The NBA 2k19 ratings have started to come out. Tobias Harris of the Los Angeles Clippers who only got an 82 deserves better.
NBA 2k19 releases on September 11 (or the 7th for those that got the $100 edition), so ratings have slowly been dropping. After the starting five ratings for the Los Angeles Clippers leaked out earlier this week, I noticed something. Tobias Harris didn’t get the rating he deserved.
Heads up: I’ll completely sound like a homer throughout this, but at least keep an open mind. Also worth noting is that I’m not saying other players should have their ratings dropped. The guys I will talk about are great players and are more than deserving of the ratings 2k handed out. Rather, I am just advocating that Harris’ rating be increased.
The Stats
We can start here and look at Tobias’ stats. For the 2017-18 NBA season, he put up 18.6 points per game on 46% shooting, knocked down 41.1% of his 5.6 three point attempts per game, grabbed 5.5 rebounds and dished out 2.4 assists.
With the Clippers, his stats were slightly better despite moving to a better conference and joining a playoff contender.
In LA, he averaged 19.3 points on 47.3% shooting (41.4% from deep), 6.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Granted, this was in about 1.9 more minutes per game.
So, how does he stack up against other guys ratings?
Tobias Harris vs. Jayson Tatum
Let’s start with Jayson Tatum.
Take a look at this infographic regarding the two players’ stats last season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnFUWS1lao-/?taken-by=tobiasfanpage34
Statistically, Harris was the better player last season. There’s no arguing against that. What’s the famous saying? Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don’t.
There is an argument to be made in Tatum’s favor though. Tatum is younger (20 years old to Harris’ 26.) He also played in the playoffs and had several excellent performances. Getting an 87 based on his high ceiling is completely understandable.
So, if potential is a factor, why doesn’t Tobias get any ratings boost based around it? Harris may be 26, but in NBA terms he is just barely entering his peak. There is still room for his game to grow.
Nonetheless, the five point gap is huge, especially in 2k rating terms. Tatum is right in line with players like Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert while Harris is stuck alongside D’Angelo Russell.
Who’s better?
Take a look at these Tobias versus this mystery player.
- Tobias Harris:
- 33.4 MPG, 18.6 PPG, .46 FG%, .414 3P%, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 AST, 1.2 TOV
- Mystery Player:
- 34.0 MPG, 21.4 PPG, .43.8 FG%, .345 3P%, 7.4 RPG, 5.8 AST, 2.4 TOV
- Tobias Harris:
- 34.5 MPG, 19.3 PPG, .473 FG%, .414 3P%, 6.0 RPG, 3.1 AST, 2.3 TOV
- Mystery Player:
- 33.2 MPG, 19.8 PPG, .433 FG%, .348 3P%, 6.6 RPG, 6.2 AST, 2.6 TOV
Seems a lot more similar now, huh? If you didn’t realize it yet, the Mystery Player is Blake Griffin, who the Clippers traded to acquire Harris.
Blake is rated as an 86 OVR on NBA 2k19. As a big Blake Griffin stan, I’m completely fine with this rating. Like I said earlier, I’m not trying to tear other guys down, just bring Tobias Harris’ ranking up.
On the whole last season, Blake was better. After the trade? Harris and Griffin both had very similar stats. Blake still edged out him out slightly, but it’s almost negligible.
Bump him up
So if you argument is that Tobias doesn’t have the potential of Tatum, you are partially right. If you argue that he didn’t’ have the same production has Griffin, you’d also be partially right.
However, being right about those comments and Tobias not getting a ratings bump are not mutually exclusive. Harris should be able to get a rating right around 84 OVR. It’s not a huge boost, but it puts him in line with other borderline star players like Steven Adams, Goran Dragic, Clint Capela and Jaylen Brown.
In the grand scheme of things, none of this really matters. It’s only a video game right? Tobias even acknowledged that none of it is real. So why did I sit here and put all these words down if no one cares? It’s about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (Rest in peace Aretha!)
The Clippers had finally started to gain some semblance of respect, but now with the team moving in a new direction, they risk losing it again. Couple that with the recent addition of LeBron James to the Lakers and the Clippers risk becoming an afterthought yet again.
I know this platform is not much, but let’s fight for respect that is deserved.
Do the right thing 2k. Change the rating.
They are comparable, right? Mystery Player is slightly better across the board, but it’s not by a huge margin. Now, what if I told you that Mystery Player is close to thirty years old and has likely peaked. Still can’t figure it out? Let’s look at their numbers in the latter half of the season.