The 2017-18 NBA season tips off Tuesday night in Cleveland with a must-watch showdown between the Cavaliers and Celtics, where five of the top 30 players in the league will be on the floor – according to NBA 2K18, at least.
Players around the league take their overall rating in the annual series very, very seriously. There’s been a massive shift near the top of 2K18’s ratings list this year with an infusion of young talent, along with the downfall of some of the league’s most established stars (sorry, Carmelo).
Our list begins with a six-way tie for 25th.
T25. Kevin Love (87 overall)
T25. Blake Griffin (87 overall)
Griffin was only the second highest-rated Clipper a season ago, but with Chris Paul’s departure to Houston and the Lakers’ failure to snag Paul George, Griffin’s now the best player in the city of Los Angeles.
T25. Paul Millsap (87 overall)
T25. Bradley Beal (87 overall)
T25. DeAndre Jordan (87 overall)
T25. Hassan Whiteside (87 overall)
T21. Draymond Green (88 overall)
T21. Nikola Jokic (88 overall)
T21. Rudy Gobert (88 overall)
T21. Gordon Hayward (88 overall)
T17. Isaiah Thomas (89 overall)
T17. Damian Lillard (89 overall)
T17. Marc Gasol (89 overall)
T17. DeMar DeRozan (89 overall)
T13. John Wall (90 overall)
T13. Kyrie Irving (90 overall)
T13. Klay Thompson (90 overall)
T13. Jimmy Butler (90 overall)
T9. Paul George (91 overall)
T9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (91 overall)
T9. Karl-Anthony Towns (91 overall)
T9. Chris Paul (91 overall)
Paul missed 21 games last season and his stats dipped slightly, but he kept his 91 overall from 2K17. Two other Banana Boaters – Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony – dropped out of the top 30 entirely in 2K18.
8. DeMarcus Cousins (92 overall)
T5. Anthony Davis (94 overall)
T5. Russell Westbrook (94 overall)
T5. Stephen Curry (94 overall)
T3. James Harden (95 overall)
T3. Kawhi Leonard (95 overall)
2. Kevin Durant (96 overall)
Durant was ranked No. 3 last year, behind James and Stephen Curry – but he made it clear in the NBA Finals who the top player Golden State really is.
1. LeBron James (97 overall)
The king stays the king. LeBron keeps his No. 1 spot from 2K17, and his overall rating even got a one-point boost from 96 a year ago.