I know that he's still only a rookie, but Darryn Peterson and the rest of the 2026 class are being severely disrespected.
I know it's a bit ridiculous to get in a tizzy over the arbitrary ratings number attached to digital versions of real-life athletes, but it quite surprising how low NBA 2K has measured the Utah Jazz's potential superstar rookie, Darryn Peterson, and the rest of his classmates in the 2026 draft.
From the initial round of ratings reveals for the upcoming NBA 2K27, Darryn Peterson was brought in to film his reaction to his first NBA 2K rating.
Given four multiple-choice answers to select from, Peterson opted for the lower number of the two realistic options: 80 and 79. And as a brief side note: when giving a joke option in a multiple-choice question -- as 2K's social media team did here with option D: 42 -- it's best to ensure that all three other options are feasible. 90 overall, the remaining answer, would be the highest rookie rating of all time. Six notches above Victor Wembanyama!
Here's the full video of Peterson's rating reveal.
79 is the magic number for Darryn Peterson, which feels relatively low for a player whom many consider to be the best prospect in the draft. Hovering around the 80 overall mark is common practice for 2K with their rookies, as it's challenging to know which players will stick in the NBA and which players may stumble at the professional level.
Taking it one step further, Peterson joins the players at either side of him in the draft order -- AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer -- as a 79 overall in 2K27. 79 is the peak of this class, so Peterson's inclusion at the top is a sign of respect.
But compared to other classes, 79 overall is a bit low.
For example, Cooper Flagg, last season's Rookie of the Year, debuted with an 82 overall rating, the second-highest in the game's history behind Victor Wembanyama, an 84 overall in his rookie year. Lonzo Ball received an 80 overall rating, despite entering the league with a glaring issue that would haunt him at the next level.
Dybantsa and Peterson are the best prospects in a fantastic draft class, and very well could develop into MVP-caliber players. They'll get the chance to prove their worth through the regular seasons -- and hopefully, the playoffs.
Of course, these ratings are subject to change, and they will, depending on each player's performance. Flagg was certainly deserving of his 82 overall rating, posting an exceptional rookie year in Dallas and boasting an 88 overall rating in 2K27.
