With the release of any sports game, fans and players flock to the ratings section to see what kind of disrespect has been doled out. Generally, a few players each year have issues with 2K devs, but ultimately the ratings tend to be more or less correct based on how well they performed the year before.
RELATED:Basketball Players Featured in NBA 2K Games
But when we look at player ratings, what we look for is who the best players are. NBA fans can be quick to identify who the best players are just by watching the games, but when it comes down toNBA 2K22, there's a lot more involved in just knowing the overall player ratings. How dominant is Joel Embiid's postgame? Is Nikola Jokic a supreme passer for a big man? Those are the best overall active players in NBA 2K22, and if you have one of them on your team, it's going to look pretty good.
THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH THE CONTENT
10 Damian Lillard - 94
Offensive Threat
- Internal Score
- Playmaking
- intermediate score
These days, there always seems to be a disgruntled star somewhere who's looking for a change of scenery. Whether or not Damian Lillard wants to admit it, he is that star. Sure, Ben Simmons is almost gone in Philadelphia, but without offending Simmons, Lillard is on another level offensively.
Last season, Lillard averaged 28.8 points and 7.5 assists, but the Trail Blazers couldn't make it past the first round and fell to the Denver Nuggets. In NBA 2K22, Lillard gives a master class on offense. He's deadly anywhere on the court with at least an A-rating inside, mid-range, and deep. The 31-year-old has perfect playmaking and physicality (A+) ratings, meaning he can consistently finish contested layups.
9 James Harden - 94
Offensive Threat
- Internal Score
- intermediate score
- Playmaking
In July 2019, James Harden's wish was granted and the point guard was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. Teaming up with Kyrie Irving and former teammate Kevin Durant, the Nets deployed a relentless offensive lineup that terrified opposing defenses. Unfortunately for Harden and the Nets, he and the team suffered numerous injuries throughout the season and fell short of their title aspirations.
There aren't many places on the court that Harden can't score. He has at least an A rating in inside, middle, and three-point shooting, and is an excellent playmaker. While many can ignore his defense, Harden holds up very well on the perimeter (B-). Having already won an MVP award, all that's left on Harden's checklist is that elusive NBA championship.
8 Luka Doncic - 94
Offensive Threat
- intermediate score
- Internal Score
- Playmaking
If you're the cover athlete of a sports game, you better be among the best in the game. Gracing the cover of NBA 2K22 is Luka Doncic, the Slovenian phenom who dominated overseas and, since being drafted into the NBA in 2018, has continued to dominate the Association. Coming into the NBA, there were reports that Doncic was a difficult and somewhat complaining teammate, but so far, everything he's done has proven that he can outrun everyone on the court on the biggest stage.
RELATED:NBA 2K22: The Last Cover Athletes and What They're Doing Now
At just 22 years old, it's amazing that Doncic already has a rating of 94. If he keeps improving, there's no doubt that one day he could make a compelling case for having a perfect overall rating. Doncic has perfect ratings on both inside and mid-scoring, but can also knock him out beyond the arc (A) with relative ease. Surprisingly, Doncic is also a solid perimeter (B) defender, which simply adds to his plethora of abilities.
7 Joel Embiid - 95
Two-way three-level marker
- post defense
- Internal Score
- intermediate score
When Joel Embiid was drafted third overall in 2014, he missed the first two seasons of his career due to a nagging foot injury. Though he still dealt with several hiccups here and there, Embiid has dismissed any doubts that he would be the next big man arrested like Greg Oden or Sam Bowie. Last season, Embiid posted career-highs in points per game (28.5), free-throw percentage (85.9), two-point field goal percentage (54.1) and three-point field goal percentage ( 37.7).
If Embiid stays healthy, he's arguably the best center in the league. He can score virtually anywhere on the court, with his lowest rating being a B+ on three-point shooting. Because of his above-average three-point shooting, Embiid can stretch the ground and space out the offense, allowing slashers to penetrate the opposing inside defense. For a seven-foot-tall guy, being able to pet him from downtown is a huge boost in your offensive tool bag.
6 Nikola Jokic - 95
Three Level Scoring Facilitator
- intermediate score
- Internal Score
- three point score
Current MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has only gotten better since he was drafted in 2014. But unlike Joel Embiid, Jokic wasn't the first pick, hell, he wasn't even selected in the first round. Denver hit Jokic with the 41st pick in the second round, so the fact that he has elevated his game to MVP levels is truly amazing.
