NBA 2K18 is finally here, and that can only mean one thing: the NBA regular season is coming. Around this time last year, we simulated the 2016-17 season in NBA 2K17, and that was chaotic, to say the least. It was so insane that it prompted us to put a plethora of other topics to the NBA 2K test.
We simulated the rest of LeBron James’ career. We simulated the future of the Pelicans with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. We even simulated the future of the Golden State Warriors‘ super team to see what the NBA 2K gods were predicting. Can NBA 2K18 match NBA 2K17‘s insanity? Only one way to find out.
Without further ado, here’s our official one-take simulation of the 2017-18 NBA season in NBA 2K18.
2017-18 NBA All-Star Game
We’ll pick up our simulation at the All-Star break to give you NBA 2K18‘s All-Star predictions. I feel compelled to put a disclaimer here right from the jump. This is NBA 2K18‘s work, not mine. Don’t shoot the messenger.
The Western Conference won the All-Star game, but the outcome of this exhibition never matters. The interesting details here are of NBA 2K18‘s All-Star predictions. Nikola Jokic! Nikola Vučević! Jeremy Lin! Nicolas Batum! Sure, let’s get weird.
2017-18 NBA Regular Season Standings
OK! Among the many shocking records here, we’ve got the Celtics coming in at 41-41, and both the 76ers and Timberwolves finally making the playoffs. I won’t speak to how realistic those predictions are, but they would be quite interesting. On the other end of the spectrum, we’re so sorry, Atlanta Hawks fans.
2017-18 NBA Regular Season Awards
Sixth Man of the Year: Rudy Gay
Most Improved Player: Karl-Anthony Towns
Rookie of the Year: Lonzo Ball
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry
All-NBA 1st Team
All-NBA 2nd Team
All-NBA 3rd Team
All-Defense 1st Team
All-Defense 2nd Team
All-Rookie 1st Team
All-Rookie 2nd Team
2017-18 NBA Playoffs
None of NBA 2K18‘s predicted playoff bracket looks completely out of place aside from the Boston Celtics landing the #5 seed. Most NBA pundits would probably position them as the first or second best team in the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference looks about how you would expect, with the Portland Trail Blazers being the most notable omission. More importantly, The Process finally gets in! And the Pistons. Sure.
2017-18 NBA Playoffs: First Round
The first round of the 2017-18 NBA Playoffs in NBA 2K18 goes about how you would expect, and that sets up a few incredible semifinals matchups. Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder? Yes please. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics? Give us that, too. If you were expecting chaos, don’t worry. We’ll be getting to that next round.
2017-18 NBA Playoffs: Semifinals
I can hear the cupcake jokes now. Can you imagine the pandemonium if the Oklahoma City Thunder take down the big bad Golden State Warriors in just five games? The rest of the semifinals go according to plan, but more importantly, now we know NBA 2K18 is predicting a new NBA Champion. There will be no back-to-back winners this year. Sayonara, Golden State.
2017-18 NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals
In a matchup against last years’ top-2 MVP candidates, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and the Oklahoma City Thunder take down James Harden, Chris Paul, and the Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference LeBron James did what he ways does; made another NBA Finals. No Kyrie Irving, no problem.
2017-18 NBA Finals
Boom. Russell Westbrook did it. Sam Presti’s Paul George gamble worked. It took seven games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA Champions.
NBA Finals MVP: Russell Westbrook
You knew this was coming. What NBA 2K18 is really predicting here is a cementing of Russell Westbrook’s legacy. If he can follow up his triple-double NBA regular season MVP with an NBA Finals win and an NBA Finals MVP, there won’t be a whole lot to say about him other than calling him one of the greatest NBA players of All-Time. If he knocks off the Warriors and Cavaliers in the same postseason, that’ll do it.
If the 2017-18 NBA season plays out how NBA 2K18 is predicting, we’re in for a wild ride. We’ll find out in June.
