Predicting Orlando Magic ratings on NBA 2K22
Orlando Magic: Predicting NBA 2K ratings
Not Quite Starter Level
The Orlando Magic are likely only going to have jsut one player ranked in the Emerald tier (80-83 overall rating) when MyTeam tips off in the video game this year. The Emerald tier is a shorthand for clear starters. The next tier — Sapphire (84-86) — is for borderline All-Stars and the next tier is for the surefire All-Stars in the league.
The worst teams in the league will often only have one or two players in the Emerald tier if any at all. The Magic might end up being one of those teams with a bunch of players just under this tier at 79.
By my count, I believe the Magic will have one Emerald player and he will get his own slide.
Terrence Ross
2020 Current NBA: 77 . . . 2021 Current NBA: 77 . . . 2021 Series 3: 77 . . . Final Play Now: 77
Terrence Ross is a great shooter. That is about the biggest thing he brings to the table. And it usually earns him some souped-up cards for MyTeam at some point. He is popular because the Toronto Raptors version of him is also a great dunker in addition to being a great shooter.
But in the regular game, Ross can sometimes be difficult to play with. Players who are cutters are extremely tough to play with in video games because they rely on the computer going through animations and then timing the pass well.
Ross usually gets relegated to a spot-up shooter in video games and that eliminates a lot of his effectiveness in real life. Not that Ross is a poor spot-up shooter either.
Ross will fall just short of that surefire starter spot. He had a poor 2021 season as his shooting percentage plummeted a bit. He still feels like a bit of an odd fit from this roster, although the team will value his veteran leadership and desperately need his 3-point shooting.
That will not help his overall rating much. Neither will be playing for a bad team.
Ross is a borderline starter in this league. He is one of the best sixth men in the league. And Ross will be one of the most coveted players at the trade deadline this coming February.
Projected Rating: 76
Jalen Suggs
Jalen Suggs is one of the best rookies in this draft class.
NBA 2K said so, revealing his overall rating as a 77, fourth-best in the rookie class. Toronto Raptors fans took some umbrage to that after they took Scottie Barnes with the fourth overall pick.
Maybe do not go off-board next time.
https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1428840167406665734
Suggs certainly seemed to play the part in Summer League. He looked as good as advertised in those games. Magic fans are extremely giddy to see him suit up.
But this should be a reminder that rookies are still rookies. It is extremely rare for a rookie player to make an immediate impact. Expectations for rookies are always both overboard and tempered at all times. The NBA is a beast for any new player.
Suggs will still likely be one of the better players on the Magic — both in real life and virtually. But that rating is the one that belongs to a rookie. Even if he might have attributes that make him one of the better players at that tier.