All U Can Heat
Fansided

NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings

By Alexander Villasis

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 21: Jimmy Butler #22 and Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat react during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 21: Jimmy Butler #22 and Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat react during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 09: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives the lane against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center on June 09, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 09: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives the lane against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center on June 09, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /

Should Bam Adebayo be ranked higher?

With a rating of 87, Bam Adebayo is tied with Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis as the fourth-best center in the game.

The only centers that received a higher rating than Adebayo are Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis.

A strong case can be made that Adebayo is one of the most underrated players in the league, but NBA 2K’s rating of Adebayo gives him a good amount of respect. Looking at the three players above Adebayo, Embiid just had the best season of his career in which he was rewarded with a first team All-NBA selection, a scoring title and an MVP award. You then have Nikola Jokic, who is now widely regarded as perhaps the best player in the NBA after a historic playoff run that was capped off with a title and Finals MVP. And Anthony Davis, although often injured, is still one of the best two-way centers.

It would be hard to make the case that Adebayo should be ranked above those three, who many consider among the league’s best at any position.

But it could be argued that Adebayo should have a higher rating than Sabonis. Both players are coming off great seasons, with Sabonis named to the All-Star team and All-NBA third team. Adebayo was also an All-Star and received All-Defensive second team honors.

Adebayo and Sabonis each provided their teams with quality offensive production. Sabonis put up 19.1 points per game to go along with 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists on a Kings team that had the best offensive rating in regular-season history. On the other hand, Adebayo averaged a career-best 20.4 points to go along with 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

While the offensive numbers favor Sabonis, the defensive responsibility between the two players is glaringly different. Adebayo is the anchor of one of the NBA’s best defensive teams, and is asked to guard all five positions.

During Miami’s Finals run, Adebayo had a fair share of memorable moments and big games, with two highlights being a triple-double to close out Milwaukee in Game 5 and a monstrous Game 2 at Boston in the Conference Finals in which Adebayo finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.

NBA 2K ratings are updated as the season goes on. If Adebayo continues to improve his production while making another All-Star and All-NBA team, it would be hard to deny Adebayo a higher rating.

Home/Heat News