As the 2021-22 NBA season reached its climax this past June, all eyes are fixed to what the future will bring. The Golden State Warriors took home a seventh championship in franchise history, and will be looking to replicate when the NBA resumes in October. Before then, though, there's the ever-controversial topic of player ratings for the upcoming NBA 2K23. Like Madden, it's easy for the developer to upset fans who spend so much of their time watching the season, but the game design of 2K's basketball title relies heavily on player stats, and as such ratings are essential.
2021-22 brought with it unexpected twists and predictable turns. The Warriors' ascent to the top after a few years of turbulence and the Boston Celtics' shocking sweep of Kevin Durant's Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs' first round, to name a couple. As NBA 2K23's ratings will likely be decided by the previous season's performances it's not unlikely that players will see small, but significant changes to their stats in the game. Predicting them is part of the fun, and when NBA 2K23 releases in September players will finally get to experience the ratings that are so highly sought after.
Nikola Jokic - 97
The Serbian Center for the Denver Nuggets had a standout season in 2021-22, replicating his feat the previous year of regular season MVP. Like Aaron Rodgers in the NFL, he's proven that he can stay at the top in consecutive seasons, so it's not out of the question to assume that he should be one of the highest rated players in the upcoming title.
In NBA 2K22 Giannis Antetokounmpo holds a 97, placing him at the top of the pack, and Jokic' stunning two-season run as the league's best player has to be rewarded similarly. A 97 overall would only be one higher than the 96 he was given last time, but this can make all the difference, especially when players discover their ratings.
Jimmy Butler - 94
Currently the starting small forward for the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler always seems to come alive in the postseason. Butler sits at a respectable 92, sharing the honor with the likes of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis, but none went as far in the 2021-22 season. 94 would be a decent bump to his rating to account for how efficient he was when it truly mattered.
Though the team didn't make the NBA Finals, narrowly losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Butler was one of the highlights of the Heat's season, dropping 47 points in Game 6 of the same series. Seeing as the release of NBA 2K is an annual occurrence, it's not a stretch to believe that Jimmy Butler would see an improvement in his rating for his exceptional postseason performances, especially as he was fourth in scoring and first in steals per game in the playoffs.
Steph Curry - 97
The most essential piece of Golden State's puzzle, Steph Curry is quickly becoming one of the best players in NBA history. His NBA 2K rating has gradually increased as the years have gone by, raising from 93 in NBA 2K16 through the mid-90s to 96 in the most recent NBA 2K22. The only natural progression, then, would be a 97 overall when NBA 2K23 finally releases.
While Curry's last few seasons have been plagued with inconsistency and injuries, the 2021-22 season proved that he is still one of the most influential point guards in the NBA. Should these predictions come to pass, a 97 rating would have him share the same as Nikola Jokic. However, they're very different players, so they wouldn't make each other irrelevant to play as.
Kyrie Irving - 89
With a number of improvements for a handful of players, it's only natural that some would see a hit to their overall rating. Kyrie Irving is still a fantastic player, and offers so much to players looking to build an NBA 2K team that starts with a great point guard. However, trade rumors and Covid-19 protocols have affected Irving's impact on the league over the past couple of years, and playoff disappointment despite being on a team with James Harden and Blake Griffin wasn't something that could go unnoticed.
89 is by no means a bad score, sharing the number with New Orleans Pelicans prodigy Zion Williamson. That said, the latter wasn't particularly pleased with his NBA 2K21 overall rating, and Kyrie dropping by a few points will probably be received similarly by the Nets player.
NBA 2K23 releases September 9, 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.