Whether you are a video game junkie or not, you have probably heard of the NBA 2K series. In the game, the developers attempt to rank each player in the NBA by an overall rating. Attempt may be an overstatement.
This year, the people at 2K gave us a disgusting excuse for ranking. Our newest Spurs star and former All-NBA member was grossly disrespected by the game and given a rating of 85. While on paper that doesn't sound so terrible, when you see who Fox is sharing a rating with you will start to believe me.
De'Aaron Fox is the same overall as who?
You won't believe me when I say that Austin Reaves and Kristaps Porzingis share the same overall as De'Aaron. This has got to be a joke. right? No disrespect to these players, but there is no way that a former All-NBA player has the same rating as two players yet to sniff an All-Star appearance.
Fox has done so much in his career, even carrying an entire franchise and city on his back. At the height of his career, the Swipa won the NBA's inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award and was killing teams left and right. He single-handedly revived the city of Sacramento, leading them to the 3rd seed in the Western Conference. This is the guy who shares a rating with Austin Reaves? Ridiculous.
Most importantly, Fox is a bona fide 2nd scoring option and has shown to be a viable first option. Unlike Reaves and Porzingis, the crafty scorer can be your team's best offensive threat and someone to trust on a playoff-caliber team. The others are simply great role players who could never withstand a full scoring load.
Adding to this point, the Celtics' prime role player, Derrick White, was granted a higher overall rating than the Spurs' star. For many of the same reasons, this is absolutely bonkers. There is no reason that a top 10 point guard and a player who has been the key cog of great offenses should be the same or lower overall than players who couldn't dream of doing so.
To cap off the insanity, on NBA 2K's player rating database, Fox is ranked as the 48th-best player in the NBA. This is not ok.
The disrespect towards Fox after one short, injury-riddled stint with the Spurs last season needs to stop. After the motivated guard comes out swinging next season, 2K will realize how foolish they looked for putting him so low. There is no doubt in my mind that Fox will shatter this ranking in no time. Do better, 2K.