Walker Kessler, the Lakers’ shiny new starting center, just got his NBA 2K27 overall rating leaked, and it’s a jaw-dropping 81. Yeah, you read that right: 81. That mark places him 100th overall among all players, and when you remember the Lakers just coughed up two future first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz, plus a massive four-year, $130 million contract for the guy, it makes you wonder what 2K is really thinking.
Elite Blocker, But a Head-Scratching Overall
Look, 2K clearly sees Kessler’s defensive prowess. They rated him the ninth-best shot-blocker in the game with a 93 in that category. That’s legit, especially when you consider only San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is ahead of him with a crazy 99. Kessler should be an absolute beast on defense for L.A., snatching boards and swatting shots with the best of them, and 2K got that part. But then you look at that 81 overall, and you gotta scratch your head. It’s no surprise that some fans on X are already saying he deserved a higher number. They’re not wrong, are they?
What L.A. Actually Paid For (And Why 2K Might Be Right)
The 25-year-old Kessler’s career averages are pretty solid, especially on the boards and blocks: 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes a game. The dude is an absolute vacuum on defense and near the rim. Now, he’s never been a huge offensive weapon, mostly cleaning up on lobs and offensive rebounds close to the basket. But get this, he showed some serious new skills last season in a small sample size, hitting six of eight attempts from deep in just five games. That’s a real sign of a developing 3-point shot! The Lakers clearly saw that potential, and the defensive anchor he could be, because they ponied up for him. National pundits might have argued L.A. gave up too much to get him, sending two future first-round picks and two pick swaps to Utah. But the Lakers brass felt it was a “had to make” move, one that should have a super positive impact. The question is, does 2K’s overall 81 rating undersell that impact, or is it a cold, hard dose of reality on his offensive limitations?
NBA 2K27 drops on Sept. 4, with early access kicking off on Aug. 28. It’s gonna be interesting to see if Kessler’s real-life play this season can make that 81 overall rating look like a total joke. The Lakers are betting $130 million and two first-rounders on it. Let’s see if 2K got it completely wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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