AJ Dybantsa Already Knows His NBA 2K Rating and He’s Not Being Modest

AJ Dybantsa hasn’t played a single NBA minute yet, but he already knows where he stands in the virtual world. The Washington Wizards rookie — taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — told Complex Sports he’d give himself an 80 overall rating if NBA 2K27 dropped today.

When asked what number he’d slap on his own digital player card, Dybantsa didn’t hedge. “I’m a rookie so they probably give rookies like 70s?” he said. “I’m giving myself a 79-80. I’m giving myself 80.”

That’s an honest-but-confident evaluation, especially for a first-year player trying to navigate the gap between college hype and pro reality. Rookies usually land in the low-to-mid 70s in 2K’s early ratings. An 80 would slot Dybantsa near the top of his draft class, alongside the kind of instant-impact players the game’s developers usually reserve for guys who’ve already proven something.

But then, Dybantsa isn’t exactly a normal rookie. He’s the kind of prospect scouts spend years talking about: 6-foot-9, fluid with the ball, capable of creating his own shot against just about anyone. Washington took him first overall for a reason.

The Wizards’ roster looks completely different than it did a year ago. Washington traded for Trae Young, then pried Anthony Davis away from Dallas in a separate deal. Dybantsa lands in the middle of a young core that already includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George. That’s not a rebuild anymore. That’s a team trying to make the playoffs right now.

Dybantsa’s 2K rating will ultimately be decided by the developers, not by him. And it’s worth remembering that last year’s top pick, Cooper Flagg, started at a 75 before climbing into the 80s midway through the season. The game’s ratings team is notoriously stingy with rookies. They don’t hand out 80s unless a guy has already shown he belongs.

But Dybantsa clearly believes he’s ready. That kind of self-assurance isn’t rare among top picks. What’ll be interesting is whether the 19-year-old can back it up once the games start counting. Training camp is still months away. The 2K ratings team will release its player rankings closer to the game’s launch. Until then, Dybantsa’s got a number in his head and a roster around him that’s built to win now.