We’re only a few weeks out from the highly-anticipated release of NBA 2K22 (September 10th) and less than two months away from the start of the NBA regular season. With ‘basketball fever’ in the air, it’s time to take a closer look at 2K Sports’ latest reveal; the official rookie ratings in NBA 2K22.
Player ratings are debatably the most intensely followed and heavily criticized reveals leading into the release of NBA 2k games. Both fans and players typically don’t hold back on their opinions regarding their favorite player’s 2k rating (or their own!).
Of the latest news regarding 2K22 player ratings, the top 5 rookies were revealed on Friday (August 20th), laying out the NBA’s most elite prospects ahead of the upcoming season.
NBA 2K22 Rookie Ratings:
Cade Cunningham (80) – Detroit Pistons
As expected, the NBA’s most recent #1 draft pick will carry the crown as the top-rated rookie in NBA 2K22, followed closely by his counterparts in Texas (Green) and Ohio (Mobley). Cunningham is coming off a dominant summer league in which he averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game on 43% shooting from the field, and 50% from deep over the course of 3 games. It should be no surprise to see the top pick in the draft with the top rating in 2k.
Jalen Green (79) – Houston Rockets
Jalen Green is perhaps the only (current) active competition against Cade Cunningham and that elusive Rookie of the Year award. Not only did Green put up serious numbers against Cuddingham during their summer league matchup, but he also remains one of the most gifted players from this year’s draft. Jalen Green is also coming off a spectacular summer league in which he put up over 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists over the course of 3 games on 51% from the field, 53% from deep, and over 92% from the line. All this plus the fact that he was the 2nd pick in the NBA Draft deservingly leaves him with the 2nd overall rating in 2k.
Evan Mobley (78) – Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley came into the draft night with potentially the highest ceiling and showcased it well during his pre-season outings during the NBA Summer League, even if it was in limited fashion. Mobley may not have dominated the stat sheet, but he certainly showed flashes of why he was the 3rd overall pick in June. Now we’ll have to wait and see if he can live up to being the 3rd-best rookie in NBA 2K22.Â
Jalen Suggs (77) – Orlando MagicÂ
The list in NBA 2K22 almost exactly mirrors the NBA Draft order, with the exception of 4th-rated Jalen Suggs, and 5th-rated Scottie Barnes. However, Jalen had one of the best Summer League performances of anyone from this list, ending with 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in 3 games played, all while shooting 41% from the field, and 50% from deep. Suggs entered the NBA draft considered by many to be better than Barnes, so it’s no surprise to see Suggs ahead of the Florida State product in the initial 2k ratings. Though, keep in mind that as the league fluctuates throughout the season, so too will the 2k ratings.
Scottie Barnes (76) – Toronto Raptors
Scottie Barnes walked away as one of the biggest surprises from the NBA Draft, both for where he landed, and his reaction post-selection (*cue the ‘Barnes-shimmy’ *). However, he’s far surpassed expectations thus far, ending his summer league debut with 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in 4 games played, all while shooting 41% from the field. The Florida State guard is 6’7″ with a ridiculous 7’3″ wingspan, carrying a unique combination of size, strength, length, and court awareness. Barnes remains somewhat of a project, but if time has shown us anything, it’s that Masai Ujiri (typically) knocks it out of the park with these sorts of picks.
