NBA 2K16: Which players need stat boosts?

The 2014/15 NBA season will be remembered for a number of reasons, perhaps the most notable being the performances of some of the most talented players in a generation who have used this year as a chance to establish themselves as some of the biggest stars in the game. But the 2014/15 NBA season has not only been about impressive performances from the youngsters, with more than a couple of players written off at the start of the year producing remarkable returns to form and ensuring certain critics are forced to eat their words.

While the twists and turns of this season has been fascinating to NBA fans, sports game developers 2K Sports will have been closely monitoring all the different storylines throughout the league as they attempt to ensure the next instalment of the game is the best yet in the popular series. Whether it’s keeping track of a youngster drastically improving throughout the season or the decline of some of the NBA’s elder statesmen, 2K Sports know that their player stats will be the most judged aspects of the next instalment of the game, even more so than those inevitable glitches that can make the game frustrating/hilarious.

The game’s developers have certainly been given a helping hand by the amount of players who have enjoyed breakout seasons this year, and fans of the NBA 2K series will be looking forward to taking control of some of this season’s best young players in the new game. It will also be interesting to see just how improved the stats are for those players currently experiencing something of a career resurgence in 2015, especially some of those older players many had claimed were on the slide.

As ever, rumours have already started regarding the next game, from the cover stars to the stats to the improvements, and there are some areas in which fans will be hoping 2K have improved. Previous instalments of the game have been criticised for low-rated players being able to perform much better than their stats suggest, and the next in the series is expected to fix this and ensure for more realistic gameplay in which players reflect their real-life ability.

While plenty of aspects of the game will come in for scrutiny upon the release, it will be the player stats which will be the most judged area of NBA 2K16 as it was for the most recent in the series. Here are some players who should see their overall rating significantly improve by the time the new game comes out.

• Lou Williams (Toronto Raptors): As well as the difference in stats next season, it will be interesting to see which team’s jersey Williams will be wearing in NBA 2K16 as the 28-year-old prepares to enter the free agency. And it’s unlikely Williams will be short of options on the back of a season in which his remarkable impact from the bench saw him walk away with the Sixth Man of the Year award. While the combo guard was unable to stop the Raptors’ postseason ending in the first round at the hands of Washington, Williams can look back on a career-high average of 15.5 points per game that is made even more impressive considering the fact the former second round draft pick has been coming into the action from the bench. With a modest overall rating of 77 in NBA 2K15, Williams will rightfully be hoping his 2K16 rating breaks into the mid-80s on the back of this season.

• Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs): After an MVP-winning display in the 2014 NBA Finals, Leonard was one of the best players on the NBA 2K15 game. While this season has been drastically different for San Antonio, losing a seven-game thriller to the Clippers in the first round of the play-offs, Leonard has only further established himself as one of the best defensive stars in the NBA, leading the league in steals and claiming the Defensive Player of the Year award. So while Leonard is a great player to have on your side in the current game with an overall rating of 85, the Spurs youngster could well be one of the real standout stars of NBA 2K16 and one of the most popular picks when his stats are improved.

• Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder): The Thunder really needed their influential point guard to step up this season following Kevin Durant’s injury, and Russell Westbrook almost single-handily dragged a severely depleted Oklahoma side into the play-offs despite many fans writing them off due to the absence of the 2014 MVP. One of the rare examples of players who can genuinely claim to be as quick as his NBA 2K character, you won’t find many who would argue if Westbrook’s overall rating receives another boost by the time 2K16 comes out. As for the Thunder, they will be desperate to get back into the play-offs despite the news that Durant has suffered a new setback in his return from the foot injury, although Westbrook will again be in the NBA MVP betting running if he can repeat his 2014/15 form next season.

• Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans): We continue to wait for Anthony Davis to show he is human but the Pelicans star looks as though he is getting better and better. Already a standout centre in NBA 2K15, for his life-like unibrow as well as his realistic game-winning ability, Davis’ overall rating of 88 when the last game was released is expected to now be well into the 90s for 2K16. After almost single-handily guiding the Pelicans into the playoffs, the former number-one overall pick finished sixth in the NBA MVP award and proved once and for all that Davis is something special. Despite his side losing 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs, Davis finished the four-game first round series against the Warriors with an average of 31.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

• Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors): If we’re talking about players who can expect to receive a boost in ratings then you have to think that Curry is going to be up there, especially considering his recent MVP status. If the developers get it right, they are going to have Curry as one of the best players in the next game. He is someone capable of finding the basket at any range and from seemingly any angle. There has been more than one occasion this season in which Curry has looked as though he has been playing a different game to his opponents, turning the Warriors from a modest team into one contending for the championship. And let’s be honest, Curry is one of the few reasons NBA 2K16 players would be choosing to play with the Warriors.

• James Harden (Houston Rockets): Ever since establishing himself as a starter, Harden has established himself as one of if not the best offensive player in the NBA. The Rockets star’s stats probably deserves a significant boost by the time 2K16 is released after fabulous season in which he has averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, finishing second to Golden State’s Steph Curry in the race to be named the NBA’s MVP. His much criticised defensive game has improved this season, and the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year is looking back on a season in which he recorded career-high figures in all aspects of his game. From his instantly recognisable beard to his pinpoint shooting, Harden could be one of the faces of NBA 2K16 and one of the most popular players on the game.