NBA 2K25 Official Roster/Ratings Analysis Thread (Yearlong)

[Real2KInsider]

I think a singular Roster thread can be beneficial to discuss what's going on around the NBA and focus down areas of the roster year-round (rather than focusing on only the update posts).

Some Opening Night Notes-

CELTICS
-All of 8 of Jayson Tatum's 3PT vs NYK were off the dribble. Keep an eye on that. Boston looks poised to repeat with their offense looking like a buzzsaw again, Porzingis not necessary.

KNICKS
-Miles McBride is a SG this year (Payne the backup PG).
-Josh Hart at present appears to be a SG/PF (a rare distinction I'd levy to Caleb Martin and a few others), based on sub patterns. Miles subs in for OG, and then OG subs back in for Hart.
-You could make case for Mikal Bridges as SG, but he was in a sub pattern w/ SF Pacome Dadiet

LAKERS
-AD was by far the best player on both ends in the LAL/MIN game. He seems poised to take over the Lakers. Spent some time at PF as well (took 3 threes)
-LeBron is playing SF again (w/ Rui at PF). He was in sub patterns w/ wings all night. Could be trending towards a reduced role in his Age 40 season.
-Bronny was at PG in his 3 mins (though obviously his father ran the offense during that time, hardly atypical for other PGs he's played with). Wouldn't anticipate Bronny getting many more minutes now that history is out of the way.

WOLVES
-DiVincenzo spent a lot of time at "PG" with Conley struggling. Keep an eye on that w/ Conley in his Age 37 season.
-Ingles played 7 mins but probably not in the rotation (McDaniels 5 fouls in 16 mins)
-Reid split time at PF/C backing up Randle and Gobert.

PACERS
-Jarace Walker playing SF now to get around Siakam/Toppin.

PISTONS 109
-Cade (28 pts) could be ready for the star leap.
-DNP-CD for Paul Reed (7M non-guaranteed)

CAVS
-Dean Wade started > both LeVert & Okoro w/ Strus out.

RAPTORS
-Agbaji starting for Barrett. Bruce Brown also out. Trending towards worst team in East.

BUCKS
-30 pts for Dame in opener is a good sign.
-Taurean Prince (16 pts, 4 threes) is probably the starter most of the season as Middleton can't stay healthy.

HAWKS
-Okongwu w/ career game (28 pts, 11-12 FG) off bench vs hapless Nets. Probably trending towards starting Center + Capela trade (expiring contract).
-Dyson Daniels starting SG
-Vit Krecji is the backup PG (Bufkin shoulder injury)

NETS
-Cam Thomas (36 pts) in line for a big bump just by virtue of him being the only scorer on the team
-Simmons started at Center, Claxton off bench coming back from injury

MAGIC
-Banchero (33 pts, 4 threes) and Franz (26 pts, 23 mins) could be poised for a leap and should be monitored early.
-Anthony Black, backup SF

HEAT
-Bam (0-2 3PT) likely trying to add this to his game.
-Jimmy (3 pts, 1-8 FG) should be monitored (Age etc, could be trade candidate)
-Jaquez (13 pts, 19 mins off bench) is Jimmy's eventual replacement and any leap could expedite that process.

HORNETS
-LaMelo (34-8-11, 10-20 FG, 10-10 FT) had a huge night, looks poised for big year after injury plagued seasons.
-Cody Martin Starting SG
-Miller left early w/ hip soreness (Mann 28 pts off bench to fill void)

ROCKETS
-VanVleet/Green combine for 13-41 FG
-Sheppard was quiet off bench, probably not a ROY contender. Maybe 2026 MIP contender once VanVleet is out of the way.

PELICANS
-Zion DNP, Herb Jones PF start
-Murray broke his hand, probably out awhile (Assume CJ is the starting PG moving forward). As always w/ the Pels, we never get to see team at full strength.
-Missi 12 pts, 7 rebs, appears to be backup Center

BULLS
-LaVine (27 pts, 5 threes) appears to be recovered from last season's issues.
-Giddey + Lonzo = PGs
-White + Ayo = SGs
-LaVine + THT = SFs
-Williams + Phillips + Buzelis = PFs

GRIZZLIES
-Morant (22-5-10) big in return
-Aldama (27 pts, 10-16 FG, 5-10 3PT) probably his career night filling in for JJJ
-Edey starting C but 6 fouls in 15 mins
-Jay Huff 13 pts (3-5 3PT) filling in for Edey (how he doesn't have standard contract yet is incredible, he's on par w/ Luke Kornet)

JAZZ
-Lauri (35 pts) par for the course
-George shot poorly (3-18 FG) but had 7 asts at least
-Kessler 16/14 + 5 blks could bounce back to future Gobert trajectory

SUNS
-Big 3 were healthy at same time. No notes. I really liked their offseason, could be West favorites.
-Dunn is KD's backup, Royce is Beal's

CLIPPERS
-Harden's Usage has taken a backseat w/ Sixers and Clippers but w/ George gone and Kawhi out that will ramp up again.
-Powell starting SG (Mann at SF, even w/ Kawhi out).
-KPJ's NBA return was miserable (1-8 FG, 2 TOs, 13 mins). Appears to be Powell's backup at SG

WARRIORS
-Wiggins starting SG (didn't see that coming). Kuminga SF, Green PF, Trace C
-Reserves: Melton (PG), Podz (SG), Hield (SF), Payton (PF), Looney (C)
-Anderson (PF) and Moody (SF) played over Payton/Hield in 2nd half (though worth noting it was 35-point blowout vs POR).

