Predicting Every Lakers Player's Rating In NBA 2K23

The ratings for NBA 2K23 go in-depth and look at a wide array of data. Overall ratings take into account passing accuracy, durability, free throw percentage, ability to draw fouls, shooting from outside, and many more stats. It’s been said that the developers look at up to 50 such attributes to paint a complete picture of the player. These ratings don’t always point out a true reflection of the team though.

Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers looked great on paper but fell off the map. The team had three superstars according to the ratings, but the team missed the playoffs and won a mere 33 games. The Lakers will look to fix their mistakes this season, but it does beg the question if the Lakers are worth playing this year. Should the Lakers be a team you potentially choose when playing your friends? What about a team in dynasty mode?

Let’s take a look at where we think these players will land on the ratings first and then determine if the Lakers are a team you should pick this year.

Scotty Pippen Jr. – 67

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: None

Pippen could be a diamond in the rough after going undrafted last season. He was a two-time First-Team All-SEC selection out of Vanderbilt. Pippen averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals last season. There is an extra bit of hype around his name given that his father was a six-time champion with the Bulls during the 90s. With that said, after going undrafted, Pippen will need to prove that he belongs in this league based on his play and not the shadow of his father.

Cole Swider – 67

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: None

Swider began his career with Villanova and then played last season with Syracuse. His best season came with the Orange, where he averaged 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Swider is a raw power forward, standing at 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds. Given his lack of draft profile, a lower rating is likely in his future.

Max Christie – 69

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: None

At 19 years old, Christie is still raw but has the makings of being a higher-rated player down the line. Christie is a former McDonald’s All-American who made the Big 10 All-Freshman Team last year with Michigan State. Christie averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. The Lakers used the No. 35 overall pick to draft him. He may not see a lot of playing time this season as he continues to grow.

Wenyen Gabriel – 71

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 70

Gabriel has bounced around the league since joining the league in 2018. Last year, was the best season of his career. Gabriel played a career-high 16.4 minutes per game, shot 50.5% from the field, and averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. That should be enough for Gabriel to increase his ranking by one point.

DJ Augustine – 71

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 72

Augustine played 20 games with the Rockets in 2020-21 and averaged 10.6 points per game, which may have helped him land a rating of 72 by ending the season on a high note. However, Augustine regressed to 5.4 points per game despite playing three minutes less each night. Augustin averaged 5.3 points with the Lakers but did shoot 100% from the field. Regardless, he will likely see a one-point dip in his rating.

Troy Brown Jr. – 72

NBA 2K22 Rating: 71

Brown played for the Bulls last season and had a decent amount of playing time given how the team battled injuries. He played 66 games and made seven starts. That included averaging 4.3 points, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting a career-high 35.3% from three-point range. Brown is also an athletic defensive player that can help on that front as well. Brown likely will receive a one-point increase from last year.

Damian Jones – 72

NBA 2K22 Rating: 71

Jones appeared in 56 games for the Kings and averaged 18.2 minutes per game. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game. In limited opportunities, Jones shot 65.8% from the field. Jones will serve as the team’s starting center. While his rating may not be great, Jones could have a career year this season, which could lead to his best rating a year from now.

Juan Toscano-Anderson – 73

NBA 2K22 Rating: 75

In three seasons with the league, last year was one of Toscano-Anderson’s worst. His points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, shooting percentage, and three-point percentage all decreased. That also led to his playing time being reduced by seven minutes each night. It’s hard to see him having the same rating as last season and not having it decreased.

Austin Reaves – 74

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 74

We don’t normally see a big jump in rookies unless they have a superb rookie season that lands them on the All-Rookie Team. Reaves had a respectable season with 7.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. His 45.9% shooting was average, but his 31.7% shooting from three-point range was not good enough. He will enter his second year with more expectations, but we can assume his rating will remain the same.

