NBA 2K19 is less than two weeks away from its release and players will have a chance to try its demo out on August 31. NBA Live 19, which will be the biggest competitor of NBA 2K19 this year, has left a good impression on gamers with its demo, so now it’s time for 2K Sports to do the same with their game.
In the meantime, we can check out player ratings for each starting lineup in the NBA. Many gamers agree that 2K Sports has been generous with some ratings this year, but there are still a few players who are quite underrated.
Atlantic Division
Joel Embiid is the highest-rated player on the Philadelphia Sixers with 90, and he’s closely followed by Ben Simmons, whose rating in the upcoming game is 87. The other starters, J.J. Redick, Robert Covington, and Dario Saric, have all been given a 79 rating.
The Boston Celtics will have one of the strongest teams in the video game. Kyrie Irving’s 93 rating is well deserved, while Gordon Hayward is rated 88. Jayson Tatum, who will be playing in his second NBA season this year, is rated 87, just one point higher than Al Horford. Finally, the lowest-rated player in the Celtics’ starting five is Jaylen Brown with 84.
Toronto will also have a decent team in NBA 2K19 with the addition of Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is rated 94, which is one of the highest ratings in the game. Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry has an 85 rating, while big man Jonas Valanciunas is at 82. The starting lineup also has two players rated in the 70s, with Serge Ibaka and Danny Green having 79 and 75 ratings respectively.
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the weakest teams in the game as their highest-rated player is rated 83, which is D’Angelo Russell. Jarrett Allen and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson both have a 78 rating, while DeMarre Carroll is rated one point lower. Finally, swingman Allen Crabbe is at 76.
Kristaps Porzingis is the highest-rated player on the New York Knicks with an 88 rating. Center Enes Kanter is at 79 while Tim Hardaway Jr. is at 78. Recently-acquired Mario Hezonja will start the season with a 76 rating while second-year guard Frank Ntilikina is at 74.
Central Division
The Milwaukee Bucks will be led by Giannis Antetokounmpo this year as the small forward’s rating jumped to 94. The team will also have a reliable scorer in the 84-rated Khris Middleton, while Eric Bledsoe will run the floor with his 81 rating. Brook Lopez will be down in the middle with a 79 rating, while the lowest-rated Buck is Tony Snell at 73.
Lauri Markkanen is the highest-rated player on the Chicago Bulls with 82. He is closely followed by Jabari Parker (81) and Zach LaVine (80). The Bulls will also have a decent point guard in Kris Dunn, whose rating is 78, while Wendell Carter Jr. will enter his rookie season with a 77 rating.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost LeBron James, so their highest-rated player will be Kevin Love (86). Everyone else is rated in 70s, with Collin Sexton and Tristan Thompson having a 76 rating each. J.R. Smith and Cedi Osman will also have the same rating, 75.
Thanks to his breakout season, Victor Oladipo is the best player on the Indiana Pacers with an 88 rating. Center Myles Turner is rated 80, while Darren Collison and Bojan Bogdanovic are both at 79. Finally, Thaddeus Young will be handling a power forward spot with a 78 rating.
The Detroit Pistons will have their twin towers with Andre Drummond (87) and Blake Griffin (86) next season. Reggie Jackson’s rating is 79, while his backcourt partner Reggie Bullock is at 76. In the end, former Slam Dunk champion Glenn Robinson III is rated 75.
Southeast Division
The Atlanta Hawks will be without any 80-rated player in their starting lineup. John Collins has the highest rating with 79, while Taurean Prince is rated 78. The three other starters, Trae Young, Kent Bazemore, and Dewayne Dedmon, are all rated 77.
Despite his injuries and poor playoff performance, Hassan Whiteside (85) will remain the best player on the Miami Heat. Goran Dragic’s rating is just one point lower, while defensive specialist Josh Richardson is rated 78. James Johnson has a 77 rating, and Dion Waiters, who was injured for the big part of last season, is at 76.
Kemba Walker’s 86 rating is the highest on the Charlotte Hornets. Nicolas Batum and Cody Zeller are both rated 77, while Marvin Williams is at 76. Small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will once again have a low rating with 75.
The Orlando Magic will have their best player in Aaron Gordon (82), while Evan Fournier will be at 79. Rookie Mohamed Bamba will enter his first season with a 77 rating, one point higher than D.J. Augustin. Swingman Terrence Ross will have the lowest rating on the Magic with 74.
The Washington Wizards have the best starting lineup in the Southeast division. John Wall and Bradley Beal are rated 89 and 87 respectively, while both Dwight Howard and Otto Porter are at 81. Markieff Morris is the only player on the Wizards who is rated under 80 as his rating is 77.
