It’s 2K update season, and you know what that means: it’s time for Utah Jazz fans to get up in arms.
Spoiler alert: the developers were not particularly kind to the Jazzmen this go round. That may be a product of shaky play from the team in general.
You know how this works. There’s no reason to dive into the vast complexities of our methodology. Without further ado, here are our reactions to every recent 2K update to a Utah Jazz member.
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell 2K rating: 88 (-1)
We understand 2K’s decision to dock Mitchell a point since their last ratings. His scoring has been down since the All-Star break (23.9 points per game), although his assists have gone up (5.9 per game).
Compare those numbers with the the 26.1 and 5.4 he’s averaging on the season, and it’s fair to say his play hasn’t quite been optimal lately. He’s still been exceptional, and that’s reflected in an exceptional 88 overall rating.
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert 2k rating: 88 (-1)
A similar breakdown of Gobert’s stats since the All-Star break doesn’t provide a similar justification of dropping his rating. He’s averaging 14.6 points, 14.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game since the break.
Compare that to 15.4, 14.6 and 2.1 on the season, and it feels like Gobert is being unfairly nitpicked. He’s not a scorer, and points per game are the only significant dip in his output. He’s the same Rudy Gobert that earned an 89 rating.
Of course, we’re nitpicking in turn: a drop of a single digit is ultimately meaningless. Some may argue that 2K ratings in general are the same.
Explain why this will be our most viewed article in months, in that case!
Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay 2K rating: 75 (-1)
When looking at a role player like Gay’s rating, basic counting stats don’t hold the same weight. From that perspective, dropping Gay’s rating seems fair.
The scoring outbursts have become fewer and further between from the beginning of the season. His high mark since the All-Star break has been 18.
More significantly, lineups featuring him prominently in the absence of Bojan Bogdanovic and Danuel House Jr. have faltered. Maybe it’s unfair to judge the 35-year-old by that standard, but it’s the only standard we have.
If Gay’s unable to be effective as a starter, 75 feels like an appropriate rating.
Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale 2K rating: 74 (-2)
Of any protests we make in this article, this one will be the loudest. Royce O’Neale deserves better.
Throw statistics out the window: we know that’s not O’Neale’s bag. He’s a consummate glue guy. The effort, energy and high defensive IQ that he brings to the table on a nightly basis have not changed since 2K’s last ratings update.
His prior rating of 76 was fair, and if anything, he should be closer to a 77. Ronnie 2K, you’ll be hearing from our people on this one.
Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler 2K rating: 74 (+1)
Jared Butler was the only Jazzman to receive an improved rating in this batch of updates. We’re happy for the kid: he truly deserves it.
Of course, his statistics haven’t mind blowing. He still doesn’t necessarily get heavy spin in this Jazz rotation. The 21 points and 7 assists he hung on the Clippers probably helped his cause.
In assessing Butler, you’ve got to lean on the eye test. Any Utah Jazz fan will tell you that he looks the part of at least a 74 overall player.
Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker 2K rating: 73 (-1)
It would be hard to make an impassioned plea for a better rating for NAW. He’s averaging 3.2 points and 1.0 assist in 9.9 minutes with the team. He’s also shooting a pedestrian 25.9% from three-point range.
He hasn’t given 2K a lot to work with, but they can only go by what they’ve seen. The young guard still has potential, but as of this moment, 73 feels like a fair rating for him.
Utah Jazz forward Danuel House Jr 2K rating: 72 (-1)
This demotion feels unwarranted as well. At the same time, much of a promotion would be hard to justify either.
House Jr. is shooting 45.2% from deep since the All-Star break. Since that’s his primary job description, it’s hard to understand why he’s slipped. His spacing is valuable to this Jazz attack, and his defense has been solid as well.
The game should have kept him at 73.
With the Utah Jazz slipping as late, it makes sense that the players’ 2K ratings have slipped as well. A deep postseason run could have these guys back on an upward trajectory.