Stanley Johnson – 74

Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 74

Johnson went from a player with a 10-day contract to somebody that the Lakers somewhat depend on to play. Johnson played in 48 games and made 27 starts. It was the best shooting season for Johnson since he entered the league in 2015. Johnson shot 46.6% from the field to go with 6.7 points per game. Johnson might have had a great year for his career standards, but it will likely land him with the same rating since his numbers are near role-playing status.

Lonnie Walker IV – 76

NBA 2K22 Rating: 75

Walker was signed this offseason on a one-year deal, but he is expected to play a key role in the team’s improvement. Walker averaged a career-high 12.1 points per game, but the team is more interested in his three-point shooting. Two years ago, Walker shot 40.6% from three-point range. The last two years have seen that drop to 35.5% and 31.4% from downtown. Walker’s rebounding and playmaking have gotten better, he could be improved by one point.

Thomas Bryant – 77

NBA 2K22 Rating: 79

Bryant was rewarded with a rating of 79 going into last season. Bryant ultimately played 27 games for the Wizards and averaged 7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. Bryant’s 2022 rating came on the heels of averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 10 appearances. Bryant missed the rest of last season due to a torn ACL. Given the dropoff in points and rebounds, Bryant could see a dip in his rating due to the injury and a decrease in production.

Talen Horton-Tucker – 77

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 76

Horton-Tucker’s stats back up that he will have an improved rating next season. He averaged a career-high in points (10.0) and rebounding (3.2). Horton also played a career-high in minutes with 25.2 per game. He made 19 starts in 60 games and shot 80% from the free throw line. As Horton-Tucker enters his fourth year, the Lakers will expect him to take another step in his progression.

Kendrick Nunn – 78

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 78

Nunn was supposed to be a prized free agent last season. With the Heat, he averaged 14.6 points and shot 38.1% from three-point range. Instead, Nunn missed the entire season due to a bone bruise in his right knee. Due to a setback, he never came back to the court. Assuming Nunn is healthy, the team will rely heavily on his outside shooting. Nunn’s talents were good enough to get a rating of 78, so it will likely remain the same going into this season.

Russell Westbrook – 84

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 86

Last season was a regression year for Westbrook. The 2020-21 season saw Westbrook average his fourth triple-double of his career, where he averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists. That led to last season’s stat line of 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. The addition of Westbrook didn’t mesh the way the Lakers thought it would. Westbrook turns 34 years old this season. His style of play was something that we sat in awe at four to five years ago. It’s not a style he can keep up with now that he is in his 30s.

Anthony Davis – 92

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 93

The last two seasons have been frustrating for Davis, to say the least. We could likely see him take a dip in the ratings because of how injuries can take a toll on someone. When healthy, Davis averaged 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks. That’s an All-Star caliber line. Throw in his ability to protect the rim and Davis is a player that should have a rating above 90. His dip to 92 will likely be because of his injury history.

LeBron James – 96

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2K22 Rating: 96

LeBron James was exceptional last season. James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks. It was the first time he averaged at least 30 points per game since he won the scoring title in 2007-08. James cannot replicate that line again if the Lakers are truly championship contenders. However, we know he is good enough to do it. James should have one of the highest ratings of anyone in the league, which is amazing to think about as he enters his age 38 seasons.

Are The Lakers Worth Playing As?

Anything is possible in the game of basketball, especially if you have three All-Star caliber players. The Lakers could be good next season. The team could bounce back. Westbrook, Davis, and James are all going to be in the Hall of Fame in the future. Great players have a way of figuring it out. The starting lineup of Westbrook, Walker IV, James, Davis, and Jones is not a terrible starting lineup either. Horton-Tucker, Nunn, if healthy, and Johnson could be okay substitutes as well.

The depth of the Lakers and their ability to stay healthy will dictate their future this year. James, Davis, Nunn, and Bryant are going to be key players in the regular lineup and all have battled injuries within the last year. If the team stays healthy, the Lakers could surprise many of us. Health is not something you have to worry about in a video game. For now, the Lakers are a safe team to use. Once the season progresses, you might change your mind if things remain the same as last year.

Predicting Every Lakers Player’s Rating In NBA 2K23

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