The NBA is a player-driven league that sees new emerging talent rise to the surface every season. Not only do guys improve their game during the regular season, but true competitors also elevate their game when it matters most, in the playoffs.
NBA 2K22 is coming up on a year since its release and fans can't wait to get their hands on NBA 2K23. With the release of the newest yearly entry, there are more than a handful of NBA players who have earned a higher rating than what they currently sit at in NBA 2K22.
9 Andrew Wiggins
The Golden State Warriors are once again NBA champions, and Andrew Wiggins played a big part in their postseason run. He may not have been as offensively spectacular as Steph Curry, but Wiggins' defense made a major difference in addition to his consistent offensive contributions.
On a nightly basis, he would take on the task of guarding the opponent's best players and would come out on top most of the time. He was a big reason Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics struggled with turnovers in the NBA Finals. It's about time Andrew Wiggins had some respect, and the first step in doing so is NBA 2K23 giving him a higher rating than his current one of 83.
8 Tyrese Maxey
Coming off a season in which Joel Embiid performed at an MVP level and the Philadelphia 76ers made a move for James Harden, it was young combo guard Tyrese Maxey that was the biggest surprise for the team. The NBA 2K22 84 overall player has been discussed as an emerging talent in the NBA, but this last season he finally put it all together.
On top of averaging seventeen points, four assists, and three rebounds a game in the regular season he improved his postseason scoring to almost twenty-one points per game. With James Harden leaving the prime of his career there's a serious case to be made that Maxey could become the 76ers' second-best player in the coming seasons.
7 Jalen Brunson
The Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic were the surprise of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, and though the Slovenian superstar had a lot to do with that, it was the emergence of Jalen Brunson that made a difference. The soon-to-be free agent point guard showcased his scoring versatility and toughness, which helped them overcome both the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns.
In the playoffs, he averaged twenty-one points per game, almost four assists, and four rebounds as a six-foot point guard. That certainly sounds like someone who earned an overall higher than 81.
6 Anfernee Simons
Damian Lillard rightfully gets most of the attention when the Portland Trailblazers are being discussed, but that rebuilding team has another piece at the guard position that is blossoming into quite the talent. Anfernee Simons may not be a household name, but that soon might change.
The 81 overall combo guard in NBA 2K22 improved his points per game this last season by almost ten points and despite his three-point attempts a game doubling, he still kept a shooting average above forty percent from range. If Lillard and the Trailblazers want to compete they'll need Simons to make another leap, but his numbers showcase a player deserving of an NBA 2K23 overall that's at least a bit higher than 81.
5 Rudy Gobert
Despite being the defensive anchor of a team that consistently wins like the Utah Jazz, center Rudy Gobert has become the most hated player in the NBA. The world of social media likes to label him as overrated despite being one of the more impactful defensive players, which is evident by his three Defensive Player of the Year awards and numerous All-Defensive First-Team nominations.
Haters will argue that his NBA 2K22 rating of 88 is already too high, but with there being less than a handful of more impactful players at his position in the entirety of the NBA, an overall bump up to 90 in NBA 2K23 isn't out of the question.
4 Dejounte Murray
The San Antonio Spurs may not be the perennial championship contender they once were, but Greg Popovich is still arguably the best coach in the league and he has a young roster that's getting better every year. Dejounte Murray has been hampered a bit by injuries early in his career, but the dynamic playmaker was clearly the best player on the court this past season for the Spurs and is quickly become one of the elite point guards in the NBA.
He currently sits at an impressive overall of 87, but with him improving his scoring, assist, rebound, and steal numbers every season it's clear he's on the rise and entering the prime of his career.
3 Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart, the guard from the Boston Celtics, currently sits at an 81 overall in NBA 2K22. He's coming off of a season in which he took home the Defensive Player of the Year award and was a key cog in the machine that took the Celtics to the NBA Finals.
Due to his offensive game being limited, the improvement in his overall shouldn't be that drastically different in NBA 2K23, but something closer to 84 or 85 seems most appropriate for his accomplishments.
2 Anthony Edwards
In 2022 Anthony Edwards got his first taste of NBA Playoff basketball and he showed the world why he was the number one pick just a few years back. Edwards not only improved his points per game from 19 to 21 in the regular season, but his game elevated in the postseason as he averaged over 25 points per game and shot forty percent from three-point range.
He's starting to emerge into a star and could easily become the Minnesota Timberwolves' best player. He'll first need NBA 2K23 to improve on his standing player rating of 83.
1 Jimmy Butler
At a 92 overall Jimmy Butler is currently one of the highest-rated modern players in all of NBA 2K22, but that might not be high enough to represent what he means to the Miami Heat and their success.
Not only does he help instill a hard-working win-at-all-costs mentality, but he's the team's primary defender and number one scoring option. A bump of one or two points would draw him closer to the top, but at the same time would leave some room for the guys who consistently win titles for their teams. A feat Jimmy Butler has yet to do in his superstar era on the court.
NBA 2K22 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.