NBA 2K27 predicts Wembanyama sweep and Sixers struggle

NBA 2K27 has simulated the full 2026 NBA season for the third consecutive year, continuing a trend of notable accuracy in past projections. Last year’s simulation correctly predicted the Knicks winning the NBA Finals and Jalen Brunson earning Finals MVP, while also forecasting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP repeat, Victor Wembanyama’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year win. The simulation uses a randomized team selection process-this year starting with the Miami Heat-and runs a MyEras season with CPU trade offers disabled and G-League, scouting, and rotational decisions set to automatic. The simulation pauses to record the NBA Cup winner after the regular season but before the Finals. A disclaimer notes that despite the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers investigation ruling, Leonard remains on the Clippers roster in the simulation due to ongoing trade limbo with the Raptors.

A farewell not fit for a king

LeBron James’ simulated debut with the Philadelphia 76ers was marked by decline and disappointment. Despite signing a two-year deal with the Sixers and being prompted to consider a retirement tour-which the simulation declined-James played 77 games in what would be his age-42 season. He posted career lows in minutes per game (30.5), points (16.9), and assists (4.9), with his rebounding average of 5.6 also the lowest since his rookie season. The Sixers, after adding James and acquiring Jaylen Brown via trade, finished 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 27-55 record. Brown’s scoring dropped more than seven points per game from prior seasons, averaging 21.5 points and 3.3 assists-his lowest outputs since the 2019-20 season. Injuries were not a major factor, with only Tyrese Maxey missing significant time (20 games) from the projected starting lineup of Brown, James, Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. Given the talent and expectations, the simulation deemed this outcome the least feasible of all events modeled.

Best in the West

The Minnesota Timberwolves emerged as the NBA’s best team in the simulation, finishing with a league-topping 63-19 record. Chris Finch earned Coach of the Year honors as the Wolves ranked among the top three in both offense and defense. The pairing of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball proved highly effective, with Edwards finishing second in the league in scoring at 29 points per game and Ball ranking fifth in assists at 7.5 per game. In contrast, the Milwaukee Bucks struggled severely after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, finishing with a 24-58 record and ranking in the bottom ten on both offense and defense.

Giannis hits South Beach

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first season with the Miami Heat was hampered by injury. Before November ended, Antetokounmpo (right hand fracture), Tim Hardaway Jr. (broken ankle), and Bam Adebayo (twisted knee) were all sidelined for multiple weeks. Bobby Portis later suffered a season-ending knee injury in February. Despite these setbacks, Miami secured the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 38-44 record and made the playoffs. Antetokounmpo was named Clutch Player of the Year, averaging 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.9 stocks per game. The Heat were eliminated in the first round of the play-in tournament by the Chicago Bulls.

NBA Cup

The NBA Cup final pitted the defending champion New York Knicks against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Led by NBA Cup MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder defeated the Knicks in a result described as an ominous sign for New York’s postseason outlook.

MVP and other awards

Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA in scoring with 31.9 points per game, the simulation marked the official arrival of the Victor Wembanyama era. Wembanyama, who also won Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 25 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 4.9 stocks per game. The simulation notes he will continue to face stiff MVP competition from Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić but suggests his award is increasingly inevitable if he remains healthy. Memphis’ Cameron Boozer won Rookie of the Year, edging out No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa to become the second consecutive Duke player to claim the honor. Boozer averaged 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies, while Dybantsa averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Wizards. Chris Finch was named Coach of the Year, Jalen Green took Sixth Man of the Year, Zaccharie Risacher earned Most Improved Player, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was recognized as Clutch Player of the Year.

**Finals rematch**

For the third straight year, the NBA 2K simulation sent the Knicks to the NBA Finals, this time as the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Jalen Brunson won East Finals MVP after averaging 31.3 points per game in the series. Their opponent was a familiar foe: the San Antonio Spurs, led by league MVP Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs defeated the top-seeded Timberpolls in the Western Conference finals, with Wembanyama adding to his trophy case. In the NBA Finals rematch-reversing the outcome of the actual 2025 series-the Spurs swept the Knicks in dominant fashion. Wembanyama posted 20-plus rebounds in Games 2 and 4 and recorded eight blocks in the closeout game. He averaged 26.5 points, 18.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and seven stocks per game in the series, earning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award. The simulation notes that if Wembanyama were to win NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season, he would join Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to achieve that triple crown.