The best rookies in NBA 2K27 are AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson, who all debut at 79 overall to share the top of the 2026 draft class. No first-year player starts at 80 this time, so these three lead a tightly bunched rookie group — here’s who to target in MyTEAM and MyNBA.
Here are the best rookies in NBA 2K27, how their launch ratings compare, and the second-year players who have already jumped ahead.
The best rookies in NBA 2K27
The top first-year players from the 2026 draft class by launch overall rating.
| # | Rookie | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Dybantsa | 79 |
| 2 | Cameron Boozer | 79 |
| 3 | Darryn Peterson | 79 |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson | 77 |
| 5 | Darius Acuff Jr. | 75 |
| 6 | Keaton Wagler | 75 |
| 7 | Kingston Flemings | 74 |
| 8 | Mikel Brown Jr. | 74 |
| 9 | Brayden Burries | 73 |
How rookie ratings work
Rookies enter NBA 2K27 with conservative overall ratings — 2K rarely starts a first-year player high, since they have no NBA minutes to judge. For context, Victor Wembanyama’s 84 is the highest rookie rating ever given, and Cooper Flagg’s 82 last year was the second-highest. This year’s class tops out at 79 (Dybantsa, Boozer and Peterson), so the value is in upside: play them well in MyNBA and their ratings climb. Expect 2K to bump the standouts within the first few ratings updates of the season.
The top rookies explained
Four first-year players worth drafting or chasing.
More rankings? See our NBA 2K27 highest-rated players, EA FC 27 best young players and best sports games guides.
Sophomores to note
Last year’s rookies are now second-year players, and some have jumped well clear of this class. They don’t count as rookies, but they’re the young players to build around.
| Player | OVR |
|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) | 87 |
| Dylan Harper | Rising sophomore |
| Kon Knueppel | Rising sophomore |
