It's only 2 weeks until NBA 2K26 finally drops. If you already have a good idea of who the best shooters in the game are, then it's time to learn who the elite rim protectors in NBA 2K26 are, as protecting the paint is as important as shooting the ball well.
Victor Wembanyama sits at the top with a perfect 99 Block Rating, the only player in the game with that prestigious defensive prowess. A mix of young phenoms and defensive specialists rounds out this list, setting the standard for rim protection and shot blocking.
What's interesting about this year's list is the number of young and rookie players who have broken into the top 10 so early in their careers. Meanwhile, there are obvious snubs for Anthony Davis and former defensive players of the year Rudy Gobert and Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Best Shotblockers in NBA 2K26
Here's the list of players who are swatting everything in the paint this year in NBA 2K26:
Rank | Player | Team | Block Rating | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | 99 | 94 |
2 | Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder | 97 | 87 |
3 | Robert Williams III | Portland Trail Blazers | 95 | 81 |
4 | Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz | 93 | 82 |
5 | Donovan Clingan | Portland Trail Blazers | 93 | 80 |
T-6 | Dereck Lively II | Dallas Mavericks | 91 | 81 |
T-6 | Daniel Gafford | Dallas Mavericks | 91 | 81 |
8 | Adem Bona | Philadelphia 76ers | 91 | 77 |
9 | Jonathan Isaac | Orlando Magic | 91 | 76 |
10 | Jay Huff | Indiana Pacers | 90 | 76 |
Victor Wembanyama Is a Cheat Code
Wemby's 99 Block Rating isn't just a number on a sheet of paper; it's a legit warning to anyone thinking they could get away with being a high flyer or an acrobat to even attempt to challenge the French prodigy.
He has a total of 22 badges, and three of those include the holy grail of rim protection: HOF High-Flying Denier Badge, HOF Paint Patroller Badge, and HOF Post Lockdown Badge.
That's not all, though, because Wemby is all-in on defense this year with the Gold Boxout Beast Badge, and Silver badges for Rebound Chaser and Pogo Stick.
Wemby's presence alone is intimidating, and one thing that you couldn't do for your fellow players if you're playing Career Mode or MyGM is boost another player (aside from yourself) to 7 foot 4. Wemby is a legitimate one-man defensive crew in NBA 2K26.
Chet Holmgren's Time Is Now
Wemby's one and only rival in the NBA is Chet Holmgren. Both players are 7-footers; they have almost the same playstyle, but even though Chet isn't a number 1 overall pick in his draft class like Wemby is, he's ahead of him in terms of championship numbers.
In terms of defense, however, he's one step below Wemby with Gold badges for High-Flying Denier, Paint Patroller, and Post Lockdown. Like Wemby, he's got a Silver badge for Rebound Chaser and Pogo Stick,on but only has a Bronze for Boxout Beast.
Don't sleep on Chet just because he isn't on par with Wemby, since there aren't a lot of players who can challenge Chet on both ends of the court.
Dallas Has A Surplus Of Shot Blocking
AD might not be in the top 10 of the best blockers in the league, but if we're looking at Dallas as a team, they have a strong backcourt presence in Dereck Lively II, who's their premier shot blocker, alongside Daniel Gafford. Both players are rim protectors and are good rebounders, so AD can do what he does best, which is to score in the post.
Miles Turner Left a Big Hole in the Pacers
Miles Turner just went out the door and off to Milwaukee, and in doing so, he's leaving a big hole to fill for the Pacers both offensively and defensively.
That said, Indiana wasn't so helpless since they have the paint covered by Jay Huff, who's got a 90 shot block rating, even though he's just an average player and cannot match up against Miles Turner in any other capacity. If you're playing MyGM, you might want to explore some trade options to improve the roster at the Center position.
What Happened to AD, Gobert, and Jaren Jackson Jr?
Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, and Jaren Jackson Jr. aren't part of the top 10 at all.
However, if you're looking at the big picture for Dallas as a GM, Anthony Davis being left out in the top 10 might not be an issue since you've got 2 players in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford who are part of the top 10, and AD is still AD. He's got a 95 overall rating in NBA 2K26, and to be honest, he isn't that worse in the shot blocking category since he's still a top 16 player in that regard.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is a former 2023 defensive player of the year, so not making this year's top 10 feels like a snub since he's still a young player and a star for the Grizzlies. Don't get me wrong, however, since he's still an elite player with a 90 overall rating, and his inside presence is enough to bother anyone driving to the rim.
So, who got the short straw among these three players? Well... that dubious honor goes to Rudy Gobert, who's fallen to number 45 on the list of the best shot blockers in the game.
Rudy Gobert is known for one thing only, and that's defense. If Nic Claxton (#24), Kristaps Porzingis (#25), and Brook Lopez (#23) have overtaken him in this category, you might think about putting him on the trading block since he's no longer offering the value that he was once known for.
And there it is! These are the best shot blockers in NBA 2K26. My final tip to you is to understand that timing is crucial if you're playing with these shot-blockers. You need to get used to each player's animation because NBA 2K26 has a new feature called ProPlay animations, which means that each player has a unique block timing, since these will now be based on their real-life counterparts.
Stay tuned to realsport101.com: The Home of Sports Gaming News, Guides, Leaks, and Reviews! protecting