At the start of each new NBA season, every team has one goal in mind: to win a championship. While we all understand that goal is not achievable for the majority of the league, there are always a handful of teams that can realistically hoist the Larry O’Brien at the season’s end.

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One of the first things games check after booting up NBA 2K23 will be the team and player ratings. Although 2K Games and Visual Concepts have improved on the ratings, there are still a few headscratchers. We’re going to break down which teams are the best to play with on the hardwood in NBA 2K23.

Updated June 18, 2023, by Avery Feyrer: The Denver Nuggets have defeated the Miami Heat and won the NBA Championship. Now that the season is over, we've updated this list with the end-of-season ratings. We've also added a few more teams that excelled near the end of the season as well.

21 Brooklyn Nets - 88

Mikal Bridges brooklyn nets nba 2k23

The Brooklyn Nets had lofty championship aspirations when they formed a trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. However, that dream came crashing down and now the team has none of them. Brooklyn traded Durant to the Suns for budding two-way star Mikal Bridges (87) and sharpshooter Cam Johnson (80), while shipping Irving off to Dallas for Spencer Dinwiddie (83) and Dorian Finney-Smith (77).

Since arriving in Brooklyn, Bridges embraced the new top spot on the team and led the Nets to the postseason. However, the Nets could not withstand the firepower of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Brooklyn will look to build around Bridges with a treasure trove of draft picks to use in a trade for a disgruntled star possibly.

20 Sacramento Kings - 89

De'Aaron Fox sacramento kings nba 2k23

After acquiring big man Domantas Sabonis (89), the Sacramento Kings emerged from the cellars of the NBA. Sabonis's athletic ability at the center position worked flawlessly with point guard De'Aaron Fox (89). Fox and Sabonis pushed the Kings to one of the best offenses in the league, along with stellar seasons from Malik Monk (80) and Kevin Huerter (81).

The Kings managed to secure the third seed in the Western Conference, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Unfortunately, Sacramento failed to dispose of the Golden State Warriors in the first round. But with Sabonis and Fox, the Kings are expected to remain among the top teams in the West.

19 Toronto Raptors - 90

pascal siakam dunking nba 2k23

Following the surprising NBA championship in 2019, the Toronto Raptors have fallen from relevancy. The team lost Kawhi Leonard to free agency after their title and haven’t returned to the NBA Finals, let alone the Eastern Conference Finals. The team still boasts high-profile players in Pascal Siakam (87), Fred VanVleet (83), Scottie Barnes (83), and OG Anunoby (82), but that could change soon.

VanVleet declined his player option for next season, making the playmaking point guard an unrestricted free agent. Toronto has also entertained trade calls regarding Siakam and Anunoby, as well as replaced head coach Nick Nurse with Darko Rajakovic. A new era for the Raptors appears to be developing, and they might be a completely different team next season.

18 Chicago Bulls - 90

DeMar DeRozan chicago bulls nba 2k23

It might be high time for the Chicago Bulls to break things up. After yet another season of subpar basketball, decisions must be made surrounding Zach LaVine (87), DeMar DeRozan (87), and Nikola Vucevic (84). Chicago's trio has yet to accomplish anything since joining forces, despite adding veteran talent in Alex Caruso (76), Andre Drummond (78), and Patrick Beverley (76).

A major factor in Chicago's lackluster season is the absence of Lonzo Ball (82). The star point guard was diagnosed with a knee injury that could threaten his whole career. Although they qualified for the play-in tournament, the Bulls are in no position to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.

17 Minnesota Timberwolves - 90

Anthony Edwards minnesota timberwolves nba 2k23

The Minnesota Timberwolves executed a franchise-altering trade for defensive center Rudy Gobert (84). They hoped Gobert's defensive strengths could pair well with the offensive capabilities of Karl-Anthony Towns (86). Minnesota reached the postseason but fell in the first round to the Denver Nuggets. Although the Timberwolves were knocked out rather quickly, star guard Anthony Edwards (86) announced himself to the basketball world by averaging 31.6 points per game in the series.

If the Timberwolves have any hope for success, it'll be the team coercing someone else to trade for Gobert. But in the likely hood they are forced to keep him, Minnesota should continue to surround Edwards with players like Naz Reid (80), Jaden McDaniels (79), and Kyle Anderson (78). And despite Towns believing he's changed the game, the big man disappeared in the series against Denver and might ultimately hold back this team from competing.

16 Atlanta Hawks - 90

trae young bringing the ball up the court nba 2k23

After a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals two seasons ago, the Atlanta Hawks thought they were on the cusp of contention. However, the team hasn’t managed to improve from that magical season and has fallen back into the bottom half of the Eastern Conference.

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The Hawks tried making a significant move during the offseason and traded for guard Dejounte Murray (84) but the pairing with him and Trae Young (89) has been rocky, to say the least. Atlanta managed to qualify for the play-in tournament and secured the seven-seed but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. The Hawks will continue to look for a trade this offseason to unload John Collins (80) and maybe even look to split up Murray and Young.

