2K Ratings Panel

While we eagerly admit that NBA 2K is the world's foremost sports simulation, ratings always generate a little controversy. We get it, at a basic level sports games are an engine with ratings that drive it. Ratings are the only things that separate Tim Duncan from Tim Legler, and stop Brian Cardinal dunking from the FT line, so accuracy is pretty important. While we've always been impressed with the way 2K Sports emulates each players real-life Strengths and Weaknesses, it just sort of "feels right" when Kobe Bryant is rated higher than say; Josh Smith. Without anymore delay, We've put together our Ratings Panel consisting of Marv and Jules from our very own SportsGaming blog and NinjaK2, Nyqua and DurtySoufReppin from Operation Sports. Since Ratings are always a source of endless debate, this oughta be good.

So let's get right into it, shall we? Lebron's 98. Any arguments there?
My Issue isn't that he's the highest rated player as much as it is with a 98 rating. This year with the inclusion of Legends, current players should top out at a 96 rating. I'd like to see 97-99 reserved for players with a larger body of work. I'm certainly not a Lebron Hater because I believe his Legend is still being written, but he's no Magic, Bird, Dream, Kareem or Isiah yet. I'd rate him a 96 easy tho. 27ppg, 7rpg and 7apg is SERIOUS.
I'm not a believer in ratings that high, I would have liked to see Bron around a 95-96, but still the highest rated active player in the game. Lets say Jordan is a 99, where does that leave players like Bird, Magic, the Dream, Kareem? All were better players than Lebron and should be rated as such.

If Jordan is a 99 Lebron is not one point below him so I think that's a little overblown. Maybe a 93-94. His post game is suspect with a capital S, his jumpshot is spotty, and he still hasn't figured out how to play effectively off the ball. I'm not a ratings whore and I don't whine too much about them. Lebron is arguably the most gifted player in this game from a potential standpoint but I really worry about him in regards to the mental aspect of his game which is never really reflected in these video games. They have ratings like potential, consistency and offensive/defensive clutch but they need ratings like mental toughness, focus, or confidence to offset these guys with high ratings. Guys like Joe Johnson and JR Smith can play above there ratings because these other factors I mention never really come into play in a head to head match which allows for people to beast online or offline with slightly above average or average rated players.

None from me. He's the best player in the league, and he's already a top 20 player of all-time. He's close to the "Legends" in this year's game, but not on par with them which is good. People tend to focus a lot on his poor Finals and largely ignore his performance over the whole regular season and his performance in the playoffs against the Bulls and the Celtics.

Lebron is a tough one. He's an all around beast, quickness,speed,strength,rebounding,passing,defense,and jumper, he has it all. The things Lebron lack as a player aren't in 2ks rating system. Overcoming tough situations and stepping up when it's time. I have no problem with the rating like most people do, because I look at 95% of his game and not 5% like most of the Lebron complainers. I've even heard people say put his clutch at 0, like he's never hit a game winning shot before. Some people should go watch the Bulls and Celtics series again. My argument is if he's plays like Lebron the overall shouldn't mean anything.

The highest Cavalier (Baron Davis) is a 74? YIKES.
No issue here. If you're a Cavs fan I really hate it for you, though. My advice is give guys like Stern and Billy Hunter a call. Tell them to get it done. NOW. You need Kyrie & Tristan ASAP.
No problems here.

Their best player in my opinion is an often injured Baron Davis who when completely healthy and focused can be one of the best guards in the game. Maybe I give him a 75 but I'm ok with 74.

It must be depressing for Cavs fans to go from NBA Finals contender with the best player in the league, to second worst team in the league and the team picking first in the NBA Draft. Excellent move on their part to get the #1 pick via the Clippers for absorbing Baron Davis' contract, so now they at least have two young players to build around.
Kyrie should and probably will be the highest Cavalier. Jamison and Baron Davis as the runner-ups.

The ratings seem 2-3 points lower than last year, do you guys have any issues with this?
ZERO. I think we all see what too-high ratings have done for that embarrassment of polygons that is Madden NFL. Kick any 70 yard FGs/run for 300 yards lately? Someone tell those guys to get a clue.
Not at all.