Jokic is an extremely talented scorer with the ability to shoot efficiently from all areas of the court. While he has perfect ratings on indoor and intermediate distances, and an A- on three-point shooting, his true value lies in his frame (A). Jokic is one of, if not the, best center in the NBA. He has unbelievable flair and precision passing to clear a path for slashers or find the open shooter. Jokic's passing is like having another point guard on the court, except he's six feet tall.
5 Kawhi Leonard - 95
Bidirectional Scoring Machine
- Perimeter Defense
- intermediate score
- Internal Score
When Kawhi Leonard announced that he wanted to join the Los Angeles Clippers with Paul George in tow instead of joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers, it sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. The Clippers had their first championship team since the Lob City teams of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in early 2010. Unfortunately, Leonard's time with the Clippers has not been the kind of success they had hoped for, especially this past season with the superstar suffering a partial ACL injury during the playoffs.
RELATED:Every NBA 2K game from the 2010s, ranked worst to best
For a short while, there was serious debate about whether Leonard was the best player in the world, and looking at NBA 2K22 player ratings, they might have a case. In addition to his rebounding (C+), Leonard has at least an A- in all individual categories. And even when you factor in his low rebound rating, he's still averaging just over five rebounds per game, so it's not like he has bricks in his hands.
4 Kevin Durant - 96
Offensive Threat
- intermediate score
- Internal Score
- three point score
After winning two championships with the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant joined Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, essentially trading one superteam for another. Durant missed his first season with the Nets as he was still recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in the Finals against Toronto. There was speculation that Durant would be hampered by this serious injury, but the superstar proved he's still as dangerous on the court as he ever was.
Durant is the only active player in NBA 2K22 with a perfect rating in each of his offensive categories. It is automatic from anywhere on the court. But people might overlook his defense because of how amazing his offensive skill set is and that's a mistake. Durant is exceptional on the perimeter (A-) and can defend if someone backs him off the post (B).
3 Stephen Curry - 96
Offensive Threat
- three point score
- Internal Score
- intermediate score
One of the greatest shooters of all time in basketball, Stephen Curry kept shooting lights for what seemed like forever. At 33, Curry is second on the all-time three-pointers list, just 141 behind Ray Allen. If Curry maintains his three-point-per-game average, he will pass Allen for the lead this season.
Curry's offensive play could have repercussions across the entire team. His ability to make it rain from beyond the arc forces defenders to pressure him closely early on, which can open up lanes for players to cut towards the basket. With a perfect A+ in play, Curry knows how to find the open man for an easy basket. Some might criticize Curry's defense and feel the need to hide him on minor offensive threats, but his perimeter defense is above average (B+), so we'll attribute that to wanting to conserve his energy to dominate a little more on the side. offensive .
2 LeBron James - 96
Two way cutting game creator
- Internal Score
- basketball iq
- Playmaking
The end of LeBron James may finally be beginning. Entering the season ranked No. 19, James felt the cruelty of Father Time as the superstar dealt with nagging injuries throughout last season that resulted in his first career playoff exit. Some point to the extremely short offseason because of the pandemic and the Los Angeles Lakers winning the Finals in 2020, which is true, but a good part of it is likely down to the fact that he turns 37 in December.
Despite being one of the oldest players in the NBA, James is still a force to be reckoned with. His driving and scoring ability from the rim remains nearly unstoppable (A+), while his shooting from the perimeter beyond the arc has improved in recent seasons (B+). And while James has never won Defensive Player of the Year, he is one of the league's top defenders, both on the inside (A) and on the perimeter (A+).
1 Giannis Antetokounmpo - 96
Two way cutting game creator
- Internal Score
- basketball iq
- Perimeter Defense
Coming off his first NBA championship, Giannis Antetokounmpo is living on top of the basketball world. But for a minute there was serious doubt as to whether the Milwaukee Bucks would make it to the NBA Finals. After suffering what looked like a horrific knee injury in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks still managed to eliminate the Atlanta Hawks without Antetokounmpo. Then, miraculously, the Greek Freak made it back to the Finals and defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games.
Offensively, there's nobody better than Antetokounmpo a few meters from the edge. He has a devastating spin that leaves defenders frozen and he can dunk the ball with ease (A+). His mid-range and three-point shooting are still disappointingly low (C-), buthe is working on improving his kick. Defensively, Antetokounmpo could be the best in the league. With perfect ratings on the inside and the perimeter, no matter where you try to attack the center, he'll lock you down. Even without the outside kick, there are more than enough reasons why Antetokounmpo is the best active player in NBA 2K22.
NEXT:NBA 2K22: Best Teams Overall, Ranked