NBA 2K25 is just around the corner. 2K is arguably the most popular basketball game in the world and has it all: MyPlayer, MyTeam, GM roles, Asphalt, etc. However, one source of some controversy each year is the NBA 2K ratings. Overall, the ratings are pretty accurate; Madden has far more controversy and protests regarding the rankings. However, 2K ratings are still a pretty big deal. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s 2K rookie ratings.
What you should know about the NBA 2K25 Rookie Ratings
The highest rating
The highest 2K rookie ratings are held by Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher. Both players are tied with an OVR of 75. It makes sense that they have the same rating; both players came into the draft with about the same enthusiasm and one of them was not considered a general pick over the other. Risacher ended up with the Hawks by accident because Sarr and his agent made it clear that he did not want to end up there.
A 75 OVR is a solid rating and seems fine for these newcomers. However, the rating also shows how weak this draft class is considered. Last season’s first overall pick had an OVR of 84; but of course that was Victor Wembanyama, a generational talent. He’s a fluke, but otherwise these ratings should be fine… right?
Well, while the rating seems accurate for the rookies, it underscores the perception of the draft class’s weakness more than it first appears. If we look at the first overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero, he came in with 78 OVR. In 2021, Cade Cunningham came in with 80 OVR, and Jalen Green was close behind with 79. Going back to the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball all had 77 OVRs. In 2019, Zion Williamson came in at 81 OVRs and Ja Morant at 79. In 2018, Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic came in at 79 OVRs, while Marvin Bagley had 78.
You get what I mean. Sarr and Risacher have the weakest 2K rookie ratings of the top two picks in quite some time. It’s way too early to tell if they’ll exceed or fall short of expectations, but the perception of them entering the NBA isn’t quite as strong.
Striking names and jumps and falls
Aside from Sarr and Risacher, there have been some notable jumps and falls in certain rookie ratings. Ronnie 2K hasn’t simply listed the rookies by draft order and assigned descending ratings. On the contrary, certain players have higher ratings than their draft stock, and others are lower. The most notable examples of this are early on Donovan Clingan (who jumped one spot to 73 OVR) and Tidjane Salaun (who dropped to 71 OVR despite being sixth). In my opinion, both make sense; Clingan showed a lot at UConn and would have the potential to go even higher in the draft, while Salaun is more of a wild card. Clingan is tied with Reed Sheppard and Stephon Castle for the third-highest OVR among rookies.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and DaRon Holmes both saw their ratings improve. Despite being selected only 27th and 22nd overall, they rank 14th and 15th, respectively, with an OVR of 71. Two second-rounders also saw their ratings improve relative to their draft position and their teammates. Jamal Shead, you’ll recall, was the lead guard on Houston’s run to March Madness glory. His ranking relative to his teammates improved seven spots. That represents an improvement in his OVR (he has 69 instead of 68), but it’s still worth noting. The same thing happened to Kevin McCullar, who jumped 16 spots in his relative ranking. Like Shead, he has an OVR of 69 instead of 68.
And one final note (since they’re more popular than the average rookie): Dalton Knecht and Jared McCain both have an OVR of 70. For fans of the 76ers, Lakers, or McCain’s TikToks, that’s about the value they should have.
Where is Bronny?
Bronny James has an OVR of 68, which is about where he should be. The 2K rookie ratings haven’t given him much of a boost; the rankings are meant to be as accurate as possible and as little skewed as possible. The 68 OVR is the lowest rating for a rookie, although Bronny isn’t particularly highlighted here; about 2/3 of the second round starts at 68. If James wants to improve his rating, he’ll have to prove it on the court.
