LeBron James reacts to NBA 2K rating: ‘Ain’t so bad for an old head’

For just the second time in his 15-year career, LeBron James will grace the cover of this year’s edition of NBA 2K. However, this year’s copy will be especially popular, not because it’s NBA 2K’s 20th Anniversary, but because it’s the first game that will have James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gone are the days when people would have to enable trade override to get James on the Lakers, because he’ll be on the roster for at least the next three years, as strange as that still sounds.

On Tuesday, 2K released James’ rating and to no surprise, it’s one of the highest in the game, if not the highest. James posted a picture of his rating on Instagram and did one of his famous humble brags in the caption:

James has only been ranked lower than 90 in 2K twice in his career. His highest rating was a 99 in 2014, the first time he was the cover athlete. Shaquille O’Neal is the only player in 2K history to receive a 100 rating. This year’s rating is still a jump from last year, when James was a 97.

Unless the Lakers make a blockbuster trade for Steph Curry or James Harden before the start of the season, James will undoubtedly have the highest 2K rating amongst his teammates, many of whom are young enough to have grown up playing with James in video games. Again, this still feels surreal.

Unfortunately, James is one of the few players on the Lakers’ roster whose game translates well to a video game. The most fun teams to play with in 2K are the teams with elite shooters. Unless the team at 2K gives Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson generous shooting grades, your best bet is to turn off automatic substitutions and play James the full 48 minutes.

NBA 2K19 is set to hit the shelves on September 11. You can pre-order your own copy of the game today at participating retailers or at NBA2K.com.