NBA 2K25 will soon be upon us. Arguably the most popular basketball game in the world, 2K has it all: MyPlayer, MyTeam, GM roles, blacktop, etc. However, a source of semi-controversy every year is with the NBA 2K ratings. Overall, the ratings are fairly accurate; Madden has far more controversy and protests around their rankings. However, 2K ratings are still a pretty big deal. Here’s what to know about this year’s 2K Rookie ratings.
What to Know About the NBA 2K25 Rookie Ratings
The Highest Rating
The highest 2K rookie rating is held by Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher. Both players are tied at a 75 OVR. It makes sense that they have the same rating; both players came into the draft with around the same buzz, and one wasn’t viewed as a consensus pick over the other. Risacher happened to end up with the Hawks because Sarr and his agent made it clear he didn’t want to end up there.
A 75 OVR is a solid rating and seems about right for these rookies. However, the rating also shows how weak this draft class is viewed. Last season’s number one overall pick came in at an 84 OVR; but of course, that was Victor Wembanyama, a generational talent. He’s a fluke, otherwise, these ratings should be fine…right?
Well, while the rating does seem right for the rookies, it emphasizes how weak the draft class is perceived more than meets the eye. If we look at the number one overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero, he came in as a 78 OVR. In 2021, Cade Cunningham came in as an 80 OVR, and Jalen Green was just behind as a 79. Continuing back to the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball were all 77 OVRs. In 2019, Zion Williamson came in at an 81 OVR, and Ja Morant at a 79. In 2018, Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic came in as 79 OVRs, while Marvin Bagley was a 78.
You get the picture. Sarr and Risacher have the weakest 2K rookie ratings of the top two picks in quite some time. It’s still far too early to tell if they’ll exceed or fail to meet expectations, but the perception of them coming into the NBA isn’t quite as strong.
Noticeable Names and Jumps and Falls
Aside from Sarr and Risacher, there were some noticeable jumps and falls among certain rookie ratings. Ronnie 2K didn’t just line up the rookies by draft order and give descending ratings. On the contrary, certain players have higher ratings than their draft stock, and others are lower. Early on, the most notable examples of this are Donovan Clingan (who jumped up a spot to be a 73 OVR) and Tidjane Salaun (who fell to a 71 OVR despite being picked sixth). In my mind, both of these make sense; Clingan showcased a lot while at UConn and had the potential to go even higher than he did in the draft, while Salaun is a bit 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 jumped up with their ratings. Despite being selected at 27th and 22nd overall respectively, they have the 14th and 15th highest ranking, a 71 OVR. Two second-rounders also had jumps in their rating relative to their draft position and peers. Jamal Shead, if you recall, served as the lead guard on Houston’s run to March Madness glory. His ranking relative to his peers jumped seven spots. This is equivalent to one OVR boost (he’s a 69 instead of a 68), but it’s still worth mentioning. The same happened to Kevin McCullar, who jumped 16 spots in his relative ranking. Like Shead, he’s a 69 OVR instead of a 68.
Finally, just to note (since they’re more popular than your average rookie), Dalton Knecht and Jared McCain are both 70 OVRs. For fans of the 76ers, Lakers, or McCain’s TikToks, this is right around where they’re supposed to be.
Where’s Bronny?
Bronny James is a 68 OVR, which is right around what’s he supposed to be. The 2K Rookie ratings didn’t give him a huge boost; the rankings are supposed to be as accurate as possible with as little bias as possible. The 68 OVR is the lowest rating for a rookie, although it’s not like Bronny is being singled out here; around 2/3 of the second round start at 68. If James wants to see his rating improve, then he’ll need to prove it on the court.
