The NBA 2k series has been dubbed as the official video game of the NBA. It has received worldwide acclaim and popularity from fans and NBA players themselves. In fact, NBA 2K has become a growing part of today's pop culture with many NBA players gleefully checking in with Ronnie 2k, the digital marketing director for the video game series, for their player ratings. For the most part, NBA 2K is fairly accurate when it comes to the gameplay.
Though, there are a few noticeable errors with the game, namely with certain player's ratings. Here are five of the most unfair NBA 2k18 ratings. Hopefully, Ronnie 2k will take notice with the injustices of these awful ratings.
5. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is one of the most talented players in the NBA. Yet, he is the subject of some of the most disappointing snubs in recent years. Not only has Damian Lillard been snubbed in past year's All-Star voting, he has been snubbed a decent rating in NBA 2K18. Last year, Lillard averaged 27.0 PPG and 5.9 APG leading the Portland Trailblazers to the Playoffs. He even came up big in the 1st round against the defending NBA champion, the Golden State Warriors. Yet, what did Lillard get as his overall rating in NBA 2k18? He got an 89.
That's not a bad rating, but his contemporaries and rival point guard such as Kyrie Irving and John Wall both got a 90. Both players didn't have average the same numbers as Lillard, and both players aren't better than Lillard. It may be a one-point difference, but everyone who plays NBA 2K knows that the 90 threshold symbolizes truly elite players. Saying that Lillard isn't an elite player is ludicrous. Obviously, Lillard may not care about his overall rating, but Ronnie 2k should at least put him in the same categories as the rest of the NBA's elite point guards.
4. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas had a memorable season with the Boston Celtics. He led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, and he was instrumental in the Celtics' Playoff success. Thomas was even known as the “King of the Fourth” was his brilliant fourth quarter performances. It's not surprising to mention that Thomas one of the entertaining players of the 2016-2017 season. Yet, he only got a 89 for his efforts. Much like Lillard, this rating is disrespectful to Thomas' great season, but it doesn't even make sense. Lillard is known for getting snubbed, but Thomas made headlines the entire year.
He tragically lost his younger sister in the Playoffs, and dropped 53 points on the Wizards in a hard fought victory. Thomas even averaged 28.9 points her game last year, making himself one of the top scorers in the league. So, how did he end up with a rating lower than John Wall or Kyrie Irving? It doesn't make sense. You can argue that Thomas is only a scorer, but that won't explain why he isn't ranked as a top guard in NBA 2K18. He plays his own brand of basketball and is effective in it, much like how Wall is a passer and not a scorer. So, should Wall be an 89 for having little ability in shooting. Nah. It doesn't seem right.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge
Last season, LeMarcus Aldridge averaged 17.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG, while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 41% from deep. This is an incredible stat line for a player who didn't do so well in Popovich's system last year. In fact, this was better than Aldridge was supposed to do. In any case, Aldridge was given a 85 overall rating for his trouble, but was that really appropriate for the star power forward. After all, Paul Millsap, DeAndre Jordan, and Hassan Whiteside all received a 87 overall rating. The unfortunate part about this is that they all aren't nearly the players that Aldridge is.
Aldridge can score from anywhere in the post, has a knock down mid-range game, and a reliable three point shot. In other words, Aldridge is exactly the type of power forward that fits the mold of modern NBA offenses. An 85 overall is chump change compared to the type of player Aldridge is. If anything, Aldridge is proving that he is an underrated star power forward, averaging 21.9 PPG and 8.3 RPG. He is even making 50% of his shot attempts inside of the arc.
2. Lonzo Ball
It'd be an understatement to say that Lonzo Ball is having an uneventful year. He isn't quite living up to the hype that his father created for him, even though he has been playing pretty well lately. Before anyone even got to see what Ball was all about on the court, he was given an 80 overall rating, which was higher than Derrick Rose (78), Brandon Ingram (76), and Jordan Clarkson (77). An 80 overall rating is a bit high for any rookie, no matter how high the hype is.
At the time, the decision probably made sense. Obviously, everyone expected Lonzo Ball to be better than Stephen Curry this year. Now, however, the decision seems lop-sided. Lonzo Ball was ranked as the highest rookie in NBA 2K18, but he isn't nearly performing as such. That just goes to show that you can't count your eggs before they hatch, or give undeserving players higher overall ratings than deserving players.
1. Kyle Kuzma
Granted, no one expected Kuzma to breakout and become a star. He exceeded the expectations of even the Lakers' front office when he was drafted with the 27th pick of the NBA 2017 Draft. Nonetheless, Kuzma was given a 72 overall rating. It is one of the lowest ratings in the game, which is a mockery for a truly talented player. To translate, a 72 overall rating is what you would give to a prospect or the last player on a team's roster. A 72 rating displays Kuzma as a borderline NBA talent, and he's not. He is a NBA star loaded with potential. Even Ronnie 2K must painfully realize this by now.
All in all, the NBA 2K series is supposed to be a fun way for fans, gamers, and players to try to replicate the NBA experience on a video game console. Still, quality NBA players should be depicted as such, even if it's just in a video game.
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