We’re nearly three weeks into the 2017-18 NBA regular season, and so much has happened in such a short timespan. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers look mortal. The Boston Celtics have momentarily figured out life without Gordon Hayward. The Orlando Magic are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference, and the Detroit Pistons are much better than anybody gave them credit for. How exciting?!
Of course, we’re dealing with an extremely small sample size here. All of the above facts can, and likely will, change, but the beauty of sports video games in 2017 is their ability to adapt to real-life trends. NBA 2K18‘s frequent roster updates are the best example of this. When something happens in the NBA, something happens in NBA 2K18.
How is NBA 2K18 reacting to the first several weeks of the NBA season? By giving a substantial rating bump to the players who earned it and dropping players who have underperformed.
The Detroit Pistons, who are off to a hot start are well represented with Tobias Harris (+4), Reggie Jackson (+3), and Langston Galloway (+2).
The Orlando Magic saw significant increases to Nikola Vucevic (+3), Evan Fournier (+4), Aaron Gordon (+2), Jonathon Simmons (+2), and D.J. Augustin (+2).
The biggest star movement upwards came, unsurprisingly, from Giannis Antetokounmpo (+3) to a 94 overall, while DeMarcus Cousins bumped up one point to a 93 overall.
Conversely, the Cleveland Cavaliers saw rating decreases for Dwyane Wade (-2), Jae Crowder (-1), Tristan Thompson (-2), and J.R. Smith (-2).
The most notable risers were Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, whose overall rating jumped from a 79 to an 84, and Phoenix Suns point guard Mike James whose overall rating jumped from a 69 to a 74. The biggest rating dip was a five-way tie between Kyle Lowry, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilson Chandler, Markelle Fultz, and Lance Stephenson, who all saw their overall ratings fall by three points.
https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/925503999297576961
We’ve got a full list of all the changes 2K Sports made to NBA 2K18 in their latest major roster update below:
Atlanta Hawks:
Dennis Schröder: 80 OVR (+1)
Marco Belinelli: 77 OVR (+3)
John Collins: 77 OVR (+4)
Dewayne Dedmon: 75 OVR (-2)
Ersan Ilyasova: 74 OVR (-1)
Malcolm Delaney: 72 OVR (-2)
Brooklyn Nets:
D’Angelo Russell: 81 OVR (+1)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: 78 OVR (+3)
DeMarre Carroll: 77 OVR (+2)
Spencer Dinwiddie: 76 OVR (+3)
Boston Celtics:
Al Horford: 84 OVR (+1)
Jayson Tatum: 79 OVR (+2)
Marcus Smart: 78 OVR (-1)
Jaylen Brown: 77 OVR (+1)
Terry Rozier: 75 OVR (+1)
Aron Baynes: 74 OVR (+1)
Charlotte Hornets:
Kemba Walker: 87 OVR (+1)
Dwight Howard: 82 OVR (+1)
Jeremy Lamb: 78 OVR (+3)
Frank Kaminsky: 77 OVR (+1)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: 76 OVR (-1)
Cody Zeller: 76 OVR (-1)
Marvin Williams: 75 OVR (-1)
Malik Monk: 73 OVR (-2)
Chicago Bulls:
Robin Lopez: 78 OVR (+2)
Lauri Markkanen: 77 OVR (+2)
Jerian Grant: 73 OVR (-1)
Paul Zipser: 73 OVR (+2)
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Dwyane Wade: 80 OVR (-2)
Jae Crowder: 79 OVR (-1)
Tristan Thompson: 76 OVR (-2)
Jeff Green: 75 OVR (+2)
Kyle Korver: 75 OVR (+1)
J.R. Smith: 73 OVR (-2)
Dallas Mavericks:
Harrison Barnes: 80 OVR (-1)
Dirk Nowitzki: 77 OVR (-3)
J.J. Barea: 77 OVR (+1)
Yogi Ferrell: 75 OVR (+1)
Denver Nuggets:
Nikola Jokic: 87 OVR (-1)
Paul Millsap: 86 OVR (-1)
Will Barton: 78 OVR (+1)
Wilson Chandler: 76 OVR (-3)
Jamal Murray: 75 OVR (-2)
Emmanuel Mudiay: 74 OVR (+1)
Detroit Pistons:
Tobias Harris: 82 OVR (+4)
Reggie Jackson: 80 OVR (+3)
Langston Galloway: 75 OVR (+2)
