Kentucky’s NBA pipeline is once again stacked in NBA 2K27, and the numbers at the top look exactly the way you’d expect. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads every former Wildcat in the game with a 97 overall rating, which also makes him the highest-rated player in the entire NBA. No Big Blue Nation caveat needed there.
He’s not alone near the top. Karl-Anthony Towns checks in at 93, Tyrese Maxey at 92, Devin Booker at 91, and Anthony Davis rounds out the group of former Kentucky players at 90 or better with a 90 overall.
When it comes to shooting from deep, NBA 2K27 gives the edge to Tyrese Maxey and Jamal Murray, who are tied as the best 3-point shooters among former Wildcats at 88. The dunking crown, though, belongs to Shaedon Sharpe.
His 95 dunk rating stands well above the rest and ranks fifth-best in the league. If you don’t count him as a true Cat, Adou Thiero is next at 88, and if transfers are taken out of the equation, Anthony Davis is next in line at 85.
The full list of former Kentucky players in NBA 2K27 shows just how wide the program’s reach has become. Bam Adebayo is at 87 overall, Tyler Herro at 85, De’Aaron Fox at 84, and Julius Randle at 83. Immanuel Quickley comes in at 82, while Cason Wallace and Shaedon Sharpe are both at 81.
Keldon Johnson, Malik Monk, PJ Washington, and Reed Sheppard are each rated 79 overall. Jarred Vanderbilt sits at 76, Isaiah Jackson and Justin Edwards at 74, and Trey Lyles and Rob Dillingham at 73.
Oscar Tshiebwe is at 71, while Jayden Quaintance and Adou Thiero are both at 70. Otega Oweh and Amari Williams are rated 69, and Koby Brea comes in at 68.
Former Kentucky players NBA 2K27 ratings
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) Thunder - 97 overall, 82 3PT, 75 dunk
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK) Knicks - 93 overall, 82 3PT, 75 dunk
Tyrese Maxey (PHI) 76ers - 92 overall, 88 3PT, 70 dunk
Devin Booker (PHX) Suns - 91 overall, 86 3PT, 75 dunk
Anthony Davis (WAS) Wizards - 90 overall, 70 3PT, 85 dunk
Jamal Murray (DEN) Nuggets - 89 overall, 88 3PT, 82 dunk
Bam Adebayo (MIA) Heat - 87 overall, 77 3PT, 80 dunk
Tyler Herro (MIL) Bucks - 85 overall, 85 3PT, 60 dunk
De’Aaron Fox (SAS) Spurs - 84 overall, 78 3PT, 80 dunk
Julius Randle (BKN) Nets - 83 overall, 76 3PT, 80 dunk
Immanuel Quickley (TOR) Raptors - 82 overall, 82 3PT, 55 dunk
Cason Wallace (OKC) Thunder - 81 overall, 81 3PT, 70 dunk
Shaedon Sharpe (POR) Trail Blazers - 81 overall, 80 3PT, 95 dunk
Keldon Johnson (SAS) Spurs - 79 overall, 82 3PT, 75 dunk
Malik Monk (SAC) Kings - 79 overall, 83 3PT, 75 dunk
PJ Washington (DAL) Mavericks - 79 overall, 75 3PT, 80 dunk
Reed Sheppard (HOU) Rockets - 79 overall, 84 3PT, 70 dunk
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL) Lakers - 76 overall, 72 3PT, 75 dunk
Isaiah Jackson (IND) Pacers - 74 overall, 59 3PT, 70 dunk
Justin Edwards (PHI) [Two-way] 76ers - 74 overall, 80 3PT, 80 dunk
Trey Lyles (MIN) Timberwolves - 74 overall, 77 3PT, 65 dunk
Nick Richards (CHA) Hornets - 73 overall, 47 3PT, 75 dunk
Rob Dillingham (CHI) Bulls - 73 overall, 74 3PT, 75 dunk
Oscar Tshiebwe (HOU) Rockets - 71 overall, 37 3PT, 75 dunk
Jayden Quaintance (SAS) Spurs - 70 overall, 38 3PT, 85 dunk
Adou Thiero (LAL) Lakers - 70 overall, 71 3PT, 88 dunk
Otega Oweh (OKC) Thunder - 69 overall, 72 3PT, 80 dunk
Amari Williams (BOS) Celtics - 69 overall, 55 3PT, 80 dunk
Koby Brea (PHX) Suns - 68 overall, 82 3PT, 60 dunk
In Other News...
Kentucky Gets Its First Real Chance To Back Up The Hype
Will Steins first game as Kentuckys head coach went about as well as the Wildcats could have hoped, with a season-opening win over Youngstown State giving the new staff a clean starting point. It also offered an early look at a roster that has talked plenty about its belief in the group, and the opener did enough to keep that optimism intact as Kentucky moved on to Alabama week.
Now comes the part that will tell the bigger story. Kentucky heads into this matchup as the underdog, facing a Crimson Tide team that brings a different level of talent and depth, and the Wildcats will have to translate the confidence they showed in Week 1 into something sturdier against a far sterner test. The opener featured encouraging performances from key players, but Alabama is the kind of opponent that quickly reveals whether the hype is real or just September noise. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Volleyball Just Made A National Statement On A Huge Stage
Kentucky volleyball did something few college teams ever get the chance to do, beating Penn State in four sets at Wrigley Field in front of a crowd of 43,067. The setting alone made it a marquee event, and the result turned it into more than a showcase, with Kentucky leaving Chicago with a victory on one of the sports biggest stages and a reminder that its rise now travels well beyond the usual gym walls.
The timing only sharpened the moment for Kentucky fans, with opening weekend across the SEC delivering the kind of conference-wide backdrop that makes every result feel bigger. While football headlines around the league centered on unbeaten starts and a slate of tight games, Kentucky was making its own statement in a different sport, and the Wildcats are still settling into a new weekly rhythm on the football side after moving press conferences and coach shows to different days. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into Kentucky With One Big Problem Fans Will Notice
Kentuckys Week 2 meeting with Alabama comes with a strange kind of uncertainty for both staffs, the sort that only shows up this early in the season. Kalen DeBoer spent part of his press conference Wednesday talking through the usual mix of player evaluation, preparation and the challenges of jumping into an SEC game this quickly, while also acknowledging that the Crimson Tide are still trying to get a clear read on what Kentucky looks like under new head coach Will Stein.
The catch for Alabama is that the film bank is thin, and what is available does not offer much of a clean blueprint. DeBoer said the Tide are leaning heavily on fundamentals as they get ready for an early conference test, which makes this more of a game-plan-for-the-basics week than a deep-dive into tendencies. The matchup is set for ABC and Disney+, and for Kentucky, that kind of uncertainty can be a useful place to be when a heavyweight comes to town. [Read more 🡒]