With the 2019 NBA season over, that means that a new installment in the NBA 2K series is right around the corner. Every year the game sees a number of players go up in ratings due to their performance in the previous year, but what players earned the overall upgrade the most from last season? Whether they were playoff performers or emerging superstars, there's a case to be made for a number of breakout players, but the list must be cut down to 10. Let's look at 10 players who earned a rating boost for NBA 2K20.
10 Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose has had one of the most interesting careers the NBA has ever seen. The man reached the individual mountaintop with the Chicago Bulls when he won MVP. Tragedy then struck as Rose, a player primed for a Hall of Fame career, saw injuries to his knees take away what he worked so hard for. Despite many rough years and playing for a couple of new teams, Rose managed to partially return to form with the Minnesota Timberwolves and managed to have a career-high 50 points that earned him the NBA Moment of the Year. At the end of the day, he at least received a spirit boost.
9 Jamal Murray
Though most of the praise for the Denver Nuggets performance during the 2019 NBA season will fall on the shoulders of center Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray played a key role in turning the Nuggets into a real threat in the Western Conference.
Murray is an example of a player who sees constant improvement over years as opposed to the explosion of numbers out of nowhere. His numbers on their own may not seem impressive but they're improving year over year and his evolution as a leader makes the Nuggets a better team.
8 Fred VanFleet
After Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals came to a close there was a valid argument to be had for Fred VanFleet earning the Finals MVP. Though Kawhi Leonard was the focal point of the Golden State Warriors, VanFleet managed to be the most consistent out of all of his teammates. VanFleet also showed a willingness to guard Steph Curry in a way that hampered consistency with Curry's output on the offensive end. Even if it's just to his defensive ratings, Fred VanFleet earned himself a championship, as well as a higher number next to his name in NBA 2K20.
7 Buddy Hield
On top of averaging 20 points per game for a rebuilding Sacramento Kings franchise, Buddy Hield also managed to land in elite company with his 3-pt shooting during the 2019 NBA season. Hield managed to place in the Top 10 when it came to 3-pt shooting percentage and landed just behind James Harden, Steph Curry, and Paul George when it came to 3-pt field goal makes. Hield may not be a household name but by averaging 20 points per game and continuing his elite 3-pt shooting performance he may be the next great NBA sharpshooter.
6 De'Aaron Fox
Playing for the Sacramento Kings is tough when you're trying to get noticed and prove you're a special player in the NBA. De'Aaron Fox was a finalist for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award and it's obvious why when you take a quick glance at his improved stats from the 2019 season.
Fox managed to increase his points per game from 11 to 17 and almost doubled his assists per game from 4.4 to 7.4. He's a young emerging star for a franchise in need of a face. De'Aaron Fox may not be a superstar yet, but his improvement is evident.
5 Luka Doncic
As the Rookie of the Year winner for the 2019 NBA season, Luka Doncic is now in the forefront of even casual NBA fans. The Slovenian phenom has managed to take over as the European general for a team that saw the departure of future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Doncic manages to play with a cool and collected demeanor that has allowed him to surprise teams with his smooth jump shot and willingness to elevate his teammates. We often see the superstar jump happen in year 2 or 3, but Doncic's rookie outing definitely earned him an upgrade.
4 Mike Conley
Mike Conley quietly had his best season in the NBA in 2019 and no one noticed. The veteran point guard managed to average 21 points per game in addition to 6 assists and 3 rebounds. The Utah Jazz recently completed a blockbuster trade to pair Mike Conley with their emerging star, Donovan Mitchell. Playing in Memphis has cast a shadow on how brilliant Conley's been in recent years, but the move to Salt Lake City by pay off big in next year's wide-open race for the title. For a stellar season and a commitment to Memphis give Conley the rating increase he earned.
3 Pascal Siakam
When a player wins the Most Improved Player award it's hard to argue why they shouldn't see ratings boost in the following video game based on that professional sport. Pascal Siakam emerged as a possible second star next to Kawhi Leonard, and despite his lack of consistency, he managed to make a huge impact in the regular and post-season.
Siakam has seemingly put the entire country of Cameroon on his back in hopes of inspiring the next generation of basketball players.
2 D'Angelo Russell
Remember when the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson chose Nick Young over D'Angelo Russell? The Lakers front office felt that Russell had a negative impact on the Lakers as a team and his immaturity would ruin their chemistry. Well, during the 2019 NBA season Russell blossomed into what scouts and general managers believed he could become, an All-Star point guard. He was a crucial part in the Brooklyn Nets making the playoffs and causing some trouble. We may not know what roster he'll be on in NBA 2K20 yet, but that doesn't mean he didn't earn a few overall points.
1 Kawhi Leonard
It's hard to argue that Kawhi Leonard didn't earn a rating bump given his 2nd Finals MVP win that went along with bringing the Toronto Raptors their first NBA Championship in franchise history. With LeBron James suffering an injury midseason and Kevin Durant, unfortunately, tearing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, it's hard to make a case for Kawhi not having the #1 or #2 best overall in next year's installment. If 2K is being fair, however, he'll have some flaws with both his stamina and injury ratings seeing as he didn't play over 20 games in 2019 and seemed to break down towards the end of the Finals.