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The negativity that surrounds the game of NBA 2K continues to be heard from one release date to the next. The game continues to show disappointment in the latest NBA 2K21 release in Suns player ratings even after a 8-0 showing in the bubble. Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton top out the Suns roster in player ratings shown below:
- Devin Booker- 87
- Deandre Ayton- 84
- Kelly Oubre Jr.- 81
- Ricky Rubio- 79
- Aron Baynes- 78
- Mikal Bridges- 77
- Cameron Johnson- 76
- Dario Saric- 76
- Frank Kaminsky- 75
- Cameron Payne- 74
- Jevon Carter- 73
- Cheick Diallo- 73
- Ty Jerome- 71
- Elie Okobo- 71
- Jalen Lecque- 68
- Tariq Owens- 68
NBA players can improve their rating by success on the court but the 2020-21 season begins in December and for now we have to deal with was was given. This is nothing to be messed around with. The rating mean everything to these players in comparing how far they came from last year to this year.
Booker, who went head-to-head against Ayton and came out victorious in winning the NBA 2K player tournament during the pandemic showed a decrease in overall rating from 88 in 2k19 to 87 this year. He could eventually increase the overall status when the next season begins, but now sits along side other 87’s that include- Ben Simmons, Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gobert, and Kristaps Porzingis. It is fair company, but for a player that was once an 88 overall one year and recently becoming an first time All-Star last season, with increased all around game on the court, has to of have earned the 89 once and for all.
Ayton showing at an 84 overall this year was an 85 overall just last year in the NBA 2k20 release. That is doing the man dirty. With every stat across the board increased and a noticeable leap in defensive play this last year, they may still be punishing him for his 25 game suspension. He still sits with a 84 overall group that shows promise in- D’Angelo Russell, Jaylen Brown, Jusuf Nurkic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oubre remains level at 81 overall and you can make the argument that is fair but Rubio, 3rd in the NBA in Assists, took a dive from an 80 overall in 2K20 to 79 this year. We really must be missing something here.
The biggest leap from last year to this year is Payne, who jumped up from a 72 overall to a 74. Along with Carter, who jumped up a point from 72 overall to 73 was well earned and it showed on the court.
The rest of the Suns roster like most years in the past settled in the 70’s range, like Booker pointed out in the 2K players tournament, not a great team to play with if money is on the line.
It is hard to be positive about NBA 2K recently when the game continues to be short on explanations to why they do not listen to the fans on improvements and put out the same game year after year. The MyPlayer mode of course is something to build on but it looks to have taken a back seat until the next-gen consoles are released.