A first glimpse at anything is always met with mixed reactions.
Such was the case Wednesday when NBA 2K22 released its first player ratings for the 2021-2022 NBA season.
With the game available for purchase next month, let’s take a look at who the top rated NBA players are and how some of those players have reacted to NBA2K22’s ratings so far:
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Who is the top rated player in NBA 2K22?
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo all received 96 overall ratings in NBA2K22. That leaves this year’s game with a four-way tie for best overall player.
What other NBA 2K22 player ratings have been released?
Behind those four in NBA 2K22 ratings, sit 2020-21 MVP Nikola Jokic, two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard and Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid. Those three NBA players all have a rating of 95 overall in this year’s game.
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Also being released on Wednesday were player ratings for Tokyo Olympic superstars Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard, who rated at 94 overall -- tied with Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden for the third best overall rating in NBA 2K22.
The others on the list of top-rated players released on Aug. 18 include:
Jayson Tatum -- 90
Zion Williamson -- 89
Trae Young -- 89
Khris Middleton -- 88
Rudy Gobert -- 88
Zach LaVine -- 87
Domantas Sabonis -- 86
Jrue Holiday -- 85
LaMelo Ball -- 84
How have NBA players reacted to their NBA 2K22 rating?
In a TikTok video after the NBA 2K22 player rating release Wednesday, Kevin Durant said he was great at everything and therefore should be ranked 99 overall.
Durant wasn’t the only NBA player protesting the ratings preview.
Durant’s Team USA teammate and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said he expected to come into the 2021-2022 NBA season with a player rating of 92 overall and planned to exit the season with a 95 rating. Tatum was disappointed to hear that the NBA 2K22 creators had rated him at 90 overall this year -- one point lower than where he finished the 2020-21 NBA season.
“I don’t know how we keep going backwards,” Tatum said on a TikTok video. “I scored 50 in the playoffs twice, four 40 point games, tied Larry Bird’s record, 27 a night … I’m up for the challenge.”
When is the NBA 2K22 release date?
Fans will have to wait until Friday, Sept. 10, for NBA 2K22 to be released.
On Sept. 10, the game will be released on all platforms -- PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
How much is NBA 2K22 expected to cost?
The NBA 2K22 price ranges from $59.99 for the standard edition to $99.99 for the NBA 75th Anniversary edition