5. John Wall, Overall 90
2K18 slightly underrates Wall. He’s a surefire top-15 guy and he’s coming off the best year of his career. Wall has a well-rounded offensive game, providing a unique mix of slashing and passing wizardry to Washington’s attack. Last season he upped his scoring efficiency while also posting a career high in assists. Wall attacks the rim relentlessly, finishing at a high rate and drawing a ton of fouls. He’s also in the conversation with James Harden, Chris Paul and LeBron as the league’s best passers and shot creators for teammates. Washington cracked the league’s top-10 in offensive efficiency last year, mostly due to Wall’s masterful play at the one spot. The only real hole in his offensive arsenal is his shaky long-range jumper.
Wall’s once stellar defense has fallen off over the past two years, but he still has the tools to be a fantastic defender. Much of that is due to the physically taxing offensive burden he bears every night; in Washington’s playoff series against Boston the Wizards fell apart offensively without Wall and he was totally gassed by the end of games.
Despite Wall’s inconsistent effort on the defensive end and a shaky jumper, which has plagued his game throughout his career, he is one of the best guards in the NBA. Wall is simultaneously one of the league’s smartest and most dynamic players, which makes him one of the most fun players to watch on a night to night basis. He should probably rank a bit higher than 90 in 2K. A rating of 91 or 92 would better reflect his skill level.