With the 2017-18 NBA season just around the corner, the new video game NBA 2K18 is set to hit stores on Sept. 19.
Players all across the league have begun revealing their ratings, as Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball was given a rating of 80, which along with Philadelphia 76ers rookie Markelle Fultz is the highest for a rookie since John Wall.
Fellow Lakers rookies Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart also tweeted out their rankings, coming in at a 72 and 70, respectively.
While most take their rating with a grain of salt, some players take it personally as Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson recently took to Twitter to express displeasure with his rating.
While the Lakers look to be much improved this season after offseason additions like Ball, Kuzma, Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, NBA 2K recently released the top 10 rated players at each position and no Lakers players made the list.
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers paced all NBA players with a 97 rating, followed by Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (96) and Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs (95).
CONTINUE READING: Top-10 ratings by position
The point guard position in the NBA is currently as stacked as ever, as the sport is turning into a guard-dominated game. The last three MVP awards have all been handed out to point guards, with Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder winning it this past season after Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors won it the previous two.
For that reason, it comes as no surprise that Westbrook and Curry were the top two rated point guards with a 94 rating.
They were followed by Chris Paul, who came in at a 91. Paul was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Houston Rockets in the offseason, pairing him with James Harden who will move back to his traditional shooting guard position.
After Chris Paul the recently traded Kyrie Irving and John Wall round out the top five, both with 90 ratings. Isaiah Thomas and Damian Lillard were not far behind at 89, followed by Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley at 87 and then Kemba Walker finished out the top 10 at 86.
With how many All-Star caliber point guards there currently are in the NBA, it was unrealistic for Ball to crack the top 10 without playing a single NBA game. But if he is able to impress in his rookie season then he will quickly climb the ladder to becoming one of the premiere point guards in the league.
CONTINUE READING: Top-10 shooting guards
Harden tops the shooting guard list with a 95 rating after his MVP runner-up 2016-17 season. Harden is coming off a season in which he averaged career-highs in point (29.1), rebounds (8.1) and assists (11.2). It will be interesting to see if the addition of Paul dips into those numbers though as Harden will likely not have the ball in his hands as often as last season.
After Harden the next two shooting guards, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason, were both given a 90 rating. DeMar Derozen (89) and Bradley Beal (87) round out the top five.
They were followed by C.J. McCollum (86), Devin Booker (85), Avery Bradley (83), Dwyane Wade (82) and Khris Middleton (81) to complete the top 10.
Caldwell-Pope did not make the list but likely fell just outside of it coming off of the best season of his career. Playing alongside Ball should benefit the fifth-year guard as he will get open looks both at the basket and at the three-point line.
Clarkson’s 78 rating also likely put him just outside the top 10, as he will likely take on a bigger role this season as the team’s sixth man and primary scorer off the bench.
CONTINUE READING: Top-10 small forwards
The three highest rated players in NBA 2K are all at the small forward position: James (97), Durant (96) and Leonard (95).
Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo are also both inside the top 10 players overall, both with 91 ratings. The top 10 small forwards finished with Gordon Hayward (88), Andrew Wiggins (86), Carmelo Anthony (84), Harrison Barnes (81) and Danilo Gallinari (81).
James being a point above Durant may come as a bit of a surprise after the performance Durant put on in last year’s NBA Finals, leading his Warriors to a 4-1 series victory over James’ Cavaliers.
The Lakers have a young talented small forward in Brandon Ingram, although he did disappoint a bit in his rookie season so it comes as no surprise that he didn’t crack the top 10.
Ingram was impressive in his lone Summer League game in Las Vegas this year though, scoring 26 points and demonstrating his improvements on the offensive side of the ball, so the Lakers will be expecting big things from the second-year forward this season.
CONTINUE READING: Top-10 power forwards
With the league becoming more guard-oriented the power forward position has taken a bit of a backseat in recent years, but there is still a few premiere power forwards in the league.
Anthony Davis, who moved back over to power forward when the New Orleans Pelicans traded for DeMarcus Cousins last season, tops the list with a 94 rating.
He was followed by Draymond Green (88), Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Paul Millsap who all were given 87 ratings.
The top 10 was completed by a couple young stars and a few aging stars, as Kristaps Porzingis ranked sixth at 86, and then LaMarcus Aldrige (85), Jabari Parker (81), Dirk Nowitzki (80) and Zach Randolph (80) finished out the list.
Lakers starting power forward Julius Randle, like many of his teammates, likely just missed the list. Randle is coming off his most efficient season, averaging career-highs in points (13.2), assists (3.6) and field goal percentage (48.8 percent). He also should benefit from the presence of Ball and could have another career year this upcoming season.
CONTINUE READING: Top-10 centers
Perhaps the Laker that was most worthy of making the top 10 list at their position is Lopez, who led all centers in three-point field goals last season with the Nets while averaging 20.5 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Lopez failed to make the list though as DeMarcus Cousins came in at No. 1 with a 92 rating. After Cousins another former Kentucky Wildcat, Karl-Anthony Towns was ranked second at 91.
A trio of international centers completed the top five as Marc Gasol (89), Nikola Jokic (88) and Rudy Gobert (88) followed Towns.
The top 10 was rounded out by Hassan Whiteside and DeAndre Jordan, both given 87 ratings, Joel Embid (86), Andre Drummond (85) and Myles Turner (84).
While the center position in the NBA was fading for a while, it is now back in a big way with athletic centers that are able to stretch the floor and handle the ball like guards.