September 11th marks the release date for NBA 2K19, the latest instalment in the hugely popular and game-changing NBA game series, and 2K officials are spending the weeks leading up to that date, as they tend to do, drip-feeding player ratings out to the public, much to gamers -and, as it turns out – NBA players chagrin.
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Among the latest players to cop their in-game rating this year is our very own NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons, whose rating of 87 overall was unveiled earlier today.
https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1020096424925585408
That rating, as it turns out, is exactly on-par with Simmons’ other Rookie of the Year nominees, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell.
Despite being a mere 13 off the fabled 100, Simmons didn’t take too kindly to the news, with old mate mounting a very playful case for a higher grade.
2K posted a video of Simmons smiling through gritted teeth after learning of his rating, in a short clip that puts his burgeoning American accent on full display.
Our Australian cover athlete @BenSimmons25 wasn’t thrilled with his 87 rating in #NBA2K19 Watch his reaction to finding out 😂 pic.twitter.com/cORpPP5yOp
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 20, 2018
As a fun little bonus, there’s added behind-the-scenes footage of Simmons doing a little angry walk after being dished out the 87.
So, I’m not in a position to reveal Ben Simmons’ NBA 2K19 player rating, but I was in the room when it was announced yesterday.
Here’s Ben’s off-camera reaction 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WJS64G3CPT
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 17, 2018
And after all that was said and done, he fired off a warning to 2K developers on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BenSimmons25/status/1020121488278503424
Run. Hide. Benny’s comin’.
For reference, other player ratings revealed thus far include Kawhi Leonard, who cops a 94, DeMar DeRozan, with an 89, and the great LeBron James himself, who even at age 33 is shouldering a lofty, near-perfect score of 98 overall.
https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1018888088532029446
But hey, despite a record-breaking award-winning NBA rookie season, our lad can’t have everything.
Work to do, young man. Plenty of work still left to do.
NBA 2K19 is out on all the major gaming platforms come September 11th.