Breaking down the Sixers’ (potential) NBA 2K18 ratings
The Philadelphia 76ers’ NBA 2K18 ratings might have been leaked. How do the numbers stack up?
When it comes to video games, NBA 2K tends to dominate the basketball landscape. Fans turn to them for rankings, while players often find themselves dissatisfied in the process. It’s a cycle of anticipation and intrigue that’s almost always followed by question marks, and we as fans get to experience it on a yearly basis.
This year’s ratings are no different. Some are dubbed too low, while others are too high. Each team has players that are over or under the fan-decided marks, which means there’s always a point for debate when looking them over.
The Philadelphia 76ers‘ ratings haven’t been released in full by NBA 2K, but one YouTube channel claims to have released the full slew of numbers. Here’s how the Sixers (potentially) stack up:
Joel Embiid — 86
Markelle Fultz — 80
Ben Simmons — 79
J.J. Redick — 79
Robert Covington — 78
Dario Saric — 78
Richaun Holmes — 76
Amir Johnson — 75
T.J. McConnell — 75
Justin Anderson — 73
Jahlil Okafor — 73
Nik Stauskas — 73
Jerryd Bayless — 73
Furkan Korkmaz — 70
Of all the things worth noting, Ben Simmons’ rating is obviously the most egregious. The methodology behind it in understandable, and the fact that he didn’t log a single NBA minute makes it almost impossible for the metrics to boost his score over last year’s. It still feels like he got the short end of the proverbial stick, though, and improvements he made this offseason should quickly change that 79 to something above the 80 threshold once the meat of the regular season in underway.
There’s also a bone worth picking in regards to Luwawu-Cabarrot. The Frenchman made considerable strides last season, moving fluidly off the ball while emerging as one of the team’s better defenders in reserve. If he’s able to improve his jumper, the holes in his game will be few and far between when compared to your typical second-year reserve.
He understands Brown’s system and should be more than capable of upping that rating as time goes on. He should be the first wing off the bench day one.
You could argue that Okafor’s in on the high side, but a former third-overall pick who was battling injuries for the majority of his second season may have found some favorable spots in the metrics. McConnell earned his 75, although athletic limitations and a slim offensive repertoire may keep him from going up much further.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0
The Sixers are trending up, and their 2K ratings — for the most part — are doing the same. If Ben Simmons is as good as he says he is, it shouldn’t be too long until the Sixers have three players wielding 80-plus ratings.