15 Dallas Mavericks - 91

luka doncic shooting free throw nba 2k23

Although the Dallas Mavericks managed to draft Luka Doncic (97), the team hasn’t seen much regular season and playoff success. Coming off their first major successful season in reaching the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks were poised to contend for a championship. That sentiment was only emphasized when the team acquired all-star Kyrie Irving (91) at the trade deadline.

However, the Mavericks simply crumbled from that point on and limped toward the end of the season. In one of the most epic regular season collapses Dallas went from being the fourth seed in the Western Conference at the time of the Irving trade to eleventh by the end of the season. Dallas hopes to retain Irving who is a free agent this offseason to remain competitive next season.

14 Oklahoma City Thunder - 91

shai gilgeous-alexander dunking nba 2k23

As the youngest team in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder have slowly inched toward respectability after drafting in the top ten for what seems like an eternity. The Thunder has been one of the best in the league when it comes to drafting and selecting effective players like Josh Giddey (84), Luguentz Dort (78), and Jalen Williams (82) in recent years.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (94) has established himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA and Oklahoma City finally achieved a new milestone this season by qualifying for the play-in tournament. Although they failed to reach the true postseason, the Thunder project to be even better next year when Chet Holmgren (77), the second overall pick from last year, returns from his Lisfranc injury.

13 Denver Nuggets - 91

jokic and murray running up the court

Despite winning the 2023 NBA championship, the Denver Nuggets surprisingly aren't as talented as other teams in NBA 2K23. For the past few seasons, the Nuggets have excelled in the regular season but failed to make noise in the playoffs. Most of the failed postseason trips are the direct result of injuries, though, as Denver finally won its first title with a healthy team. In the absence of Jamal Murray (84), Nikola Jokic (97) has established himself as one of the best players in the league, winning the MVP award in back-to-back seasons.

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Nikola Jokic (97) cemented one of the best NBA seasons in history with his first championship and Finals MVP award. Many in the basketball world debate if Jokic rightfully deserved the regular season MVP award over Joel Embiid based on how Denver and Philadelphia performed in the playoffs. Besides Jokic, Jamal Murray (84) and Michael Porter Jr. (83) have established themselves as solid contributors on offense. When you add in Aaron Gordon's (83) potential impact on both ends of the court, the Nuggets boast a strong starting lineup.

12 New Orleans Pelicans - 92

Zion Williamson new orleans pelicans nba 2k23

Many experts believed the New Orleans Pelicans were poised to take a major leap this season after pushing the Phoenix Suns to six games in the playoffs last year. Unfortunately, the Pelicans struggled with injuries throughout the season and were unable to establish connections among Zion Williamson (92), Brandon Ingram (87), and C.J. McCollum (84).

New Orleans did see growth in two of their younger role players Tre Murphy (80) and Herb Jones (77) but they need more from the top-end talent to contend. With Williamson's frequent health concerns, the Pelicans could look to trade the big man for some reliable players.

11 Portland Trail Blazers - 92

damian lillard shooting three pointer nba 2k23

When star players struggle to find success, they typically request trades or simply leave in free agency. The same cannot be said for Damian Lillard. Since 2012, Lillard has weathered the storm year after year, trying to will the Portland Trail Blazers to a championship. But no matter who suits up beside him, Lillard has only reached the Western Conference Finals one time in his career and never made it to the NBA Finals.

The 2023 NBA season ended in typical fashion for the Trail Blazers: missing the postseason. Lillard remains committed to the grind in Portland but the Trail Blazers have an interesting offseason. Besides Lillard, other prominent Portland players like Anfernee Simons (83), Jerami Grant (82), and Jusuf Nurkic (82) could all have new homes by next year.

10 Cleveland Cavaliers - 92

darius garland dribbling in NBA 2K23

After acquiring All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (92) from the Utah Jazz, the Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a level of success they hadn't reached since LeBron James's second stint with the team. They secured the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference but failed to beat the New York Knicks in the first round.

Mitchell and Darius Garland (87) are still exceptionally young, as well as other contributors in Evan Mobley (86) and Jarrett Allen (84). Cleveland could potentially trade one of Mobley or Allen to bolster other areas on the team but they can provide a highly prolific offense if their shots fall. The Cavaliers should remain among the top Eastern Conference teams for a while with their assortment of young players.

9 Miami Heat - 93

butler dribbling into the paint

Two years removed from reaching the NBA Finals during the bubble in Orlando, the Miami Heat unexpectedly returned to the NBA Finals as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are just the second eight-seed to reach the NBA Finals, joining the 1999 New York Knicks.

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Unfortunately, Miami's magical run came to a screeching halt against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Jimmy Butler's (93) hot shooting turned to ice and role players that excelled in the Eastern Conference Finals in Caleb Martin (76) and Max Strus (76) was non-existent against Denver. Bam Adebayo (87) remains a focal point for Miami on offense and defense, but the team might look to add more top talent in the offseason.

