As is the case every year when the new NBA 2K is released, the game’s player ratings go under the microscope. Here, we’ll ask if the Miami Heat’s stars are underrated, properly rated or overrated.
Let’s take a look at the Heat roster and go over which ratings stand out the most while also highlighting a player who could get a ratings boost this season.
Miami Heat NBA 2K24 Ratings:
- Jimmy Butler: 95
- Bam Adebayo: 87
- Tyler Herro: 83
- Caleb Martin: 79
- Duncan Robinson: 77
- Kevin Love: 77
- Kyle Lowry: 76
- Thomas Bryant: 75
- Josh Richardson: 75
- Haywood Highsmith: 74
- Nikola Jovic: 73
- Jaime Jaquez Jr.: 72
- Orlando Robinson: 70
- Dru Smith (two-way) : 67
- Jamaree Bouyea (two-way): 67
Is Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler overrated by NBA 2K24?
Jimmy Butler garnered a lot of attention when his rating was revealed in mid-August. Butler received a 95 overall in 2K24, marking the best rating of his career and equalling the ratings given to Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic.
Butler ranks ahead of NBA superstars such as Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker, who all received a 94 rating.
Out of all of the early rating reveals for the NBA’s top stars, it was Butler who was the center of attention, as the sports and gaming community were split on Butler and if he received the proper rating. In an interview with Peter Dewey from FanSided, 2K’s Digital Marketing Director Ronnie Singh (widely known as Ronnie2K) elaborated on why Butler received a rating of 95.
“He [Butler] really stood out in the playoffs, and that sample size of the games there really made an argument for Jimmy Buckets,” Singh said.
While Butler did not post MVP-caliber numbers like Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the regular season, he did average a career-high 22.9 points per game on 53.9% shooting.
And in the postseason, Butler takes his performance to the next level, and has proven that he is among the best NBA players on both sides of the court when the stakes are greatest. Coming off of a historic playoff run highlighted by an Eastern Conference finals MVP, it is safe to say that Butler is deserving of being one of the highest-rated players in all of NBA 2K24.
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.
Is Nikola Jovic ready to break through?
Every season brings multiple breakout players that lead to dramatic increases in player ratings in NBA 2K. A candidate on the Heat to receive a sizable boost in ratings if given an opportunity to play is second-year forward Nikola Jovic.
Jovic has had a busy summer. He played in Las Vegas Summer League in July and recently helped lead the Serbian national team to the FIBA World Cup championship game. Over the last few of months, Jovic has showcased his exciting offensive skillset. Ahead of the World Cup Final against Germany, Jovic is shooting 60.5% from the field and 45.5% from 3-point range.
Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic poked fun at Dillon Brooks after helping lead Team Serbia to the FIBA World Cup championship game.
Jovic’s most notable performance of the tournament was his 25-point game on a perfect 9 of 9 from the field with five 3-pointers against South Sudan. Jovic’s high level play is being noticed, as the FIBA YouTube page recognized Jovic as the best player in Group B.
It remains to be seen if Jovic will be in Miami next season, since he’s been mentioned as a potential piece in a Damian Lillard trade. Either way, if Jovic is given a role with quality minutes to display his skillset in a league where size and shooting is vital to success, there is a great opportunity for Jovic to climb the ladder in player ratings this upcoming season.