BLAZERS
-Scoot off the bench (Simons starting PG), I must have missed this in pre-season.
-Toumani Camara starting SG? (Sharpe + Thybulle are both out). Hey if Josh Hart can do SG/PF...

[XxKnicksRules215xX]

are you doing a roster this year?

[Real2KInsider]

10/24 Notes

CELTICS
-Horford appears to be 95% Center at least while Porzingis is out (handful of mins next to Kornet in opener)
-Tillman the backup 4

WIZARDS
-Sarr starting Center (2 pts, 1-7 FG, 0-5 3PT) w/ Valanciunas (18 pts, 8-13 FG) off the bench? Certainly a choice.
-Carrington starting PG (rather than Poole). Had 3 pts, 2 asts (26 mins) in rather impossible matchup vs Jrue/White.
-Poole 26 pts (6-11 3PT) a good sign after last season's nightmare.
-Coulibaly career high 6 assists

MAVS
-Klay starting SF (22 pts, 6-10 3PT)
-Bench: Hardy (PG), Grimes (SG), Naji (SF), Maxi (PF), Lively (C)
-Dinwiddie (3 mins) not in rotation

SPURS
-Stephon Castle (8 pts, 5 asts, 18 mins) was Sochan's backup at PF. The league isn't going "positionless" - it is using guards at positions that match their skillsets (Josh Hart, Gary Payton II, Caleb Martin, etc).

-Julian Champagnie (18 pts, 4-8 3PT) started at SG. Maybe due to the Luka matchup. Not the greatest endorsement of Malaki Branham.

-Keldon Johnson was the backup SG (a player who was also arguably a 4 last year)

R2K Positions
PG: Paul, Jones, Wesley
SG: Vassell (INJ), Keldon, Branham
SF: Barnes, Champagnie, Cissoko
PF: Sochan, Castle, Mamu
C: Wemby, Collins, Bassey

WOLVES
-Edwards/Randle combine for 65 points. Randle's 13-17 FG, 5-6 3PT among his most efficient games
-Naz Reid: 19 pts, 13 rebs, 4 threes. Western Conference Bobby Portis
-Conley through 2 games: 3-16 FG, 2-12 3PT

KINGS
-Huerter (2 pts, 1-4 FG) starting SG after being out all preseason was a surprise. Probably contributed to Edwards going off. Huge downer for Keon Ellis.
-Monk is backup PG (particularly w/ Carter injury; McLaughlin not in rotation)
-Fox had 11 assists. DeRozan 2 asts, Sabonis 1. Monitor who the offense is going through this year.
-Sabonis (3-4 3PT). This was his first Kings game in 2.5 seasons with more than two 3PT. Keep an eye on that.

THUNDER
-Chet was big (25 pts, 14 rebs, 5 asts, 4 blks, 2 stls)
-Joe starting SG > Caruso

NUGGETS
-Jokic (16-12-13) triple doubled in a loss; not the last time those words will be said this year.
-Nuggets shot 7-38 (18%) from 3PT. Westbrook 1-6. Watson 0-4. Braun 0-3. IDGAF that KCP went 0-5 in his Magic debut.

PACERS
-Wiseman tore Achilles, out for year. Contract was partially guaranteed but essentially fully guaranteed now due to his injury. Injury leaves Pacers thin at the 5.
A few options include:
-Sign a 15th man (without checking finances, IND would probably prefer not to this early due to tax considerations). Someone like Bismack Biyombo could make sense. Thaddeus Young spent 3 years w/ IND.
-Waive one of the Two-Ways and bring in a low-end body.
-Salary dump Wiseman via trade after Dec 15th.

Quote: Originally Posted by XxKnicksRules215xX

are you doing a roster this year?

Yes, but can't afford to prioritize the content creation / promotion aspects of it at the moment.

[Johnnythelegend]

Westbrook -24, worst of any Denver player, he's really bad. I don't know why they signed him.

[Real2KInsider]

Quote: Originally Posted by Johnnythelegend

Westbrook -24, worst of any Denver player, he's really bad. I don't know why they signed him.

DEN always has some interesting +/- numbers because Malone goes to full-bench lineups.

Jamal Murray is playing NEXT to Westbrook at SG on the 2nd unit. Which is more or less a result of the team not having any shooting. Given Murray's injury history, can't really expect him to play 38 MPG for the entire season (this is also why they brought Westbrook in).

It's easy to point to a lightning rod like Russ as a figure for the Nuggets' decline from champions, but it's 100% on ownership for cheaping out and not being willing to pay the tax when they won't have another generational player like Jokic for another 50-100 years.

[Rori Daed]

I just noticed this in the official roster. Pretty crazy oversight


Image not working... Isaiah Hartenstein's Interior Defense is only a 43, lol

[Real2KInsider]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rori Daed

I just noticed this in the official roster. Pretty crazy oversight Image not working... Isaiah Hartenstein's Interior Defense is only a 43, lol

Woah. He was 60 at start of 2K24. If I had to guess, they meant to bump it to 73 and missed the key.

(Making the change in my roster).

[Reddcheese]

This is a great thread.

Maxey stinking it up to start the year. I’m sure he’s great (look at his playoff #) but interesting to watch him struggle as the only option.

Warriors might be back. Hield playing better than prime Klay rn but everything feels sustainable. On a tangential note Wolves really gonna miss Kyle Anderson’s calm head.