The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert fights for his team’s NBA 2K rating

By Ryan Aston

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and Joe Johnson #6 of the Utah Jazz stand on the cour before Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the LA Clippers of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and Joe Johnson #6 of the Utah Jazz stand on the cour before Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the LA Clippers of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert isn’t just concerned about his own player rating in the NBA 2K video game series. He’s defending his team’s honor as well.

With NBA 2K18 set to release on video game platforms worldwide on September 18, in-game player ratings are a hot topic for NBA people on social media. Players around the Association are taking to Twitter to talk about the game’s evaluations of their skills.

Although some are just happy to be included, many openly hype their numbers, while others vehemently disagree with them. The Utah Jazz are no different, with All-NBA center Rudy Gobert leading the charge.

Last week, Gobert tweeted out his own rating — which came in at 88 overall — saying that it was ‘a little low,’ but noting the difference from the 52 he received as a rookie. The Stifle Tower isn’t just concerned with his own perception, though. He’s also gone through back channels to defend the honor of his team.

So what’s the big deal with video game ratings, anyway? HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy explored that very topic recently in an excellent piece on the importance of 2K ratings to modern NBA players. Therein, 2K Sports’ digital marketing director Ronnie Singh recounted some of his interactions with Gobert.

Before the release of last year’s game, for example, the Stifle Tower was unimpressed by Utah’s overall team rank. Clearly, how people view his squad is right at the top of his list along with how he’s perceived by the world. So, he made sure to let Singh hear about it.

From HoopsHype —

"“I talk to Rudy a lot – he’s awesome – and he actually had a legitimate gripe last year because we had Utah ranked, I think, 23rd overall and they were the fifth seed in the West,” Singh said. “It was understandable why he was upset and it’s something we updated during the year.”"

More from The J-Notes

Call me crazy, but I think this is kind of important.

What a person says and does for all the world to see is no small thing. However, the things that are done and said behind the scenes — when no one is looking — can reveal a lot more about a person’s motives.

It’s one thing for Gordon Hayward to hype his squad on his personal blog on gordonhayward20.life. This isn’t a knock on the former Jazzman, but everybody sees that and he’s careful to say the right things.

Gobert battles on the hardwood like few others do. But he fights for his team behind the scenes as well. In this case, he did so in a way that no one would have known about if not for Singh’s revelation.

For me, it’s the kind of tale that shows why he’s just the right player to lead the current iteration of the Utah Jazz.

His legacy is important and he wants the world to know what he can do. But the team still shares top billing on Gobert’s basketball marquee.

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