In NBA 2K26, two stars sit atop the league when it comes to the mid-range game, Nikola Jokic and Kyrie Irving, both earning an elite 98 rating. It’s a testament to their mastery in a part of the floor that many consider a lost art in the pace-and-space era. While the three-point line and paint dominate modern offenses, these two prove that the mid-range remains a deadly and reliable weapon in the right hands.
T-1. Nikola Jokic - 98
T-1. Kyrie Irving - 98
T-3. Kevin Durant - 97
T-3. Devin Booker
T-3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
T-3. Andrew Nembhard
T-3. Stephen Curry
T-7. DeMar DeRozan
T-7. Miles McBride
T-7. Khris Middleton
Jokic, a three-time MVP and widely regarded as the best player in the world, continues to show why he is one of the most complete offensive forces in basketball history. His mid-range scoring is a blend of precision, patience, and sheer unpredictability. Whether it’s a smooth face-up jumper, a turnaround fadeaway off one leg, or a quick pick-and-pop, Jokic’s touch is unmatched for a player of his size.
While he didn’t capture the MVP this past season, his statistical output remained historic, and his efficiency from mid-range makes him nearly impossible to defend. With a championship already secured in 2023, Jokic will be hungry to add another to his resume, and that deadly mid-range shot will once again be a key weapon.
Kyrie Irving shares the top spot, and his inclusion here speaks to his unmatched shot-making ability. Even while battling an ACL injury this past season, Irving’s ability to create space and knock down contested pull-ups remained elite. Few players can stop on a dime, change pace, and release the ball with such balance and fluidity.
With his return expected next season, defenses will again have to brace for the threat of him curling off screens, dancing into crossovers, and elevating for those picture-perfect mid-range jumpers.
Just below them, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Nembhard, and Stephen Curry all share a 97 rating.
Durant, now with the Houston Rockets, was a force from the mid-range last year with the Phoenix Suns, using his length and high release to score over any defender.
Booker, his former teammate, remains one of the most polished scorers in the league, combining footwork, patience, and accuracy to carve up defenses.
Shai’s presence is no surprise after his remarkable season in which he won MVP, Finals MVP, and led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship. His craft in the mid-range using hesitations, pump fakes, and silky dribble pull-ups was on full display during OKC’s title run.
Nembhard, a key figure in the Indiana Pacers’ Finals appearance, also earned his spot thanks to his steady hand and clutch shot-making in the midrange during playoff battles.
Stephen Curry may be known as the greatest shooter in NBA history, but his mid-range arsenal is underrated. Defenses overplay him at the arc, allowing him to step inside and punish them with quick pull-ups or floaters.
At 96, DeMar DeRozan, Miles McBride, and Khris Middleton round out the top group.
DeRozan remains one of the purest mid-range specialists of his era, Middleton, now with the Washington Wizards, is still lethal in the halfcourt, and McBride has emerged as a reliable option for the New York Knicks.
In an NBA that often overlooks the mid-range shot, NBA 2K26’s ratings show that for the game’s elite scorers, this zone is still king.
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