When looking for a team to play as in one of the many game modes 2K20 has to offer, this list should help you make a decision on where to play. Take this advice and go win the Larry O'Brien or Kobe Bryant trophy!
10. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have so much potential to tap into. They are in this strange group with many other teams in the NBA. About equal overall just waiting to pull away.
Now with the addition of one of the best interior players in the league when his mind is right with Hassan Whiteside, this team could be a top contender in the West.
What makes the Blazers good?
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are two of the best backcourts in the league but have been stuck in the early rounds of the playoffs. Now with Hassan Whiteside as the center and a new chapter, maybe things can begin to turn the next corner
Details on Portland
Portland has made the playoffs every year since 2013. The furthest they have gotten to was the Western Conference Finals but got swept by the Warriors in the 18-19 season
9. Philadelphia 76ers
One of the best interior offensive teams, they also have the biggest potential ranking in the game with a +4 (82 OVR to 86 OVR). Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are the two leaders on that team with an 88 and 91 overall respectively.
Don’t forget about Tobias Harris, who is a sneaky 85 at the small forward position.
What makes the 76ers good?
Ben Simmons was hailed as the next Magic or LeBron with his size and ball-handling skills but needs to expand his skill base if he wants to lead this team to the Larry O’Brien trophy
Details on 76ers
It has been quite a process since the 2015-2016 season when they had the worst record in NBA history and now compete for the Eastern Conference Championship.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Outside of Giannis and Khris Middleton, this team could have a stronger supporting cast, even if they are a finalist in the Eastern Conference. But still, Giannis is Giannis. He has the highest (tied with Lebron James at 97) overall rating among active players in the game
What makes the Bucks so good?
Giannis. Giannis. Giannis. He is the key. Not just to win a championship, but to take the mantle as the best player in the league. Khris Middleton is a great number two to have, though they may need to add a piece or two to solidify their potential.
Details on the Bucks
The team has not won a championship since 1971 with Oscar Robinson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Let’s hope they don’t go 50 years without a ring.
7. Denver Nuggets
One of the best three-and-d teams in the league for sure. Jamal Murray is a top-10 point guard in the league in Nikola Jokic is a top big man inside and outside of the key. Even Paul Milsap at the four can hit you with a few threes if you let him.
And good luck getting a rebound over either one of those bigs.
What makes the Nuggets so good?
Mike Malone was able to bring this team from the gutter slowly but surely. Each season he has been the Head Coach, they have gotten better and better and are now seen as a young and rising team.
Details on Nuggets
The team is having a very “Trust the Process”-Esq rise, though it is much slower than that of Philly. When the season was cut short due to COVID-19, they were third in the mighty Western Conference. This team is surely going places.
6. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are still the Warriors, just closer to what we saw before Durant jumped on, brought the team into the conversation for greatest ever, then dipped out to Brooklyn.
Steph Curry is still Steph Curry and we have given him something to prove now that he doesn’t have KD or one of his vets like Andre Iguodala or Sean Livingston.
Klay Thompson is going to feast again on having Steph take so much energy to defend, Klay is going to dribble the ball like 12 times a game.
What makes the Warriors so great?
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are two of the best shooters the NBA has ever seen. They have a perfect fit for a coach in Steve Kerr. Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are going to play huge roles for this newly shaped team. The Warriors are going to go back to dominating real soon.
Details on the Warriors
Although in reality, the team was not doing very well due to injuries, it is a video game so they are healthy and fun to play with. Once they have a full, healthy roster, they are going to be a real-life cheat code once again.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban is not a quiet owner by any means. He is loud, and he expects his fans to be as loud. With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis leading that team, I can’t see many quiet nights.
Dunks and threes and fast breaks and highlights are bound to happen
What makes the Mavericks great?
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are two of the brightest young players the NBA has to offer. That paired with a strong coach and a relentless owner, Luka and KP are trying to capitalize on their extreme potential.
Details on Mavericks
The team has the highest outside scoring ranking in the game even above teams like the Warriors. Good luck blocking a KP or Luka shot. Fast and accurate, these guys will carve up a defense.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are back. The King and The Brow. LeBron is going to keep dunking on Father Time while Anthony Davis sets the hard pick. These two are going to bring back the magic, though probably not Magic himself. Two of the best players in the league have gotten together once again, and success seems certain.
What makes the Lakers so great?
The Lakers are the Lakers once again. With the best player of this generation in LeBron and one of the best big men in decades in Anthony Davis, stopping this dynasty early is a necessity for the other 29 NBA teams.
Details on Lakers
Before the season got cut off, the Lakers were the only team in the West to claim a playoff spot and were on a collision course with the NBA Finals.
3. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have one of the most well-rounded starting 5 lineups in the league with everyone between 80-87 OVR. Kemba Walker can cook you for 50, as can Jason Tatum. Jaylen Brown is one of the most exciting young and rising players in the league.
Maybe you can tap into Gordon Hayward from before the injury because if you can, that lineup can compete with any in the league.
What makes the Celtics so great?
With one of the best big three in the East in Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, and Jason Tatum they are lethal. Athletic, quick, and strong players paired with a smart young coach, they have an eye on the Finals.
Details on Celtics
They have the most NBA rings in league history with 17 and if they don’t want to get passed by the Lakers soon, they can capitalize now.
2. Brooklyn Nets
Since this is a video game, Kevin Durant and Kyrie are both healthy at the same time, which may not often be true when the real season is happening.
But like I said, this is a video game, and KD might as well be a shooting cheat code while Kyrie Irving has the best handles in the game.
Playing with this team is offensive fun for sure.
What makes the Nets so great?
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are going to be the best two-player combo in the East. Kyrie is a walking cheat code for handling and KD is a 7-foot tall shooting cheat code.
Details on Nets
Although the West is often considered the stronger conference, the East is stacking up to be more difficult with KD coming to the Nets from Golden State and Kyrie joining the team. For them to face the Western champion, they need to be great and need to do it now.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
Want to shoot a three? What about Paul George? Want to lock up the opponent’s best guard? What about Patrick Beverly? Want to dominate overall? What about Kawhi Leonard?
Kawhi is a top-3 player in this league Klaw’s down. (haha, get it? Because his nickname is Klaw… ok I can laugh at that on my own that's cool)
What makes the Clippers so great?
Kawhi is arguably the best player in the conference and Paul George compliments him so well. They were only second in the West behind the team they (for now) share Staples Center with. Doc Rivers, Kawhi, Paul George are a lethal trio that has a strong possibility to grind for the first NBA Championship for the franchise.
Details on the Clippers
Steve Ballmer recently bought the LA Forum so his team would not have to share an arena with the Lakers, who will always dominate the LA market. Maybe this is the first step to moving the team out of southern California and up to Seattle.