No problem with it. Like Marv said above, I agree Madden overrates a lot of people anyway.

Nope. With the addition of many new Legends, that is completely fine with me.
Not at all, I just want more players to play like themselves. I think the lower ratings are a result of 2k expanding its rating system.

Dwayne Wade has a 96 rating in 2K12, what say you?
Like i said before, i'd prefer a system that tops current players at 96. In that system i'd have LBJ 96, Wade 95 and Kobe 94.
See question #1. I would have him rated around 92-95.
Wade is a bad man but like I said to the 1st question I think 93-94 should be the ceiling for anyone in today's NBA.
I'm OK with it. He's a top 3 player in this league, and has overtaken Kobe as the best SG in the league. LeBron is a bit better than him in most categories, but Wade is still an excellent player to build a team around.
Spot on.

Ricky Rubio. Rate Him.
He's a 60 like all first rounders should be (second rounders should be 50s). nothing is guaranteed in the NBA--better players than him have flopped. There are no "sure things". PERIOD. Increase the ratings of rookies AFTER they perform. There's no way they should be rated higher than players who have actually played NBA minutes. Trying to rate them before they dribble a basketball in the league is silly. (see Kwame Brown, Darko, Eddy Curry, Jay Williams, DaJuan Wagner, Stromile Swift, Nbudi Ebi, Jonathan Bender and Darius Miles for reference)
I'd give him a 62.
I know zero about him outside of the fact he didn't come to Sota' and many scouts say he has regressed from draft day. Based on what I've heard something in the 60's may be ok.

Let's see, he went from overseas phenom to overrated it seems since he was drafted. I like his playmaking ability and defensive potential, but he seems to have problems putting the ball into the hoop at an efficient clip. I can see him shooting below 40% his few years. I would peg him as a 67-70 overall, with a high potential rating. If he was in the 2011 NBA Draft, he would have been a top 5 pick in my opinion. Possibly top 3 to the Raptors.

I think a 67 is pretty good. Unlike a lot of people, I think Rubio's game will fit in the NBA perfectly. Watching some of his games his teammates really didn't compliment his game well. He'll be much better with guys like Kevin Love,Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams around him. He also played the league MVP very well.

Kobe Bryant is rated a 94 in NBA 2K12. Discuss.
No Problem here. Still an elite player but he hasn't been the best two-guard on the planet or the league's best player for two years.
Lebron 95, Wade and Kobe 92-95. I think Lebron and taken over as the best overall player in the league, but Kobe is not far behind. I have a hard time with the Wade and Kobe. Both are the same rating or I give Wade 1 point higher than Kobe. But these are the only 3 players in the top tier list in the NBA.

No problem with it. Again Kobe's focus, preparation, and mental toughness along with his skill set is what allows him to continue to compete at a high level. Hopefully they bring down his dunk rating somewhat. He is not as talented as Lebron in rebounding, passing, and defense but he does well enough in those areas and surpasses him in all other areas in my opinion.

Maybe he should be a little higher, but Kobe is no doubt starting to decline.
Perfect. Just hope they don't get out of hand with his athletic abilities.


Dirk Nowitzki. Rate Him.
23ppg, 7rpg and 40% from 3pt range along with 90% at the line? Willed his team to the title last year? Below average defender, but still gonna have to go with 88-90. I've got a little issue with the 99 Close/Mid-Range rating. C'mon Man...95 for both is probably a little better.
Sigh. For years I have been arguing the Dirk rating. In 2K10, Kidd was rated higher than Dirk. In 2k11, many power forwards were rated higher than Dirk. It's sad to see that even though Dirk showed last year that he is one of the best players in the NBA, he still comes in at a 85. Still rated lower than players like Westbrook and Gay. Makes me upset even thinking about it, next question.

Superior offensive player. In other areas...Average to below average..Clutch performer though..gotta go with 87-89.

