LeBron James has been handed his lowest rating since NBA 2K16 – but the Los Angeles Lakers star secured an incredible 21st successive year of being rated above 90.
James is approaching the end of his NBA career, but has opted in for the 2025-26 season after taking up his $52.6 million player option to stay with the Lakers. The 40-year-old is not only one of the greatest athletes of his generation, dominating the league since being selected with the first overall pick back in 2003.
The 2025-26 NBA season represents James’ 23rd campaign, which will see him break a tie with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in league history. The four-time champion remains elite; he was named to an All-NBA for the 21st successive season.
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The Lakers’ season, elevated by the trade arrival of Luka Doncic that rocked the basketball world, ended at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
However, James still averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game as he proved he remains one of the best in the game.
Well, according to NBA 2K26, James is still quite literally one of the best in the game. He has been rated a 94 – his lowest rating since NBA 2K16 ahead of a season where he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to glory, fighting back from 3-1 down to defeat Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
NBA 2K26 revealed the likes of Nikola Jokic (98), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (98), Giannis Antetokounmpo (97), and Doncic (95) are the best players in the game. But James is still widely considered the face of the NBA, and so people care about his rating.
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Remarkably, it’s also James’ 21st consecutive year with 90+ rating. He first appeared in the franchise in NBA 2K4, arriving as the most highly touted prospect in basketball history after an incredible high school career, landing him a lower 78 rating to start his career.
It’s important to note that games typically give conservatively low ratings to rookies, but the rating system was significantly stricter back then than now. Entering his sophomore season, James jumped to 88 as he swiftly established himself as a dominant force and budding superstar.
James first hit 90 in NBA 2K6, when he was given an incredible 97 overall rating. He has remained at the top of the game since, dominating with ratings among the league’s best since just his third season in the NBA.
James was rated at 96 or above for the next 10 years, only ever slipping below 95 for his 94 rating in NBA 2K16 – but he was still the highest-rated player in the game. Every year since has seen James having a 95+ overall rating, although that has changed for NBA 2K26.
NBA 2K26 launches on September 5.