As a seasoned gamer with decades of NBA 2K under my belt, I must say that the San Antonio Spurs roster ranking in this year’s edition is nothing short of controversial. While I appreciate the efforts made by the developers to reflect the players’ on-court performances accurately, there are some glaring oversights and injustices that need addressing.
It’s plausible that the San Antonio Spurs boast one of the NBA’s greatest all-time teams, a fact that NBA 2K25 acknowledges. Tim Duncan, their Silver and Black player, is among the finest in NBA history. David Robinson adds another top-tier center to their ranks. George Gervin, their smooth scoring machine, symbolized an era of fast-paced basketball. When fit, Kawhi Leonard has been one of the league’s leading players for the past decade. Franchise icons Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have both earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Here’s a look at the Spurs’ Top 10 rated players in NBA 2K.
10. Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyana is here — already.
Last year’s top overall draft pick outperformed not only renowned Hall-of-Famer Artis Gilmore but also seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, as well as former players James Silas and Bruce Bowen whose jerseys were retired by the team, with a total score of 86.
After an exceptional rookie season where he was undisputedly named Rookie of the Year and narrowly missed winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, it’s widely believed that this French prodigy will continue to rise in the rankings. His impressive performance at just 19 and 20 years old, which left the entire league in awe, is a testament to his potential. Notably, he already ranks among the top ten players for a team that boasts some basketball legends. This underscores the high expectations placed on a generational talent who exceeded all predictions in his debut season.
9. Sean Elliott
A true San Antonio Spur, Sean Elliott boasts two All-Star appearances and is renowned for what might be the best shot in the team’s history, earning him an overall rating of 87. Drafted third overall in 1989, Elliott’s legendary “Memorial Day Miracle” was instrumental in propelling the 1999 team to their first of five championships over a 15-year span. Now serving as the lead color commentator for Spurs local broadcasts, Elliott is widely recognized as the team’s top three-point shooter with an impressive 94% accuracy according to 2K.
8. Larry Kenon
Discussing the basketball player who’s frequently the topic among San Antonio Spurs supporters about whether his number should be retired, it’s worth noting that he has an overall rating of 88 in the virtual game, NBA 2K. Throughout his five seasons in San Antonio, known as Larry Kenon, he made three All-Star appearances and managed to average over 20 points per game for four seasons. This period also marked the transition of the franchise from the ABA to the NBA.
7. Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier, a notable figure at the University of Kentucky and in his initial professional years, earned an overall rating of 89 primarily due to his time with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. In his debut season, he averaged an impressive 26 points per game, a feat he maintained for three consecutive years. By the end of his career with the Spurs from 1976-1979, Dampier had transitioned into a supporting role, recording averages of 6.6, 9.1, and 3.3 points per game respectively.
6. Manu Ginobili
On this list, Manu Ginobili is the standout player who significantly contributed to four out of the five NBA titles won by the franchise. There may be discussions about his position within the team’s ranking. A Hall of Famer, Ginobili not only excelled in crucial moments for the Spurs during his 16-year career, but he was often their top performer when it mattered most. He is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist with Argentina and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. In the video game 2k, Ginobili earned a total rating of 90.
5. George Gervin
Among Spurs fans, there’s widespread agreement that George Gervin is one of the top 5 players in the franchise’s history, with many placing him third. In fact, he’s often considered the first basketball superstar for San Antonio. The video game 2K rates him an impressive overall score of 94. His illustrious Hall of Fame career, marked by five All-NBA First Team selections, four scoring titles, and nine All-Star appearances, substantiates this highest rating ever given to a Spurs shooting guard.
4. Kawhi Leonard
2K’s rankings are exclusively determined by on-court performance, making it clear why Kawhi Leonard holds such a high overall rating of 95. Over seven seasons with the Spurs, “Klaw” clinched the Finals MVP title in securing the 2014 championship for S.A., outplaying LeBron James and the Miami Heat’s core aiming to achieve a three-peat. Leonard was twice awarded Defensive Player of the Year and made two All-Star appearances under Gregg Popovich.
If the rankings considered additional aspects, we’d delve into a different conversation. However, there’s no debate regarding Kawhi Leonard’s skills, aptitude, and achievements. His departure from San Antonio adds another layer to the narrative.
3. Tony Parker
For fourteen seasons (from 2002 to 2018), Tony Parker, a Spurs’ point guard who contributed significantly to the team’s five championship titles, played alongside fellow Basketball Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili. During this time period, he was named Finals MVP in 2007 (the third and fourth title for the Spurs, marking Parker’s third), made six All-Star appearances, and became the organization’s all-time leader in assists. Despite this impressive record, his player rating of 95, as assessed by NBA 2K, might appear somewhat elevated compared to Ginobili’s, with a difference of about five points.
In simpler terms, many Spurs supporters would argue that the French guard is more akin to Manu Ginobili in Spurs history compared to David Robinson.
2. David Robinson
Speaking of.
It’s not unexpected that Robinson finishes in second place on this list. As a two-time NBA champion and league MVP in 1995, often known as “The Admiral,” he was chosen for ten All-Star games and received four First-Team selections. Throughout his career, he led the NBA in scoring, blocked shots, and rebounding, earning him the Defensive Player of the Year award and the unanimous Rookie of the Year title.
Despite all of that, his overall rating is just one point higher than Parker’s.
On it’s own though, tough to argue that Robinson doesn’t deserve a rating of 96.
1. Tim Duncan
The sole enigma lies in the overall rating given by 2K’s team for Tim Duncan; his position on this list is unquestionable because he’s the only Spur who played for all five of the franchise’s championship squads. With two NBA MVP awards, three Finals MVP trophies, and a shared All-Star Game MVP title (with Shaquille O’Neal), Duncan is a 15-time All-Star, earning ten First-Team selections. He leads the franchise in significant statistical categories, making him the top player for the organization.
For a player who consistently appears in renowned top-ten lists of all time greats and occasionally finds themselves among the elite five, a rating of 98 seems fitting, since such players typically don’t receive a perfect score of 100.
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2024-09-30 15:38