Desmond Bane: Way too low
2K25 Rating: 83
Desmond Bane may not be a star from the technical sense of the word, but he dang sure has played like one throughout his four-year professional career, especially over his last three while serving as the team's primary backcourt running mate adjacent to superstar Ja Morant.
Since 2021-22, the 26-year-old has manned the starting two-guard position for this Grizzlies team that has seen two 50-plus win seasons, two consecutive second-seed finishes in the Western Conference standings, and helped guide the franchise to their fourth-ever semifinals berth while posting 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals on 41.2 percent shooting from deep throughout.
Yet, despite these averages and accomplishments, Bane's 83 2K25 rating hovers in the same range as several inferior players from a talent and/ or accolades standpoint.
Examples of such players within his vicinity include, though are not limited to Deandre Ayton, Kyle Kuzma, and Zach LaVine, all of whom (especially LaVine) have proven to be impressive ballers in the association, but could easily be argued as lesser than Bane (especially Ayton and Kuzma) from an overall play standpoint.
On top of this, despite being a well-established two-way centerpiece on a legitimate contending team (at least, when healthy), his rating is a mere one or two points higher than literal role players in Isaiah Hartenstein (81), D'Angelo Russell (81), and Austin Reaves (81).
Make it make sense, 2K!