: 5th Overall Rating: 77 2. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs Draft Pick: 2nd Overall Rating: 78 1. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks Draft Pick: 1st Overall Rating: 82
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NBA 2K26 reveals cover athletes for WNBA, Superstar Editions
The post NBA 2K26 reveals cover athletes for WNBA, Superstar Editions appeared first on ClutchPoints. Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was announced as the cover athlete for the all new NBA 2K26, which is set to release this fall. And he'll be joined by NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and WNBA star Angel Reese. Advertisement The former Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks forward as well as the Chicago Sky's two-time WNBA All-Star will both be featured as cover athletes for this year's game. NBA 2K26 reveals cover athletes for WNBA, Superstar Editions NBA 2K made it official on Wednesday morning, declaring that Carmelo Anthony will be featured on the Superstar Edition of the video game while Angel Reese will be the cover athlete for the WNBA edition of the game. Additionally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony, and Reese will also be featured together on NBA 2K26's 'Leave No Doubt' Edition of the game. Via Senior Vice President & General Manager of NBA 2K, Zak Armitage: Advertisement 'Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's elite IQ and ice-cold composure mixed with his effortless street style, Angel Reese's on-court bravado and ability to own the moment, and Carmelo's reputation as one of the most iconic trendsetters and prolific scorers in NBA history leave no doubt they're superstars on the court and in any room they walk into. NBA 2K26 is all about proving yourself on the court, and immortalizing greatness. These three are among the boldest, most confident, and stylish personalities in the NBA and WNBA.' 'Every kid who grows up playing basketball pictures themselves on the cover of NBA 2K – it's a dream come true moment, especially following an NBA Championship,' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a statement. 'Being on the cover is iconic but working with 2K and Visual Concepts to set the tone in-game from curating the tunnel fits to the playlist that players will ball to is what makes this truly special.' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a season in which he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field. He won the NBA's regular season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP en route to his first NBA Championship. Advertisement 'Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone—it's a statement,' Angel Reese said in a statement released Wednesday. 'It's about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically. To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole. I'm proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women's basketball and can't wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before.' Angel Reese is only in her second season in the WNBA, but has already been named a two-time All-star for the Chicago Sky. She's averaging 13.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this season after putting up 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals her rookie season. 'For more than 20 years, 2K fans have been a part of my journey,' Carmelo Anthony relayed in his statement released Wednesday. 'Being honored on the cover of NBA 2K26 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year is surreal. It's a celebration of every chapter, every city that embraced me. Every team that believed in me. an very person who's been part of this ride with me.' Carmelo Anthony played 19 years in the NBA, including with the Denver Nuggets,. New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers. In 1260 regular season games, Anthony boasts career averages of 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three. Advertisement Anthony is a 10-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA team selection, a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, and will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this fall. Related: NBA rumors: Brian Windhorst shuts down Cavs-Lakers LeBron James trade Related: Ranking NBA buyout candidates and their best potential fits
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Angel Reese, Carmelo Anthony chosen for NBA 2K26 covers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has compiled a few accolades the last few months. He finished the 2024-25 regular season as the NBA scoring champion. He was named the Western Conference finals MVP in May and then the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league championship last month. His first signature shoe with Converse will be released this fall, and last week, he agreed to a four-year supermax contract extension worth $285 million. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander can add 'video game cover athlete' to that growing list of accomplishments. Wednesday morning, NBA 2K announced Gilgeous-Alexander, WNBA forward Angel Reese and NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as the cover athletes for NBA 2K26, which will be released in September. Gilgeous-Alexander will be on the cover of the video game's Standard Edition, and Reese will be the cover for the WNBA Edition. Anthony will be the cover for the for the Superstar Edition, an exclusive that includes 100,000 virtual currency (VC), which is a digital form of currency used to purchase upgrades within the game. To add, the trio of athletes will share a cover for the game's 'Leave No Doubt' Edition, a special release that includes everything in the Superstar Edition plus an additional 35,000 VC. Weeks after leading the Thunder to a hard-fought, seven-game championship series win against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander is now starting to appreciate his historic season. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players to win the scoring title, league MVP and NBA Finals MVP in the same season. 'When you look back, you realize it,' Gilgeous-Alexander told The Athletic in a one-on-one interview. 'Being in the midst of it and getting lost in the process and getting lost in competing, I didn't really realize it. I didn't feel like I was doing something extraordinary. I was just going out there trying to be the best version of myself playing the game that I love. 'But it'll for sure be a season that I never forget.' Since the Thunder's championship parade, Gilgeous-Alexander said he'd kept a low profile to spend time with family after a draining season. He said the game being released around the same time as his signature shoe is an added bonus. 'It's a childhood dream come true,' he said of the video game cover. 'Those feelings are the best feelings in the world, and it's hard to wrap your head around, really. It feels amazing.' Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander said signing the extension was an easy decision. The Thunder are champions and have the nucleus of the team under contract for next season. The Canadian guard, a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team selection, added that Thunder fans 'never wavered' in their support through the years and have helped him make Oklahoma City a home away from home. 'You feel the love, and you feel the appreciation,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. '(The extension) was a no-brainer, obviously, but to know that I have a little bit more of a run in Oklahoma City is a great thing.' Gilgeous-Alexander finished the 2024-25 season averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game during the regular season, all while shooting 52 percent from the field. Being on the video game cover is special for a league MVP who, as a teen, enjoyed playing 2K using Andre Iguodala when he played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2012-13 season. Gilgeous-Alexander said he also used J.R. Smith when he played for the New York Knicks. Both were among Gilgeous-Alexander's favorites, two athletes he watched throughout their careers. Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Reese has fond memories of the video game growing up. She recalled her first times playing 2K in the early 2010s, back when LeBron James was with the Miami Heat. The game, she said, helped build a stronger bond with her younger brother. It's a different vibe, however, being one of the faces of the game. 'I'm just really happy to be a part of something that's legendary, something that two other great players are on,' Reese said. Additionally, Reese finds herself on the cover of the game and hopes to be an inspiration for girls looking to follow in her footsteps. On July 1, she was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 19.7 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and two steals in three games between June 23-29. This past Sunday, Reese was named a reserve for the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 'If you can see it, you can believe it,' Reese said. 'Hopefully, that gives them the opportunity to know that they can do these same things.' As of Tuesday, Reese is averaging 13.2 points, a WNBA-best 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals through 18 games. No other player in the league is averaging 10 rebounds per contest. 'You don't win championships without rebounds and without defense,' Reese said. 'The greatest players play both sides of the ball. Advertisement 'I'm only in my second year, and I'm just reaching to where my potential can actually go. I think I've done a great job so far, just giving myself grace and just continuing to get better every single day.' Reese specializes in rebounding. Anthony, like Gilgeous-Alexander, can put the ball in the basket. A 10-time NBA All-Star and the league scoring champion in 2013, Anthony scored 28,289 points — which ranks 10th all-time on the NBA career scoring list — and averaged 22.5 points per game in 19 seasons. To add, Anthony is a four-time Olympic medalist in men's basketball, three of them gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016. His résumé was good enough to earn a spot in the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class — for his individual play and for his contributions on 'The Redeem Team' in 2008 after the United States finished the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece with a disappointing bronze medal. (Images courtesy of NBA 2K)
