NBA 2K26 ratings are here, and Philadelphia 76ers fans are NOT happy! Is it recency bias, or did Paul George really deserve such a low score while Embiid stayed high? Dive into the controversy – what do YOU think happened?

The highly anticipated release of NBA 2K26 has once again ignited passionate debates among basketball enthusiasts, particularly concerning the accuracy and fairness of its player ratings. A recurring point of contention stems from the perceived “recency bias” often influencing these crucial in-game assessments, leading to significant frustration for fanbases across the league.

For the Philadelphia 76ers faithful, a specific rating has proven to be particularly vexing. Paul George, a cornerstone of the team, finds himself surprisingly undervalued in the latest iteration of the popular basketball simulation. This assessment strikes many as a harsh judgment, given his considerable impact and talent within the NBA landscape.

Critics argue that George’s current NBA 2K26 rating appears to be disproportionately influenced by a single challenging campaign. While he experienced a period of decreased offensive involvement last season, such a dramatic drop in his overall score fails to acknowledge his career achievements and inherent skill set, prompting questions about the depth of the rating system’s analysis.

The perceived inconsistency becomes even more glaring when comparing George’s situation to that of his teammate, Joel Embiid. Despite Embiid also enduring what many considered a “nightmare season” by his own lofty standards, his overall rating remained a robust 92. This disparity highlights a seeming lack of uniform criteria applied across the board by the game’s developers.

Factors such as George’s weaker involvement in the offense, where he often took a backseat as the third option, and early offseason knee problems, undoubtedly contributed to a less dominant year. However, assigning him an 81 overall rating, notably lower than players like Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Michael Porter Jr. (82), and Jalen Green (83), seems to dismiss his continued value and capability.

Such comparisons underscore the sentiment that George’s struggles have been overly exaggerated by the rating algorithm. While player valuations can fluctuate, a drop to 81 suggests a level of decline that many analysts and fans believe does not accurately reflect his current abilities or potential for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Paul George’s NBA 2K26 rating for the Philadelphia 76ers exposes a fundamental challenge within sports video game development: balancing statistical performance with nuanced player analysis. The apparent double standards in rating methodology leave many questioning the objectivity and consistency of the system, fueling ongoing discussions about the true measure of a player’s worth in the digital realm.