2K Sports recently revealed their ratings of the top 100 NBA players for their upcoming game, NBA 2K25. Despite just being arbitrary overall rating numbers, players in the league, from role players to superstars, have historically shown that they care about where they stand in the game's hierarchy (often in funny ways).
If players truly care about where they were stacked with their peers than these four NBA stars should be strongly motivated to prove those game developers wrong.
1. Nikola Jokic
Starting from the top, the reigning NBA MVP and consensus best player in the league retains his throne atop all ... except now he shares this throne with Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. All three players come into the year rated at 97 overall.
Jokic actually dropped in overall rating, down from 98 overall. After adding a third MVP trophy to his hardware collection and showing no signs of regressing in any skills, he still was not given a rating that had him definitively sitting at the top.
If Jokic wasn't motivated enough from falling short of an NBA title after winning his first in 2023, he should feel slighted from not being placed solely at the top.
2. Jimmy Butler
Injuries are a factor involved in creating the ratings and Butler ended the season on the sidelines after a knee injury in the Play-In last season. Without being able to showcase his alter ego "Playoff Jimmy" in the postseason, Butler had the largest drop in overall out of the top 25 players in the league.
Now sitting outside the 90+ overall club with his rating of 89, Butler is looking up at the likes of players like Kyrie Irving and Tyrese Haliburton. Being more polished offensively helps their cases, but neither have ever proven the ability to drag a team to the NBA Finals as the guy once, let alone twice.
When healthy and given the chance in the postseason, Butler has continuously showcased his true ranking as a borderline top-10 player. Currently sitting outside the top 20 is too much disrespect for the Miami Heat's leader.
3. Scottie Barnes
Barnes elevated himself to an elite all-around offensive and defensive wing last season, especially after the Toronto Raptors traded away fellow wings OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam at the trade deadline.
Posting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, Barnes found himself bearing the load of carrying a rebuilding roster and was selected as an All-Star replacement. Despite achieving All-Star status however, Barnes received a lower rating than some expected. He was placed a whopping 15 spots behind the next All-Star above him in Karl Anthony-Towns.
Having tertiary team pieces with less responsibilities, such as Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Jalen Williams just above Barnes seems unfair. This will be enough disrespect for 2021's fourth overall pick to continue surprising all with his ascension of all basketball skills.
4. James Harden
As a former MVP Harden has to be feeling the most slighted from the release of this year's ratings. Moving down from 89, last season, to 84 now has his superstar track record and stature in question.
Sitting alongside younger rising players like Jalen Green and Jarrett Allen is hard to imagine for an offensive savant like Harden. When asked about fans' concerns about his drop in rating, the 10-time All-Star went against his usual brash off-court demeanor and confidently claimed, "I'm going to show them on the court. I don't really care about my rating."
It remains to be seen if the veteran guard can prove his doubters and 2K developers wrong. With his skillset, however, reminding the league that he belongs closer to the top is well within reach.
