NEWSLETTER
The 2021-22 season might not start in the real world until October 19th, but you can virtually begin a Chicago Bulls championship run right now on NBA 2K22.
The newest edition of the fan-favorite video game is officially out to the public, which means we can now take a complete look at where every single player in the league ranks. We already learned a few weeks back that Zach LaVine received a somewhat underwhelming 87 overall score, but here is a further look at the entire Chicago Bulls roster:
Zach LaVine – 87
Nikola Vucevic – 85
DeMar DeRozan – 85
Lonzo Ball – 82
Coby White – 78
Alex Caruso – 76
Patrick Williams – 75
Derrick Jones Jr. – 74
Tony Bradley – 74
Javonte Green – 72
Troy Brown Jr. – 71
Ayo Dosunmu – 70
Marko Simonovic – 70
Devon Dotson – 69
As for those non-guaranteed training camp invites …
Alize Johnson – 74
Stanley Johnson – 72
Matt Thomas – 71
Tyler Cook – 71
Ethan Thompson – N/A
Rankings compiled via HoopsHype and 2K Ratings dot com.
When getting a complete look at the league rankings, I feel pretty good about where the Bulls starting five lands. LaVine’s 87 is tied for the 9th-highest ranking in the game, and he shares that mark with Julius Randle, Klay Thompson, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Seated right above him and tied at 88 are guys like Khris Middleton, Donovan Mitchell, and Paul George. Considering these rankings are also subject to change as the season drags on, I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see him move up a notch or two like he did last season.
As for DeRozan and Vucevic, they share an 85 overall with players like Ja Morant, Jamal Murray, and C.J. McCollum. Considering their secondary roles on the team behind LaVine, this feels appropriate, and it gives Chicago quite the three-headed monster I’m dying to play with. Ball also feels fine at an 82, in my opinion, but he could be most prone for a boost once the season gets going.
Speaking of boosts, I can’t complain about a 75 for a still raw Patrick Williams, but if he can continue to take steps in the right direction and prove to be the key defensive anchor in the frontcourt, he could quickly outplay his spot.
K. I’m cutting the post off there. If you need me, I’ll be waiting for the excruciatingly long download on my Xbox to finish so I can try this group out for size. Will report back.
