12 former Wildcats among NBA 2K24's top 100 rated players

If there’s one reason to buy NBA 2K24 next month, it would be for the Kentucky connection. When the best-selling basketball video game drops in early September, a dozen former Wildcats will be among the top playable characters.

Of the game’s top 100 rated players, which have been slowly leaked out by 2Kratings.com ahead of the Sept. 8 release date, 12 of them played college basketball at UK, highlighted by a handful of superstars. Devin Booker (Suns) leads the way with a 94 overall rating, good enough for 11th in the entire game, followed by the likes of Anthony Davis (Lakers) at 13th and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) at 14th, both also holding a rating of 94.

It doesn’t end with those three though. De’Aaron Fox (Kings) is ranked 24th and Jamal Murray (Nuggets) is 27th as both earned ratings of 88 overall. Bam Adebayo (Heat) and Julius Randle (Knicks) aren’t far behind at 33rd and 36th respectively with an equal rating of 87 overall. Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) is the final former ‘Cat in the top 50 as he’s slotted at 45th with a rating of 86.

In just the top 50 alone there are eight Wildcats among the bunch, or 16 percent of all players.

A pair of one-time Kentucky players check in just outside of the top 50, with Tyler Herro (Heat) and Tyrese Maxey (76ers) ranked back-to-back at 55th and 56th with an overall rating of 84. Keldon Johnson (Spurs) is further down the list at 78th with an 83 rating while Immanuel Quickley (Knicks) rounds out the top 100 as the 90th-best player with a rating of 82.

But what about the rest of Kentucky’s talented alumni playing in the NBA? Don’t worry, 2Kratings.com has those too. Malik Monk (Kings) and Jarred Vanderbilt (Lakers) are the final Wildcats rated in the 80s — both are right at 80 overall — while 13 of the remaining 14 are rated between 70-79. Olivier Sarr (UFA) is the lone ‘Cat rated below 70, receiving a 67 overall.

Ratings for rookies Cason Wallace (Thunder), Chris Livingston (Bucks), Oscar Tshiebwe (Pacers), and Jacob Toppin (Knicks) are not yet publicly known. Free agent veterans that didn’t finish the 2022-23 season on an NBA roster but will be in the game include John Wall (79 overall), DeMarcus Cousins (76), Enes Freedom (76), and Eric Bledsoe (74). Check out the full rankings below.

NBA 2K24 Kentucky player ratings

94 – Devin Booker (Suns)
94 – Anthony Davis (Lakers)
93 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
88 – De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
88 – Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
87 – Julius Randle (Knicks)
87 – Bam Adebayo (Heat)
86 – Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)
84 – Tyrese Maxey (76ers)
84 – Tyler Herro (Heat)
83 – Keldon Johnson (Spurs)
82 – Immanuel Quickley (Knicks)
80 – Malik Monk (Kings)
80 – Jarred Vanderbilt (Lakers)
79 – John Wall (UFA)
78 – Nick Richards (Hornets)
78 – Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers)
77 – PJ Washington (Hornets)
77 – Hamidou Diallo (UFA)
77 – Trey Lyles (Kings)
76 – Isaiah Jackson (Pacers)
76 – DeMarcus Cousins (UFA)
76 – Enes Freedom (UFA)
75 – Nerlens Noel (Kings)
75 – Wenyen Gabriel (Lakers)
74 – Brandon Boston Jr. (Clippers)
74 – Eric Bledsoe (UFA)
73 – Willie Cauley-Stein (UFA)
72 – TyTy Washington (Thunder)
71 – Kevin Knox (Trail Blazers)
67 – Olivier Sarr (UFA)