Ben Simmons’ NBA 2K18 rating is criminally low

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons got the short end of the proverbial stick with his rating in NBA 2K18.

In news that I called a week ago, the NBA 2K18 rating for Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons has finally been released — and it’s a bit lower than you might think.

After Markelle Fultz measured out at an 80 by the game’s metrics, many expected Simmons — who’s coming off a year’s worth of work under an NBA training staff — to garner an equal, if not higher, score. He’s already a more advanced playmaker than Fultz, while his combination of basketball I.Q. and inordinate physical tools give him potential that few draftees can match.

Simmons’ rating, however, doesn’t quite reflect that, as he’ll be slotted at a 79 for his second consecutive year in the game. While it seems low at first glance, it’s something we all should have seen coming.

Simmons refused to send out his rating to his Twitter followers earlier this offseason, which hinted at some not-so-well-hidden displeasure with the final tally. When you then factor in the process for ranking players in 2K, not playing in year one didn’t afford Simmons any margin for statistical improvement — meaning the same collegiate numbers that made him a 79 in 2K17 were the numbers being plugged in for 2K18.

As somebody who wants to be among the best of the league, being slighted by the NBA’s most popular video game would be understandably frustrating. He’s behind a pair of rookies in Fultz and Lonzo Ball who haven’t earned a spot ahead of him, while the work he put in this offseason will likely yield far more production than that number would suggest.

If anything, it’s a slight deficiency in the ranking process — and something worth pointing out, and perhaps fixing, moving forward. Basing the rankings solely off of stats can lead to certain anomalies that quickly become problematic. Simmons isn’t the same player he was coming out of LSU, and giving him the same tally as his (original) rookie year will likely end up incorrect.

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It’s well understood that we haven’t seen much of what Simmons can do against actual, live NBA talent, which certainly clouds this debate just a bit. There’s always the lingering potential for struggles, which provides some slight justification for 2K’s decision to press forward with 79 as the final number.

Betting on Simmons to bump that number up (sizably) could be a smart move, though, as his smarts and experience should factor into immediate success in a league that’s tailored to his greatest strengths. Brett Brown knows how to optimize an offense, and Simmons is the type of talent who will make the game easier for those around him.

The right system with legitimate talent around him is something Simmons didn’t have at LSU, and something that should cushion his spot as the deserving Rookie of the Year frontrunner to kick off the 2017-18 campaign.

Next: Do the Sixers face a magic season?

Should this news upset fans? Probably not, but it’s worth noting the problem — even if it has a minimal impact on the Sixers’ tangible production.