NBA 2K21 Player Ratings: Zach LaVine, Paul George React to Next-Gen Ratings
Last week, a next-gen NBA 2K21 player ratings update arrived across the boards ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S console releases. As with player ratings in all sports, it brought out fans debating the numbers, but also some of the players themselves. That included Jayson Tatum, Jamal Murray, Zach LaVine and Paul George. In particular, LaVine feels disrespected, while a former player called out George for even caring about his rating.
Zach LaVine reacts to NBA 2K21 player ratings for next-gen
With the release of the NBA 2K21 player ratings also some frustration via players including the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine. He played in 60 games for the shortened NBA season and had an impressive season as he continues his ascent beyond dunking champ. LaVine averaged a career-best 25.5 points a game along with 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Upon the 2K21 ratings reveal, LaVine’s overall rating was shown as an 85.
Damn Ronnie….
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) October 24, 2020
“Damn Ronnie….,” was all LaVine had to say, summing up his frustration with what seems to be a lower-than-necessary rating.
For comparison’s sake, he’s rated lower than Jamal Murray (87 OVR), Devin Booker (88 OVR), and Paul George (88 OVR). He’s also one point below Next-Gen cover star Zion Williamson.
Still, it now gives the Chicago Bulls star some further motivation to become one of the league’s All-Stars next season with a much-improved rating in the next-gen 2K game.
Former player calls out Paul George on rating situation
With the NBA 2K21 player ratings coming out last week, there were several videos featuring 2K’s Ronnie 2K as he had a video call with a player. During that, he asked them to predict what their next-gen rating was going to be, and then talk about where they think they can get it to by the end of next season.
Cue up Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers for a video with Ronnie and the Clippers star was able to accurately predict his rating of 88.
Ronnie reminded him he was a 93 OVR to start last year and an 88 is still top 20. He also let George know he was amongst the top five players in terms of badges in the game with 53 total. Ronnie referred to him as a Swiss army knife due to his ability to do a bit of everything.
“You heard it here first, this is gonna be some amazing training going into next year,” George said. “I’m gonna predict I’ll be around a 95.”
It’s a bold prediction by George, but the fact he even had any concern about the video game numbers raised the eyebrows of one Kendrick Perkins. The former NBA champion is now an analyst on ESPN’s NBA show The Jump. So is former champion Richard Jefferson who asked Perkins his thought’s on George’s rating.
“Well, first of all, why are we talking about ratings? Why is PG even talking about ratings?” Perkins replied, according to Essentially Sports.
He went on to compare George to Anthony Davis, another star who moved to a team in Los Angeles, and then won a championship.
“You don’t hear Anthony Davis talking about NBA 2K ratings. He’s worried about championships. Paul George! Championships! No one cares brother!”
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