88. On offense, he is the best midrange shooter in the game. He can score in traffic and make impossible shots look ordinary. Passing, he's very good at getting the ball out when doubled and rarely turns it over or forces the issue. I wish the NBA recorded "hockey assists", because Dirk would have a ton of those because of his decision making. Rebounding, he's below average for a PF, but on defense he's underrated. He won't make a big rejection or make the flashy plays, but he knows where he's supposed to be and gives a solid effort. He also calls out and organizes the defense for the Mavs at times.
85, with great mid range and solid lost post. Sorry Dirk lovers, but understand the formula of a typical PF before you criticize. Dirk is an 85 OVERALL, but his skillset tells a bigger story.


Michael Beasley. Rate Him.
Only plays offense, and not consistently. 75.
Unless you lower Wilson Chandler from his 80, I would have to rate Beasley an 80 also.

Had a good year on a very bad team. Consistency issues..70-73.

72. Inefficient scorer who can take a lot of shots because he's on the worst team in the NBA. Not really good at anything else. Stuck between the 3 and the 4. I really thought he would be a great player in this league, but he been a gigantic disappointment. Maybe he will put it together one day....but I really doubt it.
78, average ball handler and defender at the SF Position, average rebounder at the PF. Great off the dribble. Bad Team.


There are rumors of Amare with a low 90s rating. Anybody NOT ok with that?
I'm not. Average Defender. Only difference between him and Dirk is that Dirk has more range while he's more athletic. 86.
No problem with him being a 90, but Dirk needs to be +/- a point with that rating.

He was in the running for MVP early on last year. A beast of a scorer and not as good on D as he could be with his gifts. I'd rate him about the same as Dirk or a point or two lower.

As a Knicks fan, I am not. Amare is an amazing offensive player. He operates well from the elbow, and when his jumper is going, he's nearly impossible to stop. In the pick and roll, he's the best finisher in the game. Give him a lane and just get out of the way. He gets turnover prone when he forces it, and he doesn't pass well enough for me yet. But he sure can score. The things that keep him from being a low 90s? Rebounding and defense. Like Dirk, Amare is below average at rebounding. As athletic as he is, it's infuriating to watch when he doesn't even try to get rebounds. He really should be grabbing 10 boards a game with his athleticism. On defense, Amare looks completely lost at times. Don't let the blocks per game fool you, he is pretty awful on defense. And once he gets into foul trouble, he doesn't even try to contest or defend for fear of getting another foul. The least he can do it put a hand up! But he is a GREAT offensive player. I would say he is about an 87.
I'm pretty sure he's overrated. I saw that Amare had an 88 rating. 25 points per game, 9 rebounds, and top 5 in shots blocked, but the way 2k makes Amare's ratings are off. They always make him a back to the basket PF (85+ in low post offense), and since his overall is so high for a PF, I'm sure they've done it again. With the addition of the jab step and better lay-up collisions, I'm hoping they've toned down his back to the basket ratings and raised his lay-up and quickness so we can get Digital Amare right this year.

Is Pau Gasol an 86?
One poor offseason drops him here? Hmmm...does everything Amare can do but adds blocks, great defense and rebounds more, but is less athletic. I'd rate him whatever Amare is +2.
I'd give him an 88.
Gasol is a Baller but had a terrible playoffs and was constantly getting thrashed by his coach in the press. He does play D but he is not as explosive a scorer as Amare. 84-86.
Yep, maybe even higher than that. Everyone seems to be hating on Pau Gasol because of his no-show in the playoffs. But he is still a very skilled offensive player who has a great post game and very good passing ability. He's a good rebounder for his position, and is not a liability on defense. He does play soft at times, but he is still a great PF in the NBA.
86 seems good for Pau. Great Passer, Great Post Game, Good shot blocker, Good Defender. The things Pau lack on the court aren't in the ratings system.

Blake Griffin. Rate Him.
22-12 and 4. Great rebounder and finisher, decent passer too. Not much else, love his hustle tho. Highest I can go with is an 80.
Great young player. Let’s see more from him before we rate him the same as Dirk. 80.

He sure can dunk and rebound. Still needs to expand his game. 79.

