As we enter the quietest stretch of the NBA offseason, NBA 2K has kept fans engaged with the release of its latest installment, NBA 2K26. With not much happening in the real NBA world, it feels like the perfect time to take a closer look at how the game views the current Chicago Bulls roster.
For Bulls fans, the most intriguing place to start probably revolves around the rookies, whose initial ratings often set expectations for what their first NBA season might look like, even before playing in their first NBA preseason game.
This year, all eyes are on Chicago's newest addition, Noa Essengue, who enters NBA 2K26 as a 72 overall. While that might seem low for a lottery pick, it leaves plenty of room for growth and potential. Some Bulls gamers may also find that number pretty familiar, as it was the exact same rating at which Matas Buzelis entered his rookie season.
The comparison makes sense. Buzelis entered the NBA as a hyped, yet unproven rookie, and by the end of the 2024-25 season, his stock, both in real life and virtual life, had risen significantly. The identical ratings can only make Bulls fans hope that Essengue can have a similar rookie season to Matas Buzelis.
Buzelis' earned his major bump in overall rating
Buzelis now enters his second season at 79 overall, a rare seven-point improvement from first to second year. His first season with the Bulls was exactly what the team hoped for. He began as a spark off the bench, then evolved into a full-time starter by the final third of the season. In fact, throughout 31 games as a starter, he averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, earning the coaching staff’s trust as the year progressed.
More importantly, Buzelis gave Chicago something it hasn’t seen since Derrick Rose: a young, homegrown talent who looked like part of the long-term solution. His rookie campaign now sets the standard for what Bulls fans can expect from future lottery selections, with Essengue being no exception.
Where Essengue starts in NBA 2K26
At 72 overall, Essengue falls into the self-titled category of “promising project”. For comparison, top-5 draft picks in this class earned ratings between 75 and 82, while several players taken around Essengue’s slot range from 71 to 74, on par with Essengue's rating.
Looking deeper into what made his rating a 72 overall, his strengths include athleticism (85 speed, 82 agility, 82 vertical), driving dunk (80), and overall potential (B+). These ratings align well with what we’ve seen from Essengue overseas and in Summer League games.
However, some of his lower ratings should spark controversy. 2K lists his defensive rating at just 58 overall, including 60 interior, 68 perimeter, and 45 block rating. Rebounding is 55, playmaking is 60, inside scoring is 69, and outside scoring is 65. For a player widely considered one of the best defenders in the 2025 draft, these numbers are surprisingly low.
Obviously, rookies don’t enter the league with ratings in the 80s across the board. But with athleticism and potential as the only categories above 70, Essengue now has an extra chip on his shoulder to prove the skeptics wrong.
How Essengue can follow in Buzelis' footsteps
The path towards improvement is pretty straightforward, but it definitely will not be easy. Similar to Buzelis, Essengue must earn minutes early in the season through defense and rebounding. If he can consistently lock down his assignments and have an impact on the glass, his playing time will continue to grow as the season progresses.
From there, he can develop his offensive game, whether it be by sticking to his strengths and finishes at the rim or developing a reliable mid-range and three-point game. Offensive growth will be the key to raising his stock, both in the game and in real life.
Of course, you have to take NBA2K ratings with a grain of salt. They're educated guesses, not certain. Still, they are decent measurements as to which players are on track to become something special. And if Essengue is able to have a similar rookie season to Buzelis, he won't be staying at a 72 overall for very long.