At no point in NBA history have video games factored more prevalently in the discourse around NBA players than right now. Whether one likes it or not, the 2K player rating represents a wholesale evaluation of a player, so it’s no surprise that players on the Utah Jazz and beyond are invested in what their magic number ends up being.
To some, it may feel a little silly. To others, the game itself is too close to an actual basketball simulation not to take seriously. No matter where one stands, there are countless examples of players caring about their 2K rating.
Like, seriously, a lot of examples.
Ultimately, if players want to improve their 2K rating, they’ll have to improve their game. So maybe it’s a good thing. Any incentive to improve should be welcomed by players, teams, and fans alike.
Here’s where we project each member of the Utah Jazz’s projected starting five to land upon the upcoming release of NBA 2K22.
Utah Jazz starting center: Rudy Gobert
Predicted NBA 2K22 rating: 87
In a world where Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert could shoot three-pointers, he might break the NBA 2K rating system. Of course, he’d be busy breaking the NBA too, and we should only indulge so much in fantasy.
Instead, Gobert will likely have to settle with a similar rating to that which he’s had in the past, flirting with the esteemed 90 overall threshold but ultimately too limited as a shooter and playmaker to cross it.
As one would expect, Gobert earns his robust 2K rating with elite rim protection, strong rebounding, and solid inside scoring. Inevitably, he’ll also boost his rating with a Brick Wall Badge, which is awarded to players who set hard screens for their teammates. Gobert’s Brick Wall rating should be set to Gold, if not Hall of Fame.
For fans who feel that the Utah Jazz’s perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate ought to be granted a higher rating, it’s worth noting that Gobert is likely to be the highest rated non-spacing, non-playmaking center in the game.
He may not earn a placement among the NBA’s very upper crust with his NBA 2K22 rating, but he won’t be far off, and he’ll also be rated about as highly as possible for a player who does not possess the aforementioned offensive skills.
Hopefully, it matters less to him than All-Star appearances.
Utah Jazz starting power forward: Bojan Bogdanovic
Predicted NBA 2K22 rating: 76
In NBA 2K21, Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic was awarded a rating of 77, coming off a season where he averaged 20.2 points per game. In 2020-21, Bojan’s points per game average slipped to 17.0 points per game. Since the Bosnian they call Bogey is primarily a bucket-getter, we’re banking on a slippage in his points per game to be reflected in NBA 2K22.
Bogdanovic’s best asset, whether we’re talking about the real life or (barely) pixilated version, is his three-point shooting. His 39% shooting on 6.4 three-point attempts per night last season won’t do anything to impact what ought to be an A rating or higher on that score.
Bogdanovic is also a solid, reliable inside scorer and consistent free throw shooter, as evidenced by his efficient 58.8 True Shooting % (TS%) last season. Unfortunately for Bogey, his 2K rating is adversely impacted by his general lack of skills outside of scoring.
It’ll be difficult for the game’s raters to reward him many points for his passing vision, as he finished the 2020-21 season with a modest 1.9 assists per game. He doesn’t provide exceptional work on the boards either, pulling down 3.9 per game for the Utah Jazz over the 2020-21 NBA season.
While Bogdanovic is a solid defender, he is also an unspectacular one. He is likely to receive a rating in the perimeter defense department that hovers around a B: not a weakness by any means, but not the kind of resounding strength that could compensate for his lackluster ratings in other areas.
Bogdanovic is a somewhat one-dimensional player. The dimension he excels in (scoring) is probably the one you’d most want a player to, if they have to be one-dimensional. Still, a more well-rounded game would result in a higher rating for the Utah Jazz’s sharpshooting forward.
Utah Jazz starting small forward: Royce O’Neale
Predicted NBA 2K22 rating: 73
If any player on the Utah Jazz’s projected starting lineup is likely to have more real-life value than his 2K rating reflects, it’s O’Neale. As close as the critically acclaimed video game franchise has become to a simulation, it’s still difficult for the game to really capture the value of intangibles like toughness, leadership, and heart.
On the positive side, we don’t have to worry about praising our AI overlords quite yet. On the other hand, Royce O’Neale is likely to remain as underrated in NBA 2K as he is in real life.
