
We are in October, which means it’s time for all of the new, annual sports video games to come out with their latest editions. This year’s slate of new sports video games includes some added excitement, as the two largest video game console providers will be coming out with the newest versions of their consoles in the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. NBA 2K21 will be one of the first games available right at launch for each of the consoles (it’s out now for the current-generation of consoles), with this version of 2K being one of the most hyped versions in years. NBA 2K21 will probably be bought by a lot of Lakers fans, as the late Kobe Bryant is featured on one of the special covers of the game. One of the key obsessions that fans have over NBA 2K games is the overall ratings of each player in the game. NBA 2K21 ratings, of course, don’t matter in the grand scheme of things within the actual NBA, but they do indicate trends in how each player is perceived by the overall general public. With that being said, it’s not surprising to find out that the reigning NBA Finals MVP and runner-up MVP is the highest-rated player in the game, as Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports that the 98 rating belonging to LeBron James is the highest in the game.
Sources: “@NBA2K 21” player ratings for Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup is LeBron James (98) — highest-rated player in the game — Anthony Davis (96), Danny Green (76), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (76) and Alex Caruso (75). Rating reveals today on all 2K social platforms. pic.twitter.com/Tog2gRBSQb
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 22, 2020
Some other Lakers players reported by Chris Haynes include Anthony Davis (96), Danny Green (76), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (76), and Alex Caruso (75). These are the only five players revealed so far on the Lakers, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see these five be the top five players on the Lakers in terms of ratings. Rajon Rondo may have a rating above the latter of the three due to that “Playoff Rondo” recency bias bump, but I personally can’t really foresee anyone else eclipsing Green, KCP, or Caruso. It wouldn’t be surprising to see any other Lakers above 80 other than LeBron and Davis, as the Lakers have always been touted as a top-heavy roster with their superstar duo.
Who cares, though. All that matters is that the 17th championship banner will be hanging in the virtual Staples Center.
The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 will release at launch for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X when they are released in the second week of November.