Player ratings for NBA 2K26 have been released and the Detroit Pistons fared well overall. Cade Cunningham leads Pistons players, as expected, with a 92 overall rating that puts him in the top 20 of the league. The team as a whole has six players rated at least an 80, and seems to be a solid overall roster. But the 2K ratings do point towards a noticeable lack of shooting across the likely rotation players.
The Pistons' biggest weakness is the same
Among players likely to play considerable minutes for the Pistons, 2K26 only rates Cade, Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson as an 80 or higher in 3pt shooting. Marcus Sasser also has an 82 rating but it’s unclear how much playing time he will actually get. We know that the Pistons’ identity is built around defense and toughness but this assessment of the roster really highlights the potential lack of shooting.
The Pistons will frequently play multiple players who are not respected as shooters at the same time, since Ausar Thompson will play big minutes and share the court with a center. The team will have to rely on sharpshooters such as Robinson and LeVert to overachieve from long range and buoy an offense that finished 20th in 3-pointers made last year. And let’s not forget that included a historic shooting season from Malik Beasley.
In addition to outside shooting, the Pistons will also rely on smart cutting and off-ball movement from non-shooters. Guys like Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson need to find ways to pose a threat to the defense by rolling hard to the rim or setting good screens to get shooters open. The return of Jaden Ivey will also be crucial as someone who is dangerous slashing to the rim but also showed a great outside shot last season.
Another factor is the continued improvement of Ron Holland II as a shooter. It was a small sample size, but he showed growth in Summer League. Holland knocking down a higher rate of shots would ease some of the concerns about him and Thompson sharing the court.
2K ratings should always be taken with a grain of salt, especially in the offseason, but it is telling when they agree with a sentiment shared by most fans. The Pistons have a slew of quality players on the roster for next season - it’s just up to the shooting element to determine how good the fit of those players on the court is.