Lakers News: Why Ronnie 2K Believes LeBron James Deserves 2K24 Rating

Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James may no longer be the most important player on his own team (that'd be Anthony Davis, LA's best defender), but he's among the highest-rated players in the latest impending edition of the league's signature video game, NBA 2K24.

Ronnie "2K" Singh, the Digital Marketing Director for 2K Games, explained to Joey Mistressa of Clutch Points why the 38-year-old, now-injury prone James earned a 96 rating ahead of his 21st season in 2023-24.

“He (LeBron James) has the longest sample size,” Singh said. "He’s done it consistently for 20 years, he’s had very few injuries, at least extended ones, so it is kind of hard to change his rating because you sort of know who he is. We are sort of expecting him to be what he has been in year 21."

“It’s going to be hard for him to spike higher in rating, or dip way lower because it’s still LeBron James,” Singh noted.

Prior to injury issues last season, James reached an NBA 2K23-best 98 rating in a January update of the game.

It's unclear what James vintage Singh has been watching, as his three-point shooting dropped off last season, and his health problems have become tough to ignore. Across his five years with Los Angeles so far, James has missed an average of 22.4 regular season bouts.

The league's actual best two players, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have been more durable and productive for their respective teams in recent years. Jokic's 98 ranks him first this season, while Antetokounmpo's 96 ties him with James, Stephen Curry, the similarly injury-prone Kevin Durant, and reigning league MVP Joel Embiid for second.

James is somehow listed above Dallas Mavericks All-NBA point guard Luka Doncic, Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum, and Miami Heat All-NBA swingman Jimmy Butler (all listed at a 95), all of who are demonstrably better and less ailment-prone than James at this stage in his career. Anthony Davis was awarded a 94 rating.

Another all-time Laker great, Kobe Bryant, will be adorning the cover of this year's edition of the bestselling game.

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