Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving Should Be Rated Higher in NBA 2K14

Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA Today Sports Images

In case you didn’t know, Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is probably going to be the next big thing in the NBA. After just two seasons in the league and at just 21 years old, Irving already has many people, myself included, talking about his potential of becoming a superstar in the NBA and for good reason.

Irving played in 59 games last season and was absolutely phenomenal. He averaged 22.5 points, 5.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 34.7 minutes per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from long-range. Possibly the most impressive thing about his season last year is the fact that he put up the impressive numbers he did while playing with a young and mediocre-at-best supporting cast.

However, with the release of NBA 2K14 coming out and Operation Sports releasing the player ratings, the game developers seem to have missed just how good Irving is. He’s obviously the highest-rated player on the Cavs, but he’s rated as an overall 89.

In fairness, his rating makes him the 11^th best player on the game, which is obviously a sign of respect. However, my issue with it arises from two things, the first of which is that Rajon Rondo is rated as a 90 overall, one point higher than Irving. Rondo is a fantastic point guard who’s a better defender and passer than Irving, but he also doesn’t possess nearly the same scoring ability or athleticism that Irving does.

The biggest problem I have with Irving being an 89 on the game, though, is the fact that his grades in the different facets of the game and his overall rating don’t really add up to me. Irving is rated as a B- on inside shooting, an A- on outside shooting, an A- on perimeter defense, an A+ on ball-handling, and an A- on IQ. Sure, he’s an F and a D in post defense and rebounding, respectively, but he’s also a point guard so that makes sense. His other ratings read like a player that should be a little higher than an 89.

Perhaps this is 2K Sports slighting Irving for being on the cover of NBA Live, made by 2K’s competitor EA Sports, but that doesn’t change the fact that it seems wrong. I’m not saying that Irving needs to be a 99 overall like LeBron is, but an 89 feels like the game is definitely short-changing Irving’s skill-level.

Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.