More issues on NBA 2k Player Ratings arise as Kobe Bryant gets a better rating in NBA Live 2016.
There was already a stir when Kobe Bryant was given the lowest ratings of his entire career and despite being acknowledged as the player who was there since the first incarnation of NBA 2K.
EA Sports has vowed to "give 2K a run for its money" according to a report from Attack of the Fanboy. Perhaps one of the strategies they have in mind is to give higher ratings for the players.
Kobe Bryant got an 89 from Live 16, as opposed to his 85 in 2k16, according to a separate AOTF report. They also had more player ratings released.
"EA Sports also revealed more player ratings from top NBA stars:
Dwyane Wade (88), Damian Lillard (90), Chris Paul (95), Blake Griffin (95), Russell Westbrook (84), LeBron James (97), Kevin Durant (96), Carmelo Anthony (91), Klay Thompson (91), John Wall (90), Dwight Howard (92), Kawhi Leonard (89), Pau Gasol (91), Marc Gasol (95)"
The article observed that "the ratings are higher in general than in 2K16. LeBron James is 94 in 2K's game, but is 97 in NBA Live 16. Kevin Durant is only 91 in the other game, but an impressive 96 here in this game."
This could be due to some factors. NBA 2K has been the dominant game for the past decade and it has established season-to-season continuity. Kevin Durant's player rating this season should be based on his performance in the NBA in the 2014-15 season. Since he was injured at that time, it would not be rational to give him the same player rating as he did the year he won the MVP.
Perhaps NBA Live just took the player ratings at face value. Kobe Bryant, when he got to play, was still a pretty good player and Durant, even while he missed most of last season is acknowledged as the second in line behind King James.
But does not explain the dip in LeBron James rating, who led his Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. Bleacher Report explained a tweet from Mike Stauffer, 2K producer.
"Essentially, all players are rated based on a scale that makes the greatest practitioners in each category the measuring stick, with all others following behind them. It's good to have a clear system in place with defined logic. With Michael Jordan as the overall standard bearer, and the game's only 99-rated player, it makes Durant's 91 all the more impressive."
How will the new NBA 2K player system affect the gameplay? Will NBA Live 16's higher player ratings translate into higher sales?