10) Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum isn’t Larry Bird, but he’s not a bad consolation prize. Now in his fourth year in the league, Tatum, along with Jaylen Brown, represents the future of the franchise. He leads the team with an 89 overall rating.
Why They’re Here:
- Strong team defense
- Athletic wings
- Impressive young talent
- Solid veterans in Gordon Hayward and Kemba Walker
- Can play a variety of styles
Boston Celtics Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/boston-celtics
9) Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are just a season removed from winning the franchise’s first NBA title and still feature much of that championship team. However, last year proved that winning a second title will be much more difficult without the help of Kawhi Leonard.
Why They’re Here:
- Versatile wings
- Gritty players such as Marcus Smart and Kyle Lowry
- Championship experience
- Low-maintenance stars allow for selfless team play
- Siakam and Anunoby are matchup nightmares
Toronto Raptors Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/toronto-raptors
8) Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are fresh off of an unexpected run to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. The team showed incredible grit, and the future looks bright for the organization. Murray and Jokic, the team’s stars, are both in their early-to-mid-twenties and have terrific chemistry.
Why They’re Here:
- Jokic and Murray form one of the most dynamic duos in the league
- Jokic can wreak havoc from the midrange with his shot and passing ability
- Solid bench depth featuring Will Barton and Jerami Grant
- Great shooters on the wings to space the floor
- Michael Porter Jr. is on the verge of becoming the team’s third star
Denver Nuggets Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/denver-nuggets
7) Dallas Mavericks
After just two seasons in the NBA, Luka Doncic has already solidified his place among the league’s most dynamic superstars. His playmaking ability,size, and versatility are comparable only to LeBron James and Ben Simmons. This unique ability presents opposing teams with a difficult task – stop Doncic from scoring while also preventing his precision passes to open teammates.
Why They’re Here:
- Luka Doncic is a maestro with the ball
- Doncic is a matchup nightmare
- Great perimeter shooting from Hardaway Jr. and Seth Curry
- Porzingis can have dominant stretches
- Did I mention Luka Doncic?
Dallas Mavericks Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/dallas-mavericks
6) Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks organization has done a good job of surrounding The Greek Freak with quality shooters to open the lane to his drives. Players will have a lot of fun driving the lane with Giannis for high-flying jams or, if the defense collapses, kicking it out to the corners for open 3-pointers. This is one of the easiest offenses to master and don’t let anyone tell you it’s a glitch. It’s definitely the way this offense was designed to run.
Why They’re Here:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo is a monster
- The team can be stifling defensively
- Balanced inside-out offensive attack
- Giannis can dunk on anyone’s head
- George Hill is one of the league’s best 3-point shooters
Milwaukee Bucks Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/milwaukee-bucks
5) Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have featured some of the greatest talents in the history of the sport including Dr. J, Allen Iverson, and Wilt Chamberlain. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid aren’t in that stratosphere yet, but they’re rising. They are two of the most unique, dominant athletes in the world. Embiid is even dominant on social media. And if you make a three-pointer with Simmons you’re official a 2K god.
Why They’re Here:
- Ben Simmons is a matchup problem at the PG position
- The Simmons/Embiid tandem can be unstoppable at times
- Good team defense
- Dominant interior offense
- Horford is a second playmaking option from the mid-range
Philadelphia 76ers Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/philadelphia-76ers
4) Brooklyn Nets
This is the first time we get to see Durant and Irving play together with this Nets team. Both players are past champions and have been unstoppable at times. It remains to be seen if the on-court chemistry is good enough for this team to reach its potential – but it’ll be scary if it does. On the bright side, we’re sure to get lots of drama out of Brooklyn this season.
Why They’re Here:
- Two elite talents in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving
- Multiple playmakers in Irving, Dinwiddie, and LeVert
- Exceptional perimeter shooting
- Nearly unstoppable in clutch situations
- Solid team defense
Brooklyn Nets Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/brooklyn-nets
3) Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers organization is arguably the greatest franchise in professional sports. The franchise just won its 17th NBA title and the 2K21 roster features the same players. The league’s suspension due to Covid-19 has made the timing of things weird, but 2K21’s version of the Lakers is likely to be the defending champions. This is a dominant team and is a joy to control.
Why They’re Here:
- LeBron James is still one of the best players in the league
- The James/Anthony Davis pairing can terrorize opposing teams
- Tremendous length, athleticism, and versatility
- Multiple players have championship experience
- Can dominate the glass
Los Angeles Lakers Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/los-angeles-lakers
2) Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers feature an incredibly deep roster with multiple playmakers and elite defenders. They aren’t as big as some other teams, but they make up for it with their tenacity. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have given Clippers fans reason to believe. And be happy you don’t have to deal with the off-court issues this team reportedly has had in the past.
Why They’re Here:
- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are two of the best wings in the league
- Several tough-minded, defensive players make for an excellent defense
- Good perimeter shooting
- Great bench depth featuring Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell
- Can play a variety of styles
Los Angeles Clippers Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/los-angeles-clippers
1) Golden State Warriors
Well, if you were hoping the reign of the Warriors was over, I’m sorry. Curry and Thompson sat out the entirety of last season due to injuries, but they’re back and immediately make this team terrifying once more. They are a bit more perimeter-centric than most teams on this list, but if played correctly, this team can rain threes down on opponents at will.
Why They’re Here:
- Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are still 3-point gods
- Andrew Wiggins is a very solid third scoring option
- Great team defense anchored by Draymond Green
- Promising young players in Paschall and Chriss
- Championship experience
Golden State Warriors Details: https://www.2kratings.com/teams/golden-state-warriors
Also Be Sure To Read:
[Top 10] NBA 2K21 Best Animations
