The ratings for NBA 2K22 are not a popularity process. It goes in-depth and looks at a wide array of data. Overall ratings take into account passing accuracy, durability, free throw percentage, ability to draw fouls, shooting from outside, and many more stats. It’s been said that the developers look at up to 50 such attributes to paint a complete picture of the player.
The Los Angeles Lakers have one player with a rating for next season already dropped. The rest of the roster figures to embody a title contender. Do the rankings say the same? Let’s give our predictions for the upcoming Lakers roster.
Mac McClung - 67
2021 Rating - None
In high school, McClung was known for his high-flying dunks. He then played at Georgetown for two years, averaging as much as 15.7 points per game his sophomore year. Last year, he transferred to Texas Tech and won Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. McClung averaged 15.5 points per game as a shooting guard. Mac went undrafted this year after opting out of his senior year. Like his previous undrafted teammates, McClung will be rated near the bottom.
Trevor Ariza - 72
2021 Rating - 74
In 21 games with the Trail Blazers, Ariza averaged 11.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and was given a 74 before last season. Last year, in 30 games with the Heat, Ariza averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. His shooting percentages were significantly lower. It wasn’t his best season, so his rating will likely dip a couple of points.
Wayne Ellington - 73
2021 Rating - 72
Ellington is going to get a one-point increase from his previous rating and here is why. Ellington shot 42.2% from three-point range with the Pistons, which was just 0.02% from his career-high that he set in 2014. With the Pistons, he shot a career-high 44.1% from the field. Granted, it was the Pistons, who were terrible last year. With that said, the numbers don’t lie that statistically it was one of his better years, so the developers will use that to promote him by one point.
Talen Horton-Tucker - 74
2021 Rating - 72
The developers are aware of the circumstances that go on in the league. They know that Horton-Tucker was kept out of a potential Kyle Lowry. They know the Lakers see him as a valued player. They also know he will have an improved role this year. Horton-Tucker showed flashes of a productive backup. This year, his minutes will increase, as his overall stats.
Kent Bazemore - 74
2021 Rating - 74
Bazemore was given a 74 before last season and averaged 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 25 games with the Kings. Last year, Bazemore was an integral part of the Warriors’ bench. He averaged less points and rebounds, but shot three percent better from the field, as well as two percent from three. His role changed with a more competitive team. That is the case with the Lakers, so there is no reason for his rating to change this go around either.
Marc Gasol - 75 (2K22 Official)
2021 Rating - 77
Gasol is a puzzling player to predict. He is 36 years old and at one point was the team’s third-best center, trailing both Montrezl Harrell and Andre Drummond. Both are gone and Gasol could follow them, according to recent rumors. His productivity slipped last year, averaging 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds. It's unclear if he'll start the season with the Lakers. He is a backup at best at this stage of his career.
Malik Monk - 75
2021 Rating - 75
Before the start of last year, Monk’s rating was given to him after a slash line of 10.3 points, 43.4% field goal percentage, and 28.4% three-point field goal percentage. Monk’s numbers shot up last year, where he averaged 11.7 points and shot 40.1% from three. However, he played 12 fewer games than the year before. The smaller sample size will bring some of his production down, so he will receive the same rating as last year.
Rajon Rondo - 76
2021 Rating: 76
When Rondo played with the Lakers two years ago, his rating was 76. Last year, his rating was 76. One could argue that his stint with the Clippers last year (7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists) was better than his stint with the Lakers during their championship run (7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists). Rondo hasn’t done anything to make his rating go up or down, so it should stay the same.
Kendrick Nunn - 77
2021 Rating - 76
In the last couple of years, Nunn looked like a productive member of the Miami Heat, but then fell out of favor in the rotation. We still don’t truly understand why. What we do know is that he averaged 14.6 points, shot 48.5% from the field, and 38.1% from the three-point range. Those numbers are better than his rookie season. With improvement on the court, comes improvement in the ratings.
DeAndre Jordan - 77
2021 Rating: 80
Last year, it was the first time in eight seasons that Jordan did not average double digit rebounds per game. After starting the year in a starting role with the Nets, Jordan saw his role diminish with the rise of Jarrett Allen. Even after Allen was traded, the team was more accustomed to using Blake Griffin as the team’s starting center. His 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds were some of his lowest totals since 2011. Jordan and Dwight Howard will likely jostle for the starting position early on, but Jordan is no more than a backup center these days.
Carmelo Anthony - 79
2021 Rating - 78
When you look at Anthony’s initial stats, he averaged fewer points, shot a lower field goal percentage, and had fewer rebounds. One stat that stands out is his three-point shooting. Anthony shot 40.9% from three-point range, which was the first time he shot over 40% since 2013. When Kyle Korver was late in his career, he still could shoot close to 40% and was rewarded with a rating of 79. We will see the same with Anthony.
Dwight Howard - 80
2021 Rating - 78
Don't be surprised if Howard is starting by the end of the year. However, he shouldn’t because his role suits him best when he comes off the bench. In 17.3 minutes per game, Howard averaged 7.0 points and 8.4 rebounds. His shooting percentage was down compared to his 2019-2020 campaign with the Lakers. Howard turns 36 years old this year and was brought back to be the spark plug off the bench. Knowing Gasol’s limited game, Howard could see an increase in value for his rating.
Russell Westbrook - 93
2021 Rating - 88
We are just following a pattern. When Westbrook averaged a triple-double in his last season in OKC, he was rewarded with a rating of 93. Last year, Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists to secure his fourth ever triple-double season. Consistency shows that when Westbrook averaged a triple-double, he was given a 93 or 94.
Anthony Davis - 95
2021 Rating - 95
Davis hasn’t recorded a rating less than 90 since his second season in the league. In the last four seasons, Davis has recorded a 94 or 95 rating. Despite an injury-plagued season last year, that should not diminish his rating less than the current 95. For starters, developers know that he helped the Lakers win a championship just two seasons ago. When Davis fell out of the lineup, the Lakers struggled mightily. The developers will give Davis some grace and have him keep his current rating.
LeBron James - 96 (Official NBA 2K22)
2021 Rating - 97
As LeBron turns 37 years old this season, he remains one of the highest-rated players in the game. LeBron shares the title with the likes of Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. James is a two-way, inside-out playmaker that can be a “pass-first” guy when needed. With the addition of Westbrook to the team, there are stipulations about their coexistence. Regardless, LeBron remains one of the best players in the league another year.
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