3 Boston Celtics players who deserve a better rating in NBA 2K24

In the midst of fans waiting for the regular season schedule release, 2K released its ratings for its newest NBA game which will officially be available for purchase on September 8, 2024. In honor of the Los Angeles Lakers legend, 2K will have Kobe Bryant on two editions of the game including a “Black Mamba Edition.” This only means it is time to overreact to the ratings on a video game throughout the Boston Celtics roster. Though it is all meaningless, it is always intriguing to discuss it. Some are fair while others could use some improvements based on how each individual performed last season during the Celts’ Eastern Conference Finals run.

Joe Mazzulla’s team is tied with the Phoenix Suns for the highest-rated team in the game at an 84, ahead of four teams with an 83 overall team rating. Jayson Tatum is the sixth highest-rated front-court player in the game with a solid rating of 95. That is a two-point jump from where he was according to the game last season. His partner in crime, Jaylen Brown saw the same amount of increase from his rating at the beginning of the 2K23 game, beginning 2K24 with a 89.

Most of the roster’s ratings are understandable, but what about the ones up for debate? Here are three Celts that are much better than what NBA 2K has displayed.

3 Boston Celtics players who were robbed with their 2K ratings this year

1. Derrick White

NBA 2K24 rating: 80

The new C’s starting point guard, Derrick White was one of just 10 players during the 2022-2023 season that contributed in every game. Based on what he was given by 2K, his reliability was not taken into consideration.

Whenever Mazzulla put the Colorado product on the floor, he knew what he was getting. An aggressive offensive threat with high-level discipline without the ball. Only Al Horford and Robert Williams III amassed more contested shots per game than White. His versatility on the defensive end earned him his first All-Defensive team shout. Even with career-highs in points, rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks per game, White only received an 80, one point higher from where he started 2K23.

The most glaring statistic of all was his three-point percentage which jumped from under 31% in green to 38% in his first full season in the Eastern Conference. The former San Antonio Spur, Cole Anthony, Malik Monk, and Mike Conley all have the same 2K24 rating heading into the season. His contributions on the defensive side of things alone should bring him up to an 81. If you count an improved three-point shot, White deserves at the bare minimum an 82.

2. Payton Pritchard

NBA 2K24 rating: 73

As of right now, the former Oregon point guard, Payton Pritchard will still be donning the green and white when it comes October. No. 11 took a dip in almost every statistical category possible last season due to Boston’s depth at guard which led to a lack of playing time.

Heading into this past campaign, Pritchard sat at 77, a pretty reasonable average for what he has shown at the professional level so far. It is understandable why the game chose to bring him down to a 73 given his role, but his talent level is far from that number. Who knows how a group of people at 2K decide this single number? If it is based on the quality of the player, the Oregon native has been disrespected.

The fact that Dalano Banton begins the game at a 75 is incomprehensible. The former Raptor has not proven himself in the slightest to be able to be a consistent role player in the association. Pritchard has. On almost every team around the league except for the top championship contenders, Fast PP would have a role off the bench.

3. Al Horford

NBA 2K 24 rating: 80

According to the game, Al Horford is on the same level as Mason Plumlee. No disrespect to the Los Angeles Clippers big man, but that does not seem accurate. Last time I checked, there are numerous basketball fundamentals that No. 42 is far superior at than the Clippers’ seven-footer.

The former Florida Gator is heading into his 17th professional campaign and shot over 44% from the great beyond last season. That was the highest mark of his career since he began taking three-point shots consistently. Last year, he started at an 82, the same rating as Marcus Smart. He still averaged a block per game in addition to dishing out three assists on average in his 63 total contests in Green last season.

Out of all of Mazzulla’s men, this is probably the last guy to play a video game on a regular basis or care about something like this. Despite that, the 37-year-old should be given much more credit for what he did for a contending team at his age.