NBA 2K15: Release Date, Analyzing Early Player Ratings and More
NBA fans may have to wait until Oct. 28 for the season to officially kick off, but the virtual season begins Oct. 7 with the release of NBA 2K15.
The 2014 version of the game received 70 Game of the Year Award nominations, so the 2015 edition is expected to be another big hit. Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant graces the cover, and the game has been gradually releasing player ratings leading up to the release.
Those player ratings can be found here.
Here is a look at some of the vital information regarding the game before we dig a bit deeper on some of the early player ratings.
Release Date
According to the game’s official website, NBA 2K15 will be released on Oct. 7 for PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PS4. It is available for pre-order now.
Trailer
There is an understandable amount of anticipation from gamers everywhere regarding NBA 2K15 given the quality of graphics and game play we have come to expect from NBA 2K games. The 2015 version looks like it will deliver on those expectations if its trailer is any indication:
Notable Early Player Ratings
Derrick Rose: 88 overall
We all know the deal with Derrick Rose, whether it is the actual Chicago Bulls point guard or the virtual one—until he proves that he can last an entire season and playoffs with his knees, he is the biggest unknown commodity in the NBA. Fortunately, you can turn injuries off in NBA 2K15.
Yes, Rose is a former MVP and has the talent necessary to be a top-10 player in the league once again, but it is hard to trust that right now. He didn’t play particularly well at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but much of that can be attributed to shaking off the rust.
That’s why the 88 overall rating is interesting. That is the same designation given to established stars like James Harden, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dirk Nowitzki.
Clearly, NBA 2K15 still believes in Rose and his ability to stay healthy.
Rose seemed to be feeling the same things many fans are, saying, courtesy of Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com: "I can sit here and say a million times that I'm going to be fine, but think the only way to answer all the critics and everyone asking about me is actually being on the court and actually playing.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau is not exactly known for resting his stars, which may actually be a positive thing here. Rose is still only 25 years old (about to turn 26) and needs to knock off two years of rust on the court by consistently playing.
If the star point guard can stay healthy, the potential Eastern Conference race between his Chicago Bulls and LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers could be the most interesting thing in the league this year. Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will certainly have something to say about that outcome as well.
Until then, fans will just have to duel it out between Chicago and Cleveland on their video game console.
Chris Bosh: 84 overall
This year will go a long way toward determining Bosh’s rating in the next game after he re-signed with the Miami Heat for five years and $118 million.
With James in Cleveland, that contract appeared to signal that this is Bosh’s team now. That is why it is worth pointing out that Bosh is an 84 in NBA 2K15, while Dwyane Wade is an 86. It is an interesting distinction considering it was Wade who looked to be on the decline more so than Bosh in last year’s playoffs and NBA Finals.
Bosh was the leader of his Toronto Raptors teams and averaged better than 22 points in his last five years north of the border. He also posted double-digit rebounding averages three times. Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald noted that Wade is looking more for the clutch Bosh we have seen in Miami recently than the superstar in Toronto, though:
The 84 ranking almost feels too low for Bosh considering his multiple rings in Miami and his proven ability to contribute on his own or in a group of superstars. Moke Hamilton of SNYtv and Basketball Insiders would likely agree with that assessment:
If Bosh leads Miami deep into the playoffs, that ranking will likely increase next year.
Kenneth Faried: 81 overall
Kenneth Faried absolutely dominated at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and posted nightly averages of 12.2 points and 7.7 rebounds.
In fact, the combination of Faried, DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis was nearly unbeatable on both sides of the floor for the Americans because they contested shots at the rim and then got out in transition. Not only was Faried arguably the United States’ top player at the event, he did it on a team of absolute superstars.
NBA 2K15 must not have been particularly impressed to give him an 81 rating.
Yes, the international game in that setting is much different than the NBA, but Faried should be higher than an 81 moving forward in his career. He scored 13.7 points and grabbed 8.6 rebounds a game last year for the Denver Nuggets and shot 54.5 percent from field.
Perhaps his impressive World Cup will set him up for a big 2014-15 season. After all, he doesn’t even turn 25 until after the campaign starts and will likely continue to improve for the next couple of years.
That would mean a much-deserved higher rating in NBA 2K16 and beyond.
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