8 Philadelphia 76ers - 93

embiid in the post and harden waiting for the pass

For the past few seasons, Joel Embiid (97) has been a monster on offense and defense for the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2023, he finally accomplished a massive regular season goal by winning the MVP award. However, Philadephia's postseason woes continued as the team was ousted in the second round for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

The team elected to fire head coach Doc Rivers and hire former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse. While Nurse did win a championship with the Raptors in 2019, he's struggled in Toronto ever since. To make matters worse, rumors have circulated that James Harden (90) might be looking to change teams and Philadelphia will have to retool for next season.

The emergence of Tyrese Maxey (84) offers Philadelphia some flexibility in exploring potential Harden replacements and the team should remain in contention in the Eastern Conference.

7 Memphis Grizzlies - 94

morant dunking and desmond bane in the back

The Memphis Grizzlies have improved significantly over the past few seasons by simply drafting good players. Unlike other franchises that acquired superstar talent through trades, the Grizzlies were able to grow their own stars in Ja Morant (92), Jaren Jackson Jr. (87), and Desmond Bane (85). However, the recent off-the-court activity could prove costly for Memphis as Morant is staring down a possible suspension from the league.

Depending on the length of his suspension, the Grizzlies could look like a completely different team to start next season. They'll need to lean heavily on guys like Jackson Jr. and Bane, as well as try to extend the contract of point guard Tyus Jones (80). Losing Dillon Brooks (79) in free agency will prove to be an "addition by subtraction" move by the team and the team will hopefully grow from it positively.

6 Phoenix Suns - 94

Devin Booker phoenix suns nba 2k23

Following a gut-wrenching second-round exit to the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns were hoping to rectify past demons and return back to their championship-style performance. Led by NBA 2K23 cover athlete Devin Booker (92), the Suns were a good team but they were missing another superstar talent that former number one overall pick Deandre Ayton (84) simply was not reaching.

After the Suns were bought by mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia in February, his first major decision was acquiring superstar Kevin Durant (96) from the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, Durant only played a handful of games before injuring his ankle. He returned in time for the playoffs and the Suns managed to oust the LA Clippers in the first round but fell to the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Once again, the Suns will look to retool their roster this offseason and try to build a championship-caliber team with Booker and Durant at the center of it.

5 Los Angeles Clippers - 95

leonard shooting

Forever labeled the second team in Los Angeles, the Clippers are more than ready to emerge from the shadow of the Lakers. Unfortunately, the Clippers can't go very far when their star players in Kawhi Leonard (92) and Paul Geroge (89) continue to battle injuries near playoff time. George suffered a sprained knee before the end of the season that sidelined him throughout the entire first-round loss to the Phoenix Suns, then Leonard tore his meniscus during the series.

Head coach Ty Lue found value in veteran point guard Russell Westbrook (81) and center Mason Plumlee (80), who played huge minutes against the Suns. The Clippers have plenty of solid NBA players in Norman Powell (79), Ivica Zubac (81), and Terance Mann (77) but they won't contend for a championship without Leonard and George.

4 Boston Celtics - 95

jayson tatum running on offense

Following their loss in the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics performed exceptionally well in the regular season and secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference. After the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks fell in the first round, many were expecting the Celtics to take advantage and reach a consecutive NBA Finals.

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However, the Celtics quickly fell into a deep deficit against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum (95) and Jaylen Brown (90) tried to will Boston from the brink of elimination. Still, they suffered from inconsistent play out of their star players, as well as role players in Grant Williams (76), Marcus Smart (82), and Robert Williams III (83).

3 Golden State Warriors - 95

stephen curry shooting three pointer in NBA 2K23

One season removed from winning another championship, the Golden State Warriors fell back to the pack and finished with the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The defending champs managed to upset the upstart Sacramento Kings in the first round before falling to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite an early exit in the postseason, the Warriors actually performed better than some expected because of the long absence of Andrew Wiggins (82). He played an instrumental role in Golden State's title run in 2022 but missed a considerable amount of time for a personal matter.

But at the end of the day, the Warriors remain Stephen Curry's (96) team and even at the ripe age of 35, Curry is still one of the best players in the league. The future is unknown for the Warriors with tough decisions to make on aging stars Klay Thompson (86) and Draymond Green (83) but as long as the Warriors have Curry, they'll find a way to contend.

2 Los Angeles Lakers - 96

lebron james driving for layup

Lebron James (97) and the Los Angeles Lakers rebounded a season after missing the playoffs. Initially, the team began the season on a disastrous note but righted the ship at the trade deadline and clawed their way to the postseason. After failing to integrate Russell Westbrook, the Lakers swung a few trades to acquire new role players for James and Anthony Davis (94): D'Angelo Russell (83), Jarred Vanderbilt (80), Rui Hachimura (76), and Dennis Schroder (77).

By adding those role players, the Lakers spread the talent level a bit more evenly throughout their roster. Instead of being super top-heavy with James and Davis, Los Angeles could lean on the shoulders of younger guys like Hachimura and Austin Reaves (81) to allow their older stars to rest. It remains to be seen if the Lakers will retain any of these players or look to make one final splash in free agency before James retires.