2K21 – Syndication Server

Kevin Durant enters ‘first-of-its-kind’ partnership with NBA 2K

Months after taking part in NBA 2K’s Players-Only Tournament, Kevin Durant and the company have reached a unique agreement.

Kevin Durant may be a larger-than-life superstar, but the Brooklyn Nets forward enjoys playing NBA 2K just like many other basketball fans.

When the league went on hiatus early in the COVID-19 pandemic, several NBA players participated in an online 2K20 tournament — one of which was Durant. Unfortunately, the top-seeded Durant got knocked out in the first round of the tournament by then-Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr., who’s now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

It doesn’t appear that tough loss impacted Durant passion for the premier basketball video game, given the announcement his media company, The Boardroom, made on Monday.

Durant and NBA 2K have entered a long-term, ‘first-of-its-kind’ partnership agreement together.

The Nets forward will be featured on the cover of the mobile game and collaborate with 2K sports on game development.

Exclusive: @KDTrey5 & @NBA2K announce a first-of-its-kind partnership. What do you want to see from the KD & 2K collaboration? pic.twitter.com/rHBFy4SFmi

— The Boardroom (@boardroom) November 30, 2020

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving’s ratings take a hit in NBA 2K21

Kevin Durant hasn’t taken the floor yet for the Brooklyn Nets yet, but his 2K rating has somehow dipped.

Last season, Kevin Durant received a 96 rating in NBA 2K20, putting him among the league’s best on the sport’s top video game. No surprise, even though Durant was on the shelf — and remained there for the entire 2019-20 season — after undergoing surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles.

Apparently, the doubt surrounding Durant’s ability to bounce back from the injury was enough for him to take a hit in his NBA 2K21 ratings. Why else would the Brooklyn Nets forward have dropped down to a 95, as the people at NBA 2K revealed on Thursday?

Additionally, Kyrie Irving’s rating took a hit. He was a 91 at the start of the 2019-20 season and has dipped to a 90 ahead of 2020-21 — which is the same grade Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum received.

Kyrie and KD comin back strong #2KRatings pic.twitter.com/9CL6KuzxwH

— NBA 2K21 (@NBA2K) October 22, 2020

LeBron James (98) was revealed to have the highest rating on the game, with Giannis Antetokounmpo (97) right behind him. Steph Curry has the same grade as Durant, while James Harden (96) is a tick higher than his old Oklahoma City Thunder teammate.

Luka Doncic (94) and Jimmy Butler (93) are each rated higher than Irving now.

Spencer Dinwiddie takes slight jab at NBA 2K21 programmers

NBA 2K21 came out on Friday, and a few players had some opinions on their ratings and grades — including Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

[jwplayer UDQmnu1f-z6KDnl0B]

Spencer Dinwiddie was the NBA’s ultimate lob specialist in 2019-20.

That’s not an opinion, the numbers prove it. USA Today SMG’s Bryan Kalbrosky did the math back in July.

Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan connected on 46 lobs throughout the 2019-20 season, tying James Harden and Clint Capela’s production in Houston.

But the Brooklyn Nets guard doesn’t work exclusively with Jordan. Dinwiddie also connected with Jarrett Allen on 40 alley-oops in 2019-20.

LeBron James connected on 78 alley-oops with Anthony Davis (34), JaVale McGee (23) and Dwight Howard (21) combined, but Dinwiddie still beats him out with 84 successful lobs to Jordan and Allen.

Safe to say Dinwiddie is a good passer.

The NBA 2K21 programmers disagree, apparently.

Dinwiddie, who has an overall 83 rating on the game, wasn’t exactly satisfied with his passing grade in the new version of the hit basketball game (which dropped on Friday), tweeting in response to a complaint from New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart:

Hey listen, I’m not a good passer but I’m part of 2 out of 3 best lob duos in the league … it could be worse[.]

Hey listen, I’m not a good passer but I’m a part of 2 out of 3 best lob duos in the league 🤣…it could be worse https://t.co/LbflnGmrq5

— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) September 4, 2020

What each Nets player is rated on NBA 2K21

Kevin Durant is Brooklyn’s highest-rated player on 2K21. Which Nets big man was rated higher: Jarrett Allen or DeAndre Jordan?

[jwplayer kBav5MVx]

The 2020 NBA Playoffs aren’t done yet, but that didn’t slow down the people at 2K Sports, who released NBA 2K21 on Friday.

On the game, Brooklyn Nets fans can get a feel for the team that’s expected to take the floor under the franchise’s new head coach, Steve Nash, in 2020-21.

Naturally, Kevin Durant (96) has the highest rating on the roster, and Kyrie Irving is No. 2 with a 91.

After losing his starting job to DeAndre Jordan (80) before the hiatus, Jarrett Allen (81) finds himself ranked slightly higher than the veteran.

Here’s how 2K rated the rest of the Nets roster:

Caris LeVert – 83
Spencer Dinwiddie – 83
Joe Harris – 77
Jamal Crawford – 75
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot – 74
Garrett Temple – 74
Taurean Prince – 73
Nic Claxton – 73
Tyler Johnson – 72
Chris Chiozza – 72
Rodions Kurucs – 71
Dzanan Musa – 71
Justin Anderson – 71
Donta Hall – 70
Lance Thomas – 69
Jeremiah Martin – 67