85. Just below Gasol and Amare, but I think Blake will surpass him soon. He's an elite rebounder already, showed off surprising passing ability his first season, and scored pretty well for most of the season. He isn't good on defense yet, but he is still very young and his inexperience may be a reason for that. If he maintains his work ethic and avoids injury, he will be a force for a decade in this league.
83, and the reason I'm rating him an 83 is because Zach Randolph is an 83. Blake's game is based off pure athleticism at this point, Decent Post Game, Average Jumper. The complete opposite of Zach Randolph.

What's Jamal Crawford's rating?
One of the best off-the-bench in the league. If Odom is the league's most productive bench guy at 78, he's a 75-76.
Ummm, 77.

He could start most places and has been producing for many years 79-80.

He's best as a combo guard off the bench. Can play both guard positions, and create his own shot pretty well. Also can just chuck up awful shots very well. Not a good defender either, but on the right team he can be a valuable contributor. I would say he is a 76-77 because he can play multiple positions.
75-77. Streaky Scorer, that's it.


Is DeMar DeRozan a 69?
Hmmmm. Gave you 17.2ppg but did it on the worst team in the league. I'd go with 70 maybe 71. The real question is does he start or Barbosa?
No problems here.

Didn't see Raps much. I know he was a bright spot on a lackluster squad. I'll go with 69-70.

I think he is in the low 70s, but he really doesn't do that much for your team. He can't shoot threes, he isn't a great jumpshooter overall, and plays for a pretty bad team.
No. He's a 73-75. Very Athletic. 90+ Speed and Quickness. Decent mid range, 90+ Lay-up. They robbed all Raptor fans.

Russell Westbrook is an 88. You guys feelin' that?
Yeah i'm cool with that.
No way. Again another really good young player who hasn’t proved anything yet. 81.

Hell No. He is a hell of a talent but proved he is a loose cannon who sometimes made winning games alot harder than they should have been for OKC. Makes really bad decisions with the ball more often than he should. If he were an off-guard where he wasn't meant to run the offense maybe he'd be higher but right now as a PG I'd give him an 82-83. He is so gifted though.

Too high for me. Poor shot selection at times, not that great a playmaker, but he is athletic as hell and can really get into his man on defense. Great rebounder for his size. He has a turnover problem, that he needs to get in check. Not a good three point shooter either. But statistically, he is pretty similar to Derrick Rose, so I can see why 2K rated him as an 88. I think he should be lower. Maybe a 84-86.
Decent for Westbrook. Scores, rebounds,defends, and dishes.

Rajon Rondo. Rate him.
I'm just glad all the Rondo-is-elite foolishness is over. Great defender and distributor and has elite quickness. Terrific rebounder for his size. Still has a lot of holes in his game tho, What elite point shoots 57% from the charity stripe and has to avoid the ball in the clutch? 84
Rondo is an 80.

His only weakness in my opinion is his perimeter game. If he had that down he would be one of the toughest covers in the game. In all other facets he is incredible at his position: Defense, Rebounding, Passing, Finishing at the rim = Excellent. 86-87.

Great defender, knows how to set up the rest of his HOF teammates to get them their points. Just an awful shooter. You can sag off of him hard, and he becomes a gigantic liability at the end of a close game as the defense will live with him taking a jumpshot, and he is scared to get fouled because he is a putrid FT shooter. He knows how to run the Celtics offense really well, but his inability to score really hurts him at times. I think he is a 84-86.
84. One of the best defensive players in the league, while being one of the best passers in the league. Great Awareness,Passing,Defense, and Athleticism at the PG Position will boost his overall.

Bynum's a 79. Pump it or Dump it?
Pump it.
I can hang. Pump it.

Dump It. Been gravy training his potential for years. 73-74tops.

If he stays healthy, pump it. That's a pretty big if. When he's healthy he is arguably the second best center in the NBA.
Pump it. Has 82-85 Potential.

Kevin Love. Rate Him.
Great numbers. Below-average defender and post scorer tho. Plays for one of league's worst teams. 78.
Another really good young player. 79.

Good numbers on pathetic team. LaMarcus Aldridge should have had his All-Star spot as that really ticked me off. 76.

