It’s almost time for another week of NBA 2K League action, and you know what that means: power rankings. In an attempt to make everyone angry sort through what should be a competitive season, we’ll be ranking each team based on a number of factors: results, quality of play, strength of schedule and so on. Results aren’t everything, otherwise we’d just copy and paste the league standings into here.
These are a composite ranking of our three writers’ own rankings, aggregated into one. Let’s get to it.
21. Grizz Gaming, (0-3 regular season record, 0-5 overall record), last week: 21
Unlike DDouble’s all-time football drop, the Grizz haven’t fallen too far in these power rankings, since the league’s lone winless team hasn’t had anywhere further to fall to. This team is more talented than the bottom spot, though.
20. Wizards District Gaming, (0-3, 1-4), LW: 20
The Wizards have struggled to get up to speed, as the league’s lone in-market player hosts currently share the league basement. Dayfri’s good enough to get this team a few wins, but when will those come?
19. Lakers Gaming, (1-4, 2-5), LW: 18
The Lakeshow hasn’t had the best return at the box office so far, but the team remains confident despite sitting just 1-4 on the year. Most of that optimism revolves around rookie SF Kev, who’s been terrific—1-11 performance aside.
18. T-Wolves Gaming, (1-3, 2-6), LW: 9
It has been an ugly, ugly last few days for T-Wolves Gaming, who are scrambling to find answers to rapidly arising questions. Their talent shouldn’t be minimized, but Minny-mization has been the order of the day with all that’s going on.
17. Pistons GT, (1-4, 1-6), LW: 13
The Pistons are having more fun since Jaacko arrived on the scene, mostly since he hasn’t been afraid to jack shots up. There’s some success in that, but the Pistons need to translate that into wins, not moral victories.
16. Celtics Crossover Gaming, (0-3, 4-4), LW: 11
Boston has pahked its proverbial cahr in the NBA 2K League basement. Is this the team that finished as runners-up in the Tipoff? Fab and Profusion, if contented, should be enough to start a turnaround this week.
15. Jazz Gaming, (1-2, 2-3), LW: 16
There hasn’t been any Easy Money for the Jazz, who’ve mostly avoided the Gliz and glam to Compete their way to a mediocre 1-2 start to the season. If the Jazz can Rialize their talent, they might well turn their good Deedz into wins.
14. Knicks Gaming, (1-2, 2-3), LW: 19
Adam has struggled at point guard for the most part, but Goofy has feasted on the glass more than a New York City subway denizen on a slice of pizza. More of that, please, since no one knows how to return from a slow start better than the Knicks.
13. Nets GC, (2-2, 3-3), LW: 8
The Nets top the Knicks by a spot here and by a win in the standings. But who’s the real Brooklyn—week one’s 2-0 squad or week three’s 0-2 outfit?
12. Raptors Uprising GC, (2-2, 3-4), LW: 17
The Raptors merit a commensurate up-rising after an impressive 2-0 week. All Hail Trey might be the best scorer you know nothing about, and former sixth-round pick KingQuai is second in the league in rebounding.
11. Hawks Talon GC, (2-1, 2-3), LW: 12
The Hawks have figured out their backcourt rotation, and they’re a much better team for it. It’s been Rando’s world, but the Hawks sure wouldn’t mind forcing 18 turnovers each game, as they did in their last game against Kings Guard Gaming.
10. Cavs Legion GC, (3-3, 4-4), LW: 10
The Cavs have a legion of quality players, but their record best reflects that they haven’t reached their peak yet. They need LYKaPRO to be a savvy pro at point guard and take some of the scoring burden off Strainer’s back.
9. Magic Gaming, (2-2, 4-4), LW: 14
The Magic are gathering strength after getting back on track with a 2-0 week. When defenses key in on rapper KingCamRoyalty with rapt attention, he’s torched them, and expert tactician Jonah Edwards can just sit and smile from behind the screen.
8. Kings Guard Gaming, (4-2, 4-4), LW: 15
No one expected the Kings to be 4-2 after week three, but they’ve more than earned it. BallLikeSeem is one of the league’s best players in transition, and his game-winning alley-oop to Worthingcolt will go down in Kings Guard lore.
7. Heat Check Gaming, (3-2, 5-4), LW: 4
The Heat haven’t gotten hot yet, although Hotshot has been one of the best players in the league. They’ve been a grind-it-out team so far, which is good enough for 3-2, but they demand more from themselves.
6. Warriors Gaming Squad, (2-1, 3-2), LW: 6
As great as their Before the Game series has been, the Warriors have been better in the game, where CB13 has looked like a veteran point guard and where SF BSmoove has been one of the best scorers in the entire league.
5. Mavs Gaming, (5-0, 6-1), LW: 7
Yes, the Mavs are a perfect 5-0, thanks in no small part to Mo—arguably the most decorated Pro-Am player of all time—and his secondary scoring. Not losing a single game is generally a good way to move up in the rankings each week.
4. Bucks Gaming, (3-1, 4-3), LW: 3
The Bucks—the gleeful Bucks—have, it must be said, some of the most concrete identity and integrity in the league this year. More BigMeek makes and more BigMeek GIFs, please, and everybody’s happy.
3. Blazer5 Gaming, (3-1, 4-2), LW: 5
Blazer5 is back, and that should scare the league. Both—both!—MamaImDatMan and OneWildWalnut are playing like MVP candidates once again, and even if the secondary scoring hasn’t been there as much as they’d like, two MVP candidates is the best-case scenario for everyone but the rest of the league.
2. 76ers GC, (2-1, 7-1), LW: 1
The 76ers slide to No. 2 after their first loss of the year. They’re still the best team in the league and probably shouldn’t have fallen to No. 2, because #RadiantStillAnMVPCandidate (editor’s note: Josiah, come on, be professional here).
1. Pacers Gaming, (3-0, 5-1), LW: 2
The new No. 1! Pacers Gaming has been the best defensive team in the league, keyed by Wolf’s DPOY-level play, but what they most appreciate is the increased aggressiveness that point guard Matty showed in their last game. If Matty’s the real deal, this team is an elite contender.