Jon Leuer: 74 OVR (-1)
Golden State Warriors:
Draymond Green: 87 OVR (-1)
Andre Iguodala: 78 OVR (-1)
Zaza Pachulia: 75 OVR (-1)
Jordan Bell: 73 OVR (+3)
Kevon Looney: 71 OVR (+1)
Houston Rockets:
James Harden: 94 OVR (-1)
Eric Gordon: 82 OVR (+2)
Clint Capela: 82 OVR (+3)
Trevor Ariza: 76 OVR (-2)
Luc Mbah a Moute: 75 OVR (-1)
Indiana Pacers:
Victor Oladipo: 84 OVR (+5)
Darren Collison: 79 OVR (+1)
Domantas Sabonis: 76 OVR (+4)
Bojan Bogdanovic: 75 OVR (-2)
Lance Stephenson: 72 OVR (-3)
Los Angeles Clippers:
Blake Griffin: 89 OVR (+2)
Patrick Beverley: 80 OVR (+1)
Danilo Gallinari: 79 OVR (-2)
Austin Rivers: 78 OVR (-2)
Los Angeles Lakers:
Brook Lopez: 82 OVR (-2)
Larry Nance Jr.: 78 OVR (+1)
Jordan Clarkson: 78 OVR (+1)
Brandon Ingram: 77 OVR (+1)
Julius Randle: 76 OVR (-2)
Kyle Kuzma: 76 OVR (+4)
Memphis Grizzlies:
Marc Gasol: 90 OVR (+1)
Tyreke Evans: 78 OVR (+1)
Chandler Parsons: 76 OVR (+2)
James Ennis: 74 OVR (+2)
Jarell Martin: 73 OVR (+1)
Andrew Harrison: 70 OVR (-2)
Miami Heat:
James Johnson: 80 OVR (+1)
Dion Waiters: 79 OVR (-1)
Kelly Olynyk: 76 OVR (+1)
Tyler Johnson: 75 OVR (-2)
Justise Winslow: 74 OVR (-2)
Jordan Mickey: 72 OVR (+1)
Milwaukee Bucks:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 94 OVR (+3)
Malcolm Brogdon: 80 OVR (+2)
Greg Monroe: 78 OVR (-2)
Mirza Teletovic: 74 OVR (+1)
Thon Maker: 74 OVR (-1)
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Jimmy Butler: 89 OVR (-1)
Andrew Wiggins: 85 OVR (-1)
Taj Gibson: 75 OVR (-1)
Nemanja Bjelica: 74 OVR (+2)
Gorgui Dieng: 74 OVR (-2)
Shabazz Muhammad: 74 OVR (-1)
New Orleans Pelicans:
DeMarcus Cousins: 93 OVR (+1)
Jrue Holiday: 79 OVR (-1)
Tony Allen: 76 OVR (-2)
New York Knicks
Kristaps Porzingis: 88 OVR (+2)
Enes Kanter: 81 OVR (+1)
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 78 OVR (-2)
Ramon Sessions: 72 OVR (-1)
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Paul George: 90 OVR (-1)
Carmelo Anthony: 85 OVR (+1)
Steven Adams: 83 OVR (+1)
Andre Roberson: 75 OVR (-1)
Patrick Patterson: 74 OVR (-1)
Jerami Grant: 74 OVR (+1)
Alex Abrines: 73 OVR (-1)
Orlando Magic:
Nikola Vucevic: 83 OVR (+3)
Evan Fournier: 82 OVR (+4)
Aaron Gordon: 80 OVR (+2)
Jonathon Simmons: 77 OVR (+2)
D.J. Augustin: 75 OVR (+2)
Shelvin Mack: 74 OVR (+1)
Terrence Ross: 74 OVR (-1)
Philadelphia 76ers:
Ben Simmons: 81 OVR (+2)
Robert Covington: 79 OVR (+1)
J.J. Redick: 78 OVR (-1)
Dario Saric: 77 OVR (-1)
Markelle Fultz: 77 OVR (-3)
Jerryd Bayless: 74 OVR (+1)
Phoenix Suns:
Devin Booker: 86 OVR (+1)
T.J. Warren: 77 OVR (-1)
Josh Jackson: 76 OVR (-2)
Alex Len: 75 OVR (+2)
Marquese Chriss: 74 OVR (-2)
Mike James: 74 OVR (+5)
Portland Trail Blazers:
C.J. McCollum: 87 OVR (+1)
Jusuf Nurkic: 77 OVR (-2)
Ed Davis: 75 OVR (+3)
Evan Turner: 75 OVR (+1)
Al-Farouq Aminu: 75 OVR (+2)
Maurice Harkless: 73 OVR (-1)
Pat Connaughton: 72 OVR (+2)
San Antonio Spurs:
LaMarcus Aldridge: 86 OVR (+1)
Danny Green: 77 OVR (+1)
Manu Ginobili: 75 OVR (-1)
Patrick Mills: 75 OVR (-2)
Dejounte Murray: 75 OVR (+2)
Kyle Anderson: 74 OVR (+1)
Sacramento Kings:
George Hill: 79 OVR (-3)
Zach Randolph: 78 OVR (-2)
De’Aaron Fox: 78 OVR (+1)
Skal Labissiere: 77 OVR (+1)
Willie Cauley-Stein: 77 OVR (+1)
Buddy Hield: 76 OVR (-1)
Bogdan Bogdanovic: 75 OVR (+1)
Toronto Raptors:
Kyle Lowry: 84 OVR (-3)
Jakob Poeltl: 75 OVR (+3)
Pascal Siakam: 75 OVR (+3)
Norman Powell: 74 OVR (-1)
OG Anunoby: 72 OVR (+1)
Utah Jazz:
Rudy Gobert: 86 OVR (-2)
Rodney Hood: 79 OVR (+1)
Joe Ingles: 79 OVR (+1)
Derrick Favors: 77 OVR (-1)
Joe Johnson: 75 OVR (-1)
Donovan Mitchell: 74 OVR (-1)
Washington Wizards:
Otto Porter: 83 OVR (+3)
Marcin Gortat: 79 OVR (+1)
Kelly Oubre Jr.: 75 OVR (+1)
Mike Scott: 73 OVR (+1)
