NBA 2K25 player ratings were recently released. The Dallas Mavericks“The game’s notes are pretty accurate for the most part. There are arguments to be made Kyrie Irving (92 in total) and Luka Doncic (97 overall) has even higher marks The ratings given by other players on the team were largely accurate. However, the ratings of two specific Mavs players were 100% wrong.
According to 2kratings.com, Derek Lively II And Klay Thompson are Both have an overall score of 81 in the gameOne could argue that these ratings are not so far from reality, but I will make an argument from a completely opposite point of view.
The Underrated Play of Mavericks Center Dereck Lively II
To dispute some of the grades given, one must look deeper into the player’s attributes. Lively had a solid rookie season. Yet, some might argue that he was also underrated in real life after being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team instead of the First.
Lively’s archetype in NBA 2K25 is that of a “paint beast,” which is certainly accurate. So what exactly is the problem here?
Lively’s defense has improved throughout the 2023-24 season. He’s established himself as a quality basket protector. Sure, he still has room to improve, but his overall defensive rating of 64 seems way too low.
Lively’s athleticism only received a 70 overall rating while his dunking ability averages an 84. The Mavericks center is one of the most athletic players on the team. He should have a better overall athleticism rating than 70. As for his dunking, Lively made his living off the scoring option last season. Mavericks fans will tell you that Lively should have at least a 90 overall rating for dunking.
If Lively’s dunks, defense and athleticism were all bumped up by just a few points, perhaps his grade would be in the mid to high 80s instead of the low 80s.
Klay Thompson is almost below 80 overall?
Sure, Thompson isn’t the same caliber of superstar he once was. That’s something we’re not here to deny. But Thompson still quietly enjoyed a respectable 2023-24 season despite his decline.
Thompson only has an 89 overall three-point shooting grade. He still managed to shoot over 37 percent in 2023-24 despite a season that was down from his standards. Thompson should be able to improve his three-point shooting grade with the Mavericks.
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Thompson has grades of 70 or below in defense, rebounding and playmaking. His athleticism is now at 78 overall. Those grades could probably be higher, but they’re not totally shocking.
In fact, NBA 2K25 deserves credit for giving Thompson an overall perimeter defense rating of 80. Thompson’s defense has been criticized in recent years as he is not as quick as he used to be due to previous injuries. However, Thompson is still a reliable perimeter defender, something that NBA 2K25 has noticed.
The main concern here comes down to offense. As mentioned earlier, Thompson’s three-point shooting percentage could probably be higher. But his overall offensive consistency is just 65. That seems like an unfair grade for a player who shot 41.3 percent from three-point range over his career.
Thompson may not always take the best shots, but his 70 overall shooting IQ should probably be higher. It can also be argued that Thompson’s 90 overall mid-range shooting rating could use some improvement.
Ultimately, Klay Thompson probably deserves to have an 84-87 overall score in NBA 2K25.