Northwest Division
The Utah Jazz will have two 87-rated players in NBA 2K19: Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Rest of the team will also be decent as both Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors have a 79 rating, while playmaker Rubio Rubio is at 77.
Nikola Jokic’s 89 rating will be the highest on the Denver Nuggets. His frontcourt partner Paul Millsap is rated 82, while the backcourt duo of Garry Harris (83) and Jamal Murray (81) is also very good. Will Barton’s rating is just one point shy of reaching 80, but there is no doubt this could change throughout the season.
Former MVP Russell Westbrook will be rated 93 for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Paul George, who decided to stay with the Thunder, will be 89, while big man Steven Adams will be rated 84. Defensive specialist Andre Roberson will start the game with a 76 rating, while forward Jerami Grant will be rated 75.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be one of the toughest teams to play against in NBA 2K19. Versatile big man Karl-Anthony Towns is rated 91, while Jimmy Butler is just two points lower. Andrew Wiggins will be at 81, while his backcourt partner Jeff Teague will have a 79 rating. Finally, Taj Gibson will provide necessary physicality and inside plays with his 76 rating.
Damian Lillard will have a 90 rating for the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA 2K19. C.J. McCollum is at 87, while center Jusuf Nurkic will be rated 79. Al-Farouq Aminu’s rating is 76, while the lowest-rated player is Evan Turner at 73.
Pacific Division
The Los Angeles Clippers will be one of the worst teams in NBA 2K19. Tobias Harris (82) is the only player rated above 80, while Patrick Beverley is rated 78. Avery Bradley, Danilo Gallinari, and Marcin Gortat all have the same rating, 77.
The Sacramento Kings won’t be much better than the Clippers. With no player rated above 80, the Kings will be carred by Willie Cauley-Stein and Buddy Hield, both rated 79. De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III are rated one point lower, while the worst player on the Kings will be 77-rated Bogdan Bogdanovic.
LeBron James (98) will be the highest-rated player on the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the highest-rated player in the entire game. His supporting cast won’t be as good, however, as Brandon Ingram will be the second highest-rated player with 82. Rajon Rondo will have a 79 rating, while his backcourt partner Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be at 76. JaVale McGee, another new face on the Lakers, will be rated 77.
Talented scorer Devin Booker (87) will lead the Phoenix Suns, while T.J. Warren’s rating will be 80. Rookie DeAndre Ayton will appear in the video game for the first team with a 79 rating, while Trevor Ariza and Josh Jackson will be rated 78 and 77 respectively.
Finally, the toughest team in the division, and the entire game, will be the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant’s 97 rating is just two points higher than Stephen Curry. The team will also be able to rely on recently-acquired DeMarcus Cousins, whose rating in NBA 2K19 will be 90. Sharpshooter Klay Thompson will be rated 89, while Draymond Green will be at 87.
Southwest Division
Marc Gasol (85) will be the highest-rated player on the Memphis Grizzlies, while his long-time playmaking teammate Mike Conley will be at 83. The rest of the starting lineup will all be under 80, with Jaren Jackson Jr. having a 78 rating, Kyle Anderson being at 77, and Dillon Brooks at 75.
The Dallas Mavericks have finally acquired DeAndre Jordan (86) who will be their best NBA 2K19 player. Harrison Barnes will be at 82 while rookie Luka Doncic will be just a point away from having an 80 rating. Highflyer Dennis Smith Jr. will have a 78 rating, while sharpshooter Wesley Matthews will be at 77.
The New Orleans Pelicans will be led by Anthony Davis and his amazing 94 rating. Jrue Holiday will be at 85, and the team will also have a reliable option at a power forward with Julius Randle (80). Elfrid Payton will begin his first season on the Pelicans with a 77 rating, while E’Twaun Moore will be at 75.
James Harden (96) will be the top player on the Houston Rockets, but his backcourt partner Chris Paul (90) will be one of the top point guards in the video game. The team will have a great center with 84-rated Clint Capela, while recently-signed Carmelo Anthony will be at 79. The lowest-rated player on the Rockets will be P.J. Tucker (76), but he should still be a very good player on the defensive end of the floor.
The San Antonio Spurs have gone through a few big changes recently, and their team will look slightly different without Kawhi Leonard. DeMar DeRozan’s 89 rating will be the highest on the team, while LaMarcus Aldridge will be just one point lower than him. 38-year-old Spaniard Pau Gasol will have a 79 rating, while both Rudy Gay and Dejounte Murray will be rated 78.