The latest and fifth season update for NBA 2K26 has introduced a comprehensive recalibration of player ratings, meticulously reflecting on-court performances and trends across the league. This update sees numerous players receiving significant adjustments, with some rising to new career-highs while others experience declines. The core principle behind these changes is to ensure the game's virtual representation accurately mirrors the dynamic nature of professional basketball.

Headlining the list of players on the ascent is Kawhi Leonard, whose age appears to be no impediment to his elite performance. Averaging a career-high 28.1 points per game, Leonard's efforts to elevate the LA Clippers have earned him a notable two-point upgrade, bringing his overall rating to a formidable 94 OVR. He's joined by other top performers gaining significant boosts, including Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, who also received a two-point upgrade to reach 95 OVR. Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham, and Anthony Edwards each saw their ratings increase by a single point, acknowledging their impactful contributions to their respective teams.

Conversely, not all players experienced an upward trend. Veteran superstar LeBron James finds himself on the other side of the spectrum, enduring another two-point drop in his rating, settling at 92 OVR. He is accompanied at this rating by Anthony Davis, who also saw a one-point decrease, reflecting recent shifts in their in-game performance metrics.

The extensive update extends across all NBA divisions, with numerous players from various teams receiving adjustments. In the **Atlantic Division**, the Boston Celtics saw Jaylen Brown climb to 95 OVR (+2), accompanied by Payton Pritchard (+2 to 83 OVR) and Sam Hauser (+2 to 76 OVR), though Jordan Walsh and Josh Minott saw slight decreases. The Brooklyn Nets had Ben Saraf jump by four points to 73 OVR, alongside modest gains for Michael Porter Jr, Cam Thomas, and Nic Claxton. The New York Knicks celebrated Karl-Anthony Towns reaching 91 OVR (+1), with notable boosts for Josh Hart (+2 to 83 OVR) and Landry Shamet (+4 to 77 OVR). The Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey climbed to 93 OVR (+1), but Joel Embiid and Paul George experienced downgrades. Lastly, the Toronto Raptors saw Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram both gain a point, reaching 88 OVR and 86 OVR respectively.

Moving to the **Central Division**, the Chicago Bulls observed Josh Giddey (+1 to 85 OVR) and Nikola Vucevic (+1 to 83 OVR) making gains, while Coby White's rating dipped. The Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell now stands at an impressive 95 OVR (+1), supported by Darius Garland's two-point increase to 83 OVR, despite slight decreases for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham also rose by a point to 94 OVR, with Paul Reed seeing a significant three-point increase to 75 OVR. The Indiana Pacers registered Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell with single-point gains, while Pascal Siakam saw a decrease. In Milwaukee, Kevin Porter Jr. recorded a substantial four-point leap to 82 OVR, with Bobby Portis also gaining a point.

The **Southeast Division** featured the Atlanta Hawks with Jalen Johnson reaching 89 OVR (+1) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker gaining two points to 83 OVR. The Charlotte Hornets witnessed Brandon Miller's impressive three-point rise to 84 OVR and Tidjane Salaun's similar three-point jump to 75 OVR, contrasting with LaMelo Ball's two-point drop. The Miami Heat saw Norman Powell gain a point to 86 OVR and Kel'el Ware gain two points to 82 OVR, while Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro had slight declines. The Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner gained a point to 88 OVR, but Paolo Banchero dropped two points. The Washington Wizards had Bilal Coulibaly gain a point to 79 OVR, with Tristan Vukcevic and Will Riley both seeing three-point boosts.

In the **Northwest Division**, Jamal Murray (+1 to 89 OVR) and Aaron Gordon (+1 to 84 OVR) were among the Denver Nuggets' risers. The Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards climbed to a leading 96 OVR (+1), with Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid also gaining points. The Oklahoma City Thunder had Isaiah Hartenstein and Ajay Mitchell gain points, but Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren both saw two and one-point drops respectively. The Portland Trailblazers' Deni Avdija rose to 89 OVR (+1), with Donovan Clingan and Caleb Love also seeing boosts. The Utah Jazz's Keyonte George was a major gainer, jumping three points to 86 OVR, while Lauri Markkanen experienced a slight drop.

The **Pacific Division** included the Golden State Warriors, where Brandin Podziemski gained a point, but Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga saw decreases. The Los Angeles Clippers showcased Kawhi Leonard's significant upgrade, accompanied by James Harden gaining a point to 90 OVR and John Collins gaining two points to 79 OVR. The Los Angeles Lakers had LeBron James's two-point drop and Anthony Davis's one-point drop, while Rui Hachimura gained a point. The Phoenix Suns saw Devin Booker gain a point to 93 OVR, but Mark Williams and Grayson Allen experienced downgrades. The Sacramento Kings had DeMar DeRozan gain a point to 84 OVR, with Maxime Raynaud (+2 to 79 OVR) and Nique Clifford (+3 to 75 OVR) also showing strong gains.

Finally, the **Southwest Division** featured the Dallas Mavericks, where Anthony Davis's rating dropped, but Cooper Flagg gained a point to 85 OVR. The Houston Rockets saw Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. all gain a point. The Memphis Grizzlies celebrated Ja Morant's one-point gain to 87 OVR, alongside significant four-point boosts for Cam Spencer and PJ Hall. The New Orleans Pelicans saw Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III both gain a point, though several other players experienced downgrades. Lastly, the San Antonio Spurs had Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper, and Keldon Johnson all gain a point, with Stephon Castle experiencing a slight decrease.