The Mavericks guard tops NBA 2K27 ball handling at 99 for a third straight game. Stephen Curry is second at 97, with Donovan Mitchell tenth at 93.
DALLAS - Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving holds the highest ball-handling rating in NBA 2K27 at 99, according to a top 10 list 2K posted Wednesday afternoon.
Stephen Curry ranked second at 97. Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each came in at 96. LaMelo Ball, Luka Dončić, Trae Young and James Harden all landed at 95. Darius Garland was ninth at 94, and Donovan Mitchell closed the list at 93.
Irving carried a 99 ball handling rating in NBA 2K26. He was at 99 in NBA 2K25 as well.
On last year's list, Curry was second at 97, and Ja Morant and Young tied at 96. Gilgeous-Alexander, Brunson, Harden and Dončić were grouped at 95. Kevin Durant ranked tenth. Morant and Durant are off the list this year, and Ball, Garland and Mitchell are new to it.
Washington acquired Young from Atlanta on Jan. 9 for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, and he signed a four-year contract worth roughly $212 million in June. Cleveland sent Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harden on Feb. 4. Charlotte traded Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota this offseason for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
Harden appeared on the graphic with a Cleveland logo. He declined a $42.3 million player option on June 29 and has not signed a new contract. He and the Cavaliers have been working through a new multi-year deal.
Irving has not played since March 3, 2025. He tore the ACL in his left knee against Sacramento and underwent reconstructive surgery on March 27. Dallas announced on Feb. 18 that he would not return during the 2025-26 season, the first full season he has missed in 15 years in the league. Irving has since been described by the team as fully recovered.
Last July, Irving declined a $42.9 million player option and signed a three-year, $118.5 million contract on July 6. He is due $39.5 million in 2026-27 and holds a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28. The deal carries a 15% trade bonus.
Much of the front office has turned over since the last ratings cycle. Masai Ujiri was hired as president of basketball operations in May, Jason Kidd was let go about two weeks later, and Mike Schmitz was later hired as general manager. Dallas announced Dusty May as the franchise's next head coach on the day of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Mavericks finished 26-56 and picked ninth in the draft. Cooper Flagg was named Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 season. Irving and Flagg have not played a game together. Dallas opens the preseason against Houston in China, which will be Irving's first possible game since returning from injury.
The ball handling list followed 2K reveals for three-point shot, vertical, driving dunk and speed with ball. Curry led the three-point category. De'Aaron Fox topped speed with ball at 97. Anthony Edwards led driving dunk, and Amen Thompson and Tobi Lawal shared the top vertical rating.
Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark and Derrick Rose are the NBA 2K27 cover athletes. The game releases Sept. 4, with early access beginning Aug. 28.
