Celtics’ Roster Changes Clash With NBA 2K26 Ratings
The Boston Celtics enter NBA 2K26 in one of the strangest positions a defending champion has ever faced, and the video game’s player ratings only add to the confusion. After capturing the 2024 NBA title, Boston has spent two consecutive offseasons unloading key players in what looks more like a clearance sale than a title defense. Driven by the financial constraints of the new CBA, the Celtics said goodbye to Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, while superstar Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most of this season due to injury. Despite these massive hurdles, NBA 2K26 continues to treat the Celtics like nothing has changed, leaving their ratings out of sync with reality.
Boston Still Has Playoff Talent, But Ratings Mislead Fans
On paper, Boston still has the firepower to make noise in the playoffs, thanks largely to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. But the game’s ratings misrepresent this roster’s actual ceiling. Certain stars are still graded as though last season’s title squad is intact, while other vital contributors remain underappreciated. The imbalance makes the Celtics appear stronger in NBA 2K26 than they are in the real world.
Jayson Tatum’s 94 OVR Rating Overlooks Injury Absence
Take Jayson Tatum, who sits at a 94 overall. Under normal circumstances, that rating makes sense. Tatum is a perennial All-NBA talent, a two-way force capable of carrying a team on both ends of the floor. However, the reality is that he won’t be suiting up for the majority of the season. In the video game, durability isn’t factored into the overall number, but it should be. A near-95 overall rating paints a misleading picture when the Celtics’ centerpiece will likely miss over 60 games. Boston’s real-life chances are dramatically weakened without him, yet 2K26 still depicts the roster as if he were available on opening night.
Derrick White’s 87 OVR Undervalues His Leadership
Cred: Photo from Derrick White Instagram
Meanwhile, Derrick White is once again being shortchanged. The veteran guard earned an 87 overall, a respectable number but one that undersells his importance. White proved last season that he was one of the Celtics’ most indispensable players, consistently producing on both ends of the floor. His elite defense, timely three-point shooting, and underrated playmaking made him the glue of the championship roster. With Holiday gone and Tatum sidelined, White is now Boston’s true leader. His steadiness and adaptability deserve recognition in the low 90s, yet NBA 2K26 continues to cast him as a complementary piece rather than the centerpiece he has become.
Jaylen Brown’s 90 OVR Rating Misses Expanded Role
Jaylen Brown’s rating is more balanced but still misses important context. At 90 overall, the number itself isn’t controversial, but it doesn’t account for the enormous role he’ll play this season. With Tatum recovering, Brown will be tasked with carrying the bulk of the offensive load. He will need to step up as Boston’s primary scorer while also expanding his playmaking responsibilities, something he has been working toward throughout his career. His defense and finishing ability are already elite, but the video game locks him into the same archetype he’s always had, overlooking the reality that he will have to elevate every aspect of his game to keep Boston in the playoff hunt.
Anfernee Simons’ 81 OVR Inflates His Fit With Celtics
The biggest head-scratcher, however, might be Anfernee Simons. The young guard checks in at 81 overall, which looks accurate when considering his pure scoring ability. Simons is a dangerous shot-creator in isolation and pick-and-roll situations, capable of heating up quickly and putting points on the board in bunches. But his fit in Boston’s current roster puzzle is questionable at best. Without Holiday and Porziņģis, the Celtics are desperate for defense, size, and secondary playmaking. Simons provides none of those things, meaning his value in real life doesn’t line up with how NBA 2K26 rates him. On a team already stocked with wings and scorers, an 81 rating inflates his importance and portrays him as a borderline starter on a contender, which doesn’t reflect the actual roster dynamics.
Put together, the Celtics’ player ratings in NBA 2K26 highlight how out of touch the game can be when compared to real-world context. The defending champions have undergone massive changes in just two years, losing veteran anchors while watching their superstar face a long road back from injury. Yet, the video game continues to present Boston as though little has changed, leaning on star power that won’t be available for most of the season and undervaluing the players who will actually carry the team.
Boston sports are in great hands 🤲 pic.twitter.com/FfbrNALvit
— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) August 26, 2025
For fans, this disconnect makes Boston one of the most misleading teams to use in NBA 2K26. In the digital world, they still look like a powerhouse with Tatum leading the charge. In reality, they are a team in transition, relying heavily on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to keep them competitive while searching for the right mix to survive another grueling season under the weight of the new CBA.
Until the ratings catch up with reality, Boston Celtics fans playing NBA 2K26 will find themselves living in an alternate version of the season—one where their team’s challenges and adjustments are ignored, and the picture of a title-ready roster remains frozen in time.
