Thybulle Cracks Top Steal Ratings in NBA 2K27 Reveal
Edited by Casualplayhub News Editorial. Source: SI NBA. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
The countdown to NBA 2K27’s release on September 4 has fans buzzing, especially after a wild offseason of player movement. The Los Angeles Lakers, in particular, look drastically different. With LeBron James departing for the Philadelphia 76ers, the 17-time champions have remade their roster around Luka Doncic, who commands a 95 overall rating. But the Lakers’ new defensive additions are generating just as much talk.
Matisse Thybulle, the veteran guard who joined Los Angeles late in free agency, has cracked the elite company of the game’s top thieves. In NBA 2K27, Thybulle holds a 98 rating for steals, tying him with Ausar Thompson, Cason Wallace, and Dyson Daniels as the highest-rated pickpockets in the league. The game’s official Twitter account highlighted this with a post: “No handle is safe around them 🍪 The Top 10 guys who can pick pockets in NBA 2K27.” For a Lakers team that struggled on defense last season and lost Marcus Smart to the Houston Rockets, Thybulle’s arrival could be a steal in itself. His reputation as a relentless pest on the perimeter gives Los Angeles a much-needed defensive spark.
But the Lakers didn’t stop there. They also upgraded their interior defense by acquiring Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz. Kessler, a young shot-blocking force, earned a 93 rating for blocks in NBA 2K27, placing him among the top ten swatters in the game. The NBA 2K account teased, “Rejection after rejection 🚫 The Top 10 shot swatters in NBA 2K27.” Together, Thybulle and Kessler give head coach JJ Redick a pair of defensive anchors in the backcourt and frontcourt.
With the Lakers leaning heavily on these two newcomers, the 2026-27 season promises a renewed defensive identity. Doncic will carry the offensive load, but the team’s success may hinge on how well Thybulle and Kessler disrupt opponents. The rest of the league, meanwhile, continues to adjust to the seismic shifts in player movement that have reshaped the NBA landscape. For Lakers fans, the NBA 2K27 ratings offer a glimpse of a squad that looks very different—but potentially more balanced—than the one that ended last season.
Article commentary
The NBA 2K27 ratings reveal highlights a clear trend: defensive specialists are getting their due. Thybulle and Kessler's high marks reflect the game's growing emphasis on perimeter and rim protection, mirroring real NBA value. For the Lakers, these ratings underscore a strategic pivot from star power to defensive grit after LeBron's exit. However, ratings alone don't guarantee on-court chemistry. The synergy between Thybulle's disruptive style and Kessler's paint presence will be critical. If they mesh, Los Angeles could surprise critics. This year's ratings also showcase how video games capture roster upheavals, making the September release a must-watch for fans tracking league changes.