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Following the conclusion of the 2019 NBA Draft, teams will now dive into the offseason with a clear idea of where things stand heading into the 2019/20 campaign.
Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett were the top three picks in the draft, and they are expected to be the cornerstone of their respective franchises moving forward.
All three of them are top talents on the court, but how will their abilities translate into the virtual basketball world?
NBA 2K20 is set for a September release and there is plenty of speculation regarding the ratings of the various players in the game.
Some of the top rookies in past editions of 2K include LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Ben Simmons, and here, we try to predict the ratings of the top 5 rookies in NBA 2K20:
#5 De'Andre Hunter - 74
De'Andre Hunter will surely be among the most exciting players to utilise in the game. He has the ability to score heavily from mid-range and deep, and could develop into one of the most versatile offensive players in the league.
Having been drafted 4th overall, his rating should be in the mid-70s in 2K20.
#4 Darius Garland - 75
Darius Garland, selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 5th overall pick, was arguably the best shooter available in the draft.
A specialist from beyond the arc, Garland has the ability to light it up from deep, so we can expect his 3-point shooting to be rated in the mid-80s which is extremely high for a rookie.
He offensive capabilities should earn him the Mid-Range Deadeye and Corner Specialist badges, although he could be given others as well.
All in all, Garland should be a brilliant player to use in 2K20 considering his ability to knock down 3s and drive to the basket for some flashy lay-ups, however, I do not expect him to be rated higher than 75 to start with.
His ceiling is pretty high though, so those ratings could skyrocket over the course of the season.
Also read: NBA 2K20: Leak provides details about release date, cover athlete
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#3 RJ Barrett - 76
RJ Barrett was selected by the New York Knicks with the third pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. Barrett could very well develop into a scoring machine in the near future.
He can create his own shot, knock down 3s from deep and also drive to the bucket, making him a real threat on the offensive end.
However, he does come up short on the defensive end, which is expected to be reflected in his rating of 76.
Despite that, expect him to have a ton of offensive badges, including Mid-Range Deadeye and Corner Specialist
#2 Ja Morant - 78
Ja Morant could be the most fun rookie to play with in 2K20. He's got lightning speed, great athleticism and some stellar moves as well.
We can expect Morant to be rated around the 78 mark in 2K20. Considering the fact that both Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton were only given a rating of 79 last year, to begin with, it's unlikely 2K will rate Morant higher than both of them.
Morant, who was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick, has been likened to Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox who is currently rated 83 after a breakout season in 2018/19.
#1 Zion Williamson - 82
Zion Williamson is by far the most hyped rookie since LeBron James way back in 2003. Williamson was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 1st pick of the 2019 draft and he's expected to be the cornerstone of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
With Anthony Davis traded to the Lakers, the Pelicans have put all their eggs in the Williamson basket in the hopes that it pays off big time a few years down the line.
Like LeBron, Williamson is a generational talent and possesses freakish speed and athleticism for someone his size.
At 6'7, he has an enormous wingspan and is expected to have monster dunking and rebounding abilities in 2K20.
I expect Zion to be rated at around 82 to begin with, which is sensational for a rookie. In fact, LeBron was rated just 78 in his first season while DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic, who were the top two picks in last year's draft, started off with a rating of 79.
While 82 for Zion might be a wee bit generous, expect him to fully live up to that rating with a stellar rookie season.
