The Mavs are without a 90-overall player in this year's edition of the video game.
Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside went viral for a postgame reaction to his breakout triple-double (with blocks!) by saying, "I'm just trying to get my NBA 2K Rating up!"
So, while the annual video game release is always a craze among young basketball fans, the game apparently transcends to the players as well.
NBA2K 27 releases on Sep. 4, and there are rumors going around of the leaked ratings of players on each team.
Player by player, we'll look at which Dallas Mavericks are receiving the most respect as the new video game drops, and which still have things to prove to "get their numbers up."
Cooper Flagg: 87 overall
Not much of a surprise here. The No. 1 overall pick started his NBA career as an 82, which was still the highest of his draft class. After a Rookie of the Year win and several league records now under his name, Flagg still has a tad more to improve on to get to the true elite status of a 90 or above.
2K frequently adjusts the players' averages in real time during the season, so I'd pick that Flagg will hit that number in his 19-year-old Year 2.
Kyrie Irving: 87 overall
Tied with Flagg is his new running mate, who returns from injury. Irving isn't the superstar that he once was, but he will always be listed among the best finishers in the league.
That's the case here with an A+ rating in his inside and midrange shot-making, likely with an array of layup packages to boot.
P.J. Washington: 79 overall
This is a steep drop overall from Irving to Washington, but I don't have any problem with P.J. being the "third-best" player on this team ... but really, there are three others joining here. We know that role is likely to be determined by several factors and could change from game to game.
Among the tenured captains on the team, I still think Washington is a better player than a 79. I guess we'll see how he responds after a so-so season last year.
Naji Marshall: 79 overall
Marshall landed a new long-term contract extension and ranks near the top of the team. After starting 47 of the 74 games he played last year in Dallas, his role could grow even more as the Mavs could value his continuity with the few returners.
Daniel Gafford: 79 overall
Next is Gafford, who, despite fielding trade rumors throughout the offseason, will play a key part in the Mavericks' rotation down low, especially if Lively's injury history remains as concerning as it has been thus far.
Dereck Lively II: 79 overall
The young center rounds out the quartet of role players behind the two stars. Lively only played seven games last season, so like Irving, getting him back into a rhythm will be crucial for new head coach Dusty May being effective this season.
Santi Aldama: 78 overall
Not too far behind is the highest-rated newcomer of the Mavs' roster. Aldama was given a B+ rating from behind the 3-point arc, which could be a massive boost to the team's spacing and playmaking, thus making point guards' jobs easier.
With Memphis in his five seasons in the NBA, Aldama has shot about league average from distance (34.6 percent). He's averaged double figures in over 25 minutes per game over the last three years.
Zaccharie Risacher: 76 overall
The second-youngest non-rookie on the team is still oozing with potential, and Dallas is banking on a less dependent role helping Risacher's development and confidence.
Risacher has an 81-overall 3-point shot. His volume from that distance could increase this season on a Mavs team that will have better guard play.
Max Christie: 75 overall
Christie is my pick to have the largest upgrade in overall rating by season's end.
He achieved one of the best perimeter shooting seasons in Mavs history a year ago, and with another full season on the roster - now looked at as a potential leader of the bunch - he will thrive on familiarity. Klay Thompson's departure also clears the way for Christie to become an opening-night starter at the two guard.
Marcus Sasser: 74 overall
The Mavs' top guard off the bench is the hometown kid joining the team after a trade from the Detroit Pistons.
Sasser's numbers have regressed each of his three years in the league, so he's a buy-low investment that Dallas hopes will pay off.
Jett Howard: 73 overall
Howard is the highest-rated two-way player on the team at the moment. He's joined by John Poulakidas and Tobi Lawal as players who will split their time between the Mavs and the G-League's Texas Legends.
Morez Johnson Jr.: 73 overall
Dallas No. 9 overall draft pick stays united with his coach from college. Like his draft position, Johnson ranks ninth among all rookies in the 2026 class in their first 2K rating.
No. 1, 2 and 3 overall picks, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer, lead the way with 79's, respectively.
Caleb Martin: 72 overall
The seven-year pro is entering his second full season with the Mavericks after hardly seeing a definitive role on a nightly basis. Martin averaged 3.9 points in almost 15 minutes per game across 58 appearances.
Moussa Cisse: 71 overall
The athletic big man is Dallas' only other second-year player after Flagg. Cisse was undrafted, but projects as a possible No. 2 center, a spot he played well in last season.
John Poulakidas: 70 overall
Sergio De Larrea: 69 overall
Tobi Lawal: 69 overall
Tarik Biberovic: 69 overall
The other trio of Mavs rookies enter their first season - either from college or overseas - with similar ratings expectations.
But they each have promising traits that could give them opportunities to "get those ratings up!"
