The 2017-18 Indiana Pacers: NBA 2K18 edition
By William Furr
It’s NBA 2K18’s early release day, and you know what that means! It’s time to take a look at how the 2K number crunching system evaluated the Blue and Gold. We’ll take a look at each player, highlighting their total “overall” rating along with any badges or interesting stats. We’re going to start at the bottom and work our way up.
Tier 1: You’re Old Enough to be his Father
The bottom spot is a 68-68 nail biting tie between 37-year-old Damien Wilkens (listed lowest, for what it’s worth) and 18-year-old Ike Anigbogu.
Damien Wilkins: 68 overall. No category grouping (i.e. midrange shooting, 3-point shooting, perimeter defense, playmaking, etc) below a D, but not above a C+. No badges.
Ike Anigbogu: 68 overall. Three different F’s (midrange shooting, 3-point shooting, playmaking). No badges.
Tier 2: The Youth Movement
These four guys (all 25 or under) couldn’t quite crack the overall rating mendoza line (75).
T.J. Leaf: 72 overall. The 20-year-old rookie grades out well on the offensive end (C in inside scoring, B- in midrange shooting, B in 3-point shooting), but his perceived physical shortcomings keep him at that low score. No badges.
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Joe Young: 72 overall. The oldest of this group (Joey Buckets amazingly is 25) defensive gradings (F for inside defense, D- for perimeter defense) makes it difficult for his rating to get any higher. No badges.
Domantas Sabonis: 73 overall. Only two categories break into the B range; inside scoring and potential (both B). No badges.
Glenn Robinson III: 74 overall. Scores out well shooting the ball (B+ in midrange shooting, B in 3-point shooting), but the rest is a heaping dose of “meh”. Has badges for “Catch & Shoot” and “Laid Back”, but none for dunking (huh?).
Tier 3: You Gave it Your All (or at least 75 percent)
These three guys all came in right at the replacement level line, each receiving a 75 overall.
Al Jefferson: 75 overall. B+ in inside scoring, A- in rebounding. Worst “Physical” ranking on the team (along with Domantas Sabonis) at a D. Has a whopping 10 badges: Bruiser, Drop-Stepper, Pick & Roller, Post Spin Technician, Up & Under Specialist, Brick Wall, Hardened, Laid Back, Legendary Work Ethic, Low Ego.
Cory Joseph: 75 overall. Solid in all the places he’s supposed to be, and his only rating below a C- is a D at inside defense. He’s got 5 badges: Pick & Roll Maestro, Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Laid Back, and Low Ego.
Lance Stephenson: 75 overall. Nothing above a B, nothing below a D+. Lance wound up with six badges: Ankle Breaker, Expressive, Hardened, Keep it Real, Spark Plug, and Wildcard.
Tier 4: At Least You’re Better Than Average!
2K18 has these guys listed as high C’s, but they can always be A’s in our hearts.
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Thad Young: 77 overall, just a bit lower than I was expecting to see for Thad. True to life though, he doesn’t do anything bad, and his lowest ranking is a C- in playmaking. His highest is an A- in Basketball IQ. Thad’s also packing eight badges: Pick & Roller, Charge Card, Putback King, Pick Pocket, Friendly, High Work Ethic, Laid Back, and Low Ego.
Bojan Bogdanovic: 77 overall, tied with Mr. Young. Bojan’s packing a whole bunch of C’s, along with a B- in Basketball IQ and a B in 3-point shooting. Carries a D+ in both defensive categories (Inside and Perimeter D). Bogdanovic’s got four badges: Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Tireless Scorer, and Laid Back.
Darren Collison: At 78 overall, Collison is (incredulously) the third highest rated player on the Pacers. High shooting marks (A- in both 3-point shooting and midrange) offset his inside D (F) and rebounding (D). He’s at least a B- everywhere else. Collison brings nine badges to this year’s Pacers: Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, One Man Fast Break, Pick & Roll Maestro, Dimer, Lob City Passer, Pick Dodger, Friendly, and Laid Back.
Victor Oladipo: Oladipo rates out as the second best Pacers at 79 overall. Dipo’s midrange game and physical tools (both A-) buoy his overall score, but the rest of his ratings are relatively strong as well. Dipo has 15 badges: Chase Down Artist, Pick Dodger, Posterizer, Defensive Stopper, Lob City Finisher, Mid-Range Deadeye, Pick & Roll Maestro, Pick Pocket, Tireless Scorer, Catch & Shoot, Charge Card, Legendary Work Ethic, Microwave, Unpredictable, and Wildcard.
Tier 5: A Solid B!
Myles Turner stands alone as the only Pacer above an 80. At just 21 years old, NBA 2K18 sees Turner as the best player on — and the future of — the Pacers.
Myles Turner: Turner comes in at an 84 overall, a full five points over Victor Oladipo. Turner’s offensive game is strong (A in inside scoring, B+ in midrange shooting, and C- in 3-point shooting) along with his inside D (B+) and basketball IQ (A-). Turner is also the only Pacer above a B in potential, with an A-. Myles has only four badges thus far: Pick & Popper, Putback King, Rim Protection, and Laid Back. He’s also got a 98 in NBA 2K’s mysterious “Intangibles” skill, along with Domantas Sabonis.
What Have We Learned?
In a word, nothing. Losing Paul George for just Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis was always going to affect the Pacers in rough ways, and 2K gave no mercy. What do you think of the Pacers ratings?
Next: Myles Turner ranked 68th on SI's top 100 player ranking
Comment below, let us know what they got right, what they got wrong, and what they should be fired over!