83. Puts up great rebounding numbers, partly because the T'Wolves missed a ton of shots and had poor rebounders, can knock down the three but I feel like he is puts up his numbers partly because he's on an awful team. I don't see him being able to be the top scoring option on a playoff team.
81, one of the best rebounders of all time. Good Passer, Good 3 point shooter, Decent post game and strength.

Brandon Roy is a 78. Discuss.
Damn shame, really. But yeah, his injuries have reduced him to a streaky bench guy who plays 20+ minutes and can dominate in stretches. 78 is about right.
Good rating for now, let’s see how he recovers.

Based off last year that might be too high. He has been injured and may never be all the way right again. 75.

Eh, seems fair. Shame his knees exploded on him. He was a very good SG, but now you don't know if he will be able to play every night. His TS% and eFG% plummeted last year as well.

All I can say is, Finally.

Is Monta Ellis an 83?
I always felt like he got shafted for being undersized, shooting too much and for not playing defense. Things A.I. got away with. He's insanely quick but is basically a perimeter scorer. shoots 46% for his career (that's pretty good for those who don't know) but is on a perennial loser he doesn't make any better. 85.
Yes, this is perfect for him.

Phenomenal talent and scorer. Not compared to A.I. because he never carried his team to the Finals. If he were to do that with this Warriors team that would be something else. 81-82.

Eh, I suppose. Can score in a bunch of ways, but has inflated stats due to playing a ton of minutes on the team with the fastest pace in the league. Not a good defender, but he is pretty athletic and made strides in some crucial areas last season. Cut down on his turnovers and was more efficient scoring (mainly from shooting better from three). I would make him slightly lower, but 83 is fine for him.
Stephen Jackson is an 83. Either Monte is higher or Stephan Jackson needs a major decrease (I'll take Stephen Jackson needing a decrease for $500 Alex). I like Monte being an 83. Warriors system is nice for him. I'm not completely sold on him yet, but I think he at least deserves an 85.

Andre Iguodala is an 85. Discuss.
Super-athletic. League's best perimeter defender is either him or Tony Allen. Gives you 6apg & 6rpg but only 15ppg. 81 i'm thinking. The real question is "Why does he still have on that black sleeve from two years ago?" he doesn't wear that anymore!
He should be around 80-82. What has he done to get anything higher?

One of the best perimeter defenders in the game and has potential triple double capabilities on any given night. Below average shooter though and not the greatest ball handler. 80.

Too high. He was elite last year on defense. Put him on a man, and he would lock him down as well as you can with today's NBA rules. On offense, he's nothing special scoring-wise. Not a good jumpshooter at all, but he can rebound pretty well and run the point forward for your team. Great athlete as well. But he isn't an 85. Should be in the low 80s.

Poor Man's Lebron James. Elite Defender, Mediocre jumpshot, Great passer for the SF Position, Great Finisher, Great Athleticism. 85 seems good.

Charlotte's best player (Corey Maggette) is rated a 74. You OK with that?
I'm fine with it. He's never been more than a streaky scorer.
a 74 is perfect.

Thinks three things on the court. 1.Shoot when I get the rock. 2.Rebound so I can get the rock and shoot it. 3.Pass the ball so I can get to a spot where you can pass it back to me where I can shoot it. So athletic he should be better in other areas of his game by now. 70.

Sure. He gets to the foul line at an elite rate (over 9 times a game per 36 most years), but doesn't give you much else. He's a good guy to have carry the offense for your second unit.

Perfect, streaky scorer who ball hogs 101% of the time.

Rate Steve Nash.
Below-average defender, but still giving us double digit assists, 50% from the field, 40% from deep and 90% from the line. 86.
Nash is an 83 at this point in his career.

Great passer. Great shooter from anywhere. True floor general but could not stop a kitchen sink that was left running by simply walking over to it and turning it off. Is getting long in the tooth. 83-84.

84-86. Excellent shooter, great playmaker, he makes the Suns offense go. Pretty bad defender, but he gives a good effort and at least tries even though he is at a disadvantage athletically.

84, He's the opposite of Rajon Rondo + passing.

Well that's all folks. Ratings debate from the people that KNOW. We appreciate the time, guys. We'll have to do it again soon.