O’Neale’s rating is likely to be boosted primarily by his three-point shooting (38.5% accuracy on 3.9 attempts per game last season), stout perimeter defense (as reflected by a solid 108 Defensive Rating last season) and strong positional rebounding (6.8 per game last season). As fans of the Utah Jazz will be quick to attest, O’Neale is the definition of a glue guy, and an invaluable component of the team’s success.
On the other hand, his rating is limited by his lack of playmaking, ball-handling and shot creation abilities. In reality, O’Neale is a consummate 3-and-D wing with a little extra rebounding.
Again, that’s an extremely valuable player archetype, and the Utah Jazz are lucky to have him. It’s just difficult to reflect that value in the context of a video game. Put differently: Royce O’Neale excels in the skills he does possess, but he is simply lacking in too many areas to receive an exceedingly high 2k rating.
We’re not factoring them into this exercise, but O’Neale has at least two teammates on the bench who are likely to begin the season with higher 2K ratings in Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles.
Utah Jazz starting shooting guard: Donovan Mitchell
Predicted NBA 2K22 rating: 89
To nobody’s surprise, Mitchell projects as the highest rated player on the Utah Jazz in NBA 2K22. In 2K21, Mitchell started the season with an 88 rating, and over the 2020-21 NBA regular season, Mitchell made incremental improvements across the board from his previous seasons. Therefore, we’re anticipating an incremental improvement in his rating.
Anybody reading this article ought to understand what Mitchell brings to the table. He is a bonafide first option on offense, capable of generating his own looks out of thin air, whether splashing contested triples (shooting 38.6% on a healthy 8.7 three-point attempts per game last season), driving inside to unleash an array of dunks and layups, or setting up his teammates (5.2 helpers-per-game through 2020-21).
We’re talking about a player who averaged 26.4 points per game last season. Donovan Mitchell has clearly reached star status at the NBA level, and NBA 2K22 will award him with a commensurate rating. There’s only one question: how can he crack 90?
The answer is reflective of the only aspect of basketball resembling a hole in Mitchell’s game: defense. Many could argue that, with such thorough responsibilities on the offensive side, it would be unfair to expect significant improvement from the young scoring guard on the defensive side of the ball. That argument has merit, but, most of 2K’s truly elite ratings are awarded to dominant two-way forces like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard.
Essentially, Mitchell’s options are as follows: 1. Make significant strides on defense 2. Rattle off a historic run of 30 to 50 point games ala James Harden in 2018 or 3. Accept his still-high 89 NBA 2K22 rating.
Utah Jazz starting point guard: Mike Conley Jr.
Predicted NBA 2K22 rating: 82
Maybe the credit goes to modern sports medicine, but point guards in today’s NBA are making a habit of defying the still-undefeated Father Time. As a result, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and the Utah Jazz’s Mike Conley Jr. all earned substantial contracts this offseason.
Nonetheless, consider this a gamble that 2K will bake a pinch of age-related decline into Conley Jr.’s rating in the next version of their game. Conley started 2K21 with an 84 overall, and realistically did nothing throughout the 2020-21 season to deserve a decreased rating. His counting stats of 16.2 points, 6.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game are reflective of a heady floor general who is capable of running the offense or deferring to his backcourt mate and spacing the floor.
Still, Conley is approaching his age 34 season. As mentioned, NBA 2K strives to achieve basketball simulation, and so it incorporates age-related decline into its ratings. Conley Jr. absolutely has an opportunity to defy those expectations again. The ratings in 2K are themselves living organisms, subject to change as the real-life NBA season marches forward.
In other words: Utah Jazz fans should be hoping that Conley Jr. forces 2K to restore his 84 rating, at a minimum. He’ll receive solid ratings across the board as a lethal three-point threat (41.2% on 6.6 attempts per game last season), smart playmaking and solid defensive instincts.
However, as an athletically limited, aging floor general, Conley Jr. may fight an uphill battle to receive a rating that fairly reflects his value. Call him underrated: it’s certainly a label he’s worn before.