The roar of the crowd, the glare of the spotlight, and the ease with which players get to the hoop. If you didn’t know any better, one would think that this was a typical NBATV primetime affair. That is what the producers of the NBA 2K series want fans to feel and think when they fire up their PS5 or Xbox.
Each year, the staff at 2K and Visual Concepts work meticulously to make sure that their popular basketball game is as close to a real NBA game as possible. From the action on the court to the finest details of a player’s appearance to the sights and sounds in the stands, NBA 2K is the premier basketball video game.
When defining the top 10 best players in NBA 2K24, the developers rate each player on a 99-point scale. While most of the time the rankings are fairly bang on, there are often fans and even players themselves who take to social media to air their differences of opinion. One of the main talking points is who is, or isn’t for that matter, included in the top ten.
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Nikola Jokic (Start and Current 98)
The folks at NBA2K got right what the NBA voters got wrong by declaring Jokic the best player in the game, a spot he has held since the start of the season. There is a reason why if you look at Nuggets odds tonight you will see them favoring the Denver team often. It’s true they won the ring last year, but Jokic is one of the key reasons for that favoritism.
Just as in real life, Jokic isn’t going to do anything flashy, but his mid-range game, passing and ball handling are unparalleled. The only downside is when Joker gets dragged out to the perimeter to guard quicker opponents.
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Joel Embiid (Start 96 – Current 98)
The Philadelphia 76ers big man, who debatably won the NBA MVP last season, started the season tied for the second-best player. Despite his 7-foot, 280-pound frame, Embiid, like in real life, can work opposing big men in the post, finishing with a dunk or a hook shot or dragging defenders outside, where he can drain a three. Since joining the game in 2015 at a rating of 77, this is the highest rating of Embiid’s NBA 2K career.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo (Start 96 – Current 97)
The Greek Freak has been hovering in the 96-97 rankings for five years, making him one of the best in both real life and the video game world. As one of the most athletic players in the game, one would have hoped to see a better rebounding stat (77 overall, 66 offensive, 88 defensive). Possessing a 98 stamina ranking allows players to keep the Bucks’ big man on the floor for extended periods.
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Luka Doncic (Start 95 – Current 97)
One of the most dangerous offensive players in NBA 2K24, the Dallas Mavericks All-Star uses his 98 Ball Handling rating to get to almost any spot on the floor that he wants.
Just as in real life, Doncic’s range makes him one of the most dangerous offensive players, hence his 88 rating from three-point territory. If Doncic can improve his defense in real life, don’t be surprised to see him at the top of the rankings next season.
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LeBron James (Start and Current 96)
Other than his first two years in the league and game in which he was rated a 78 and 88 respectively and 94 in 2016 when 2K rated only six players in the 90s, James has been ranked no lower than 96. True to life, James, despite being in his 21st season, dominates the game with his athleticism and stamina. If you aren’t bulldozing down the defense for a fast break dunk, James’ 84 rating from three-point territory is more than respectable. You might be seeing LeBron on his last dance at the 2024 Olympics with the US team.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Start 93 – Current 96)
Sandwiched between two all-time greats, it has taken SGA just five years to rise to NBA elite status. One of the premier shooters in the game, the Canadian combo guard holds a 97 close shot rating and an 82 three-point shot rating. The one point bump from last season and an MVP-worthy 2023-24 real-life season should elevate him to top-five status next year.
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Kevin Durant (Start and Current 96)
The third of the superstar players locked in at a 96 rating, a number he has been given five of the last seven years, Durant can hurt opponents with his highly efficient perimeter shooting.
A 97-rated mid-range shooter and a 92-rated three-point shooter, KD lives up to his nickname, Easy Money Sniper.
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Stephen Curry (Start 96 – Current 95)
Slipping one rating spot from last year, Curry gives you elite ball handling, passing, and shooting. Just don’t get your hopes up on the defensive side of the court. An almost guaranteed bucket from downtown with a 99 rating, with even just the slightest bit of space you can pretty much add three points to your squad. Throw in a 97 for ball handling and defenses have little chance of stopping the future Hall of Famer, both in real life and the video game world.
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Anthony Davis (Start 93 – Current 95)
For just the second time in his career, Davis has received a 95 rating. It’s crazy to think that a player of his talent and ability A) would not rank higher and B) would not have at least hit the mark a few more times. Maybe the developers took into account his proneness to injury? A great finisher in the paint, especially with dunks, Davis’ best attributes come on the defensive end where he is rated 94.
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Devin Booker (Start 94 – Current 95)
Playing alongside Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal hasn’t hurt Devin Booker’s stats as much as many thought, in the real world or video game. A 97-rated shooter from close to the hoop, Booker, who can hit from deep (87-rated three-point shooter) gives flashbacks to an era when it wasn’t all about shots from downtown.
