8 biggest takeaways from the NBA 2K All-Time Teams
The All-Time Teams for the latest edition of the NBA 2K video game series were announced Thursday, with fans learning for the first time which icons made their teams - and who was ultimately snubbed.
Here are the eight biggest surprises from the roster release:
MJ, Magic, Kareem, LeBron all rated 99 overall
Only four players emerged with maximum ratings of 99.
Those players include the Bulls' Michael Jordan, the Lakers' Magic Johnson, the Bucks' version of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - the Lakers' version of Kareem has a rating of 96 - and both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat versions of LeBron James.
Don't tell Kobe Bryant, but he's listed at 98 overall.
No Chuck or Reggie
Had he allowed his image to be used in the game, Charles Barkley arguably would have merited inclusion on the Sixers, Suns, and Rockets All-Time Teams. Barkley and Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miller stand out as the biggest names missing from the game.
Wait … Darius Miles? Really?
As one of the biggest busts of the last 20 years, Miles' inclusion on the Clippers' All-Time roster is more than puzzling. The former No. 3 pick averaged just 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds during his two seasons with Los Angeles, while playing on teams that won just 31 and 39 games, respectively.
The mid-2000s Wizards never happened
Fans of the Washington Wizards are in for some disappointment; Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison are all absent. The trio combined for seven All-Star appearances during their Wizards tenures and arguably merit inclusion over four-year vet Otto Porter.
At the very least, fans can still have some fun by filling out the Wizards' frontcourt with a pair of literal giants. Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol both stood 7-foot-7, making them the tallest players to ever play in the NBA.
What's with all the youngsters?
The future is bright for the likes of Aaron Gordon, Joel Embiid, and Zach LaVine, but none of them have accomplished enough in their young careers to deserve a spot on their respective team's All-Time roster.
Gordon averaged double digits in scoring for the first time last season, Embiid has played just 31 career games, and LaVine posted a real plus-minus of minus-2.97 in 2016-17.
The Raptors would rather forget about Bargnani
Lou Williams may have taken home Sixth Man of the Year honors with Toronto, but his inclusion on the Raptors' All-Time roster is surprising considering he played just one season north of the border.
While the Raptors' fan base eventually soured on Bargnani, "Il Mago" ranks as one of the top players in team history, finishing fourth all-time in points, sixth in rebounds, and sixth in blocks.
Things get weird in the Pacific northwest
Though not the first names you think of in Blazers, Jazz, and Supersonics lore, it's really odd that Brandon Roy, Carlos Boozer, and Rashard Lewis were left off their respective teams.
Roy's career was truncated by injury, but he was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and a legitimate All-Star for the Blazers. Boozer averaged 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across six seasons for the Jazz. Lewis scored over 10,000 points for the Sonics, helping bridge the gap between the Gary Payton and Ray Allen eras.
The Hornets-Bobcats lineup is pitiful
As one of the newer teams in the Association, the Hornets/Bobcats franchise served as the lone team to have zero players with a rating of 90 or higher on their roster.
Charlotte's squad is so poor that it features the little-known Kenny Gattison - a 6-foot-8 power forward that averaged just 8.4 points and five rebounds over his six seasons with the Hornets.
(All photos courtesy: Action Images)