Orlando Magic fans excited about trying out the new team on NBA2K18 are not going to like their player ratings. The team is. . . let’s just say not good.
Everyone in the NBA world is patiently waiting for the season to kick off. And while there are still three weeks until most teams open up training camp, there is one date on the calendar for fans to look forward to.
That would be September 19 when NBA2K18 officially is released to the public (September 15 if you pre-order it). The game has already generated more than the usual excitement (and controversy) with its release of the All-Time teams for each NBA franchise.
The heart of the game still remains the ability to play as your team’s favorite players and to progress their skills as the season goes on. The game’s MyGM and MyTeam mode allows players to create their own teams to their specifications and play as their favorite players.
It is hard for the fan of any team not to immediately open the game and play as their favorite team (some probably even download updated rosters in the summer in the previous year’s game to test out their team after busy offseasons).
And players care too. There have been more than a few “beefs” between players and 2K developers over perceived lower rankings. And, Orlando Magic fans know how touchy players can get about their likenesses in the game.
Player ratings, indeed, is serious business, as Alex Kennedy detailed for HoopsHype.
A few Magic players have requested their player ratings and received them from 2K to share with fans. But the whole roster is still a bit under wraps.
Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Shelvin Mack and Marreese Speights all shared their 2K ratings with fans on Twitter.
Come on man @Ronnie2K ! I look way too real... I'm disappointed & I skipped the scan on purpose @NBA2K #NBA2K18 #2KFirstLook pic.twitter.com/ypg4hgbU9C
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) August 11, 2017
My guy @Ronnie2K @NBA2K #NBA2K18 #2KFirstLook pic.twitter.com/xaePXvb1mq
— Shelvin Mack (@ShelvinMack) August 22, 2017
Thanks my guy 💯💯👍🏾@Ronnie2K @NBA2K #NBA2K18 @OrlandoMagic #tms pic.twitter.com/ZchEiqXmuq
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) August 22, 2017
It appears fans will not have to wait to see the entire ratings released. A fan got an early copy of the game and posted on YouTube all the player ratings ahead of the game. If they are to be believed, playing as the Magic will be quite the challenge. No player is rated better than an 80 (85 is the borderline all star).
Nikola Vucevic is the highest rated player at 80 (somehow Austin Rivers is also an 80, creating its own Internet meme). Every other player except for Wesley Iwundu is rated in the 70s. That means the Magic are incredibly balanced, but not starting off from the strongest spot.
That probably mirrors reality. The Magic have a lot of OK players, but seemingly no great players. The world will be waiting for someone to take a step up if the team is to make good on its Playoff aspirations.
And it would seem 2K is not expecting many people to play as the Magic. That is the lot of a 29-win team. Not to mention a team that few expect to make a big leap this coming season.
So what is in store when you fire up 2K for the first time?
Here is the list of rankings for Magic players in this year’s game (according to the above video) and their ratings to end last season and begin last season:
| Player | 2K18 Rating | Final 2K17 Rating | First 2K17 Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Vucevic | 80 | 81 | 80 |
| Evan Fournier | 78 | 77 | 78 |
| Aaron Gordon | 78 | 78 | 76 |
| Elfrid Payton | 77 | 78 | 75 |
| Jonathan Isaac | 76 | N/A | N/A |
| Jonathon Simmons | 75 | 74 | 70 |
| Terrence Ross | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Marreese Speights | 74 | 75 | 75 |
| Bismack Biyombo | 73 | 73 | 77 |
| Mario Hezonja | 73 | 72 | 74 |
| D.J. Augustin | 73 | 72 | 73 |
| Arron Afflalo | 73 | 73 | 76 |
| Shelvin Mack | 73 | 73 | 74 |
| Wesley Iwundu | 69 | N/A | N/A |
| Player | 2K18 Rating | Final 2K17 Rating | First 2K17 Rating |
As anyone can clearly see, there is not a lot of massive improvement for any Magic player from last year to this year. Or even within last season. That is the truth of being a 29-win team, again.
Now, why did 2K rate rookies like Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball better than any player on the Magic? That is a good question.
But notably many players remained fairly flat.
Vucevic and Fournier have the same ratings as they were at the beginning of last season. Bismack Biyombo took a massive four-point tumble after his season last year. Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton made modest two-point gains. And Jonathon Simmons went from a fringe player 70 to a role player 75 last year with the San Antonio Spurs.
But the team’s low ratings are certainly a reflection of the disappointment that was last season. And the fact not many people predict much from the team this year.
Someone has to be the scorer on this team. But that does not mean they get a good rating. The formula, or however 2K determines player ratings, do not look at the Magic favorably. Ultimately, a game player will have to make the most of the Magic, or just play at a really easy difficulty level, to win.
Next: Tracy McGrady's career is one of legend
Or maybe the Magic have to improve during that first update after the season begins.