NBA 2K22: Best All Time Players in the Game

Each decade has a set of superstars that contributes to a dominant style of play, eventually landing them in the Hall of Fame conversation. However, there are some that transcend their era and get entered into the greatest of all time conversation.

The inevitable question is asked of how to compare Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s dominance in the 70s and 80s with LeBron James’ dominance since he joined the league in 2003. Thankfully, 2K has the ability, or maybe the challenge, of defining players by a singular number for their overall ratings.

In this article, we’re looking at the best players of all time according to NBA 2K22.

1. Michael Jordan

Overall Rating: 99
Position: SG/SF
Team: All-Time Chicago Bulls
Archetype: All-Around 2-Way
Best Stats: 99 Intangibles, 99 Pass Perception, 99 Help Defense IQ

Michael Jordan’s accolades could take up this whole section, so we’ll just name a few. He holds the highest average points per game across his career with 30.12 and even elevated his game in the playoffs, leading everyone again with 33.45 points per game.

Jordan reached his basketball heights playing for the Chicago Bulls, leading them to six titles and making the number 23 iconic. His determination and competitiveness could be seen on any given night, famously playing through the flu in 1997.

Jordan holds multiple records for scoring, so his ability at the defensive end often gets overlooked. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and made the All-Defensive team nine times. This echoes his 99 pass perception and 99 help defense IQ, to go along with all his offensive weapons in 2K22.

The only flaw, if you can call it that, for Jordan in 2K22 is his rebounding, which collectively gets a 58 overall. However, he’s much better suited as the outlet receiver than the outlet passer.

2. Magic Johnson

Overall Rating: 99
Position: PG/SG
Team: All-Time Los Angeles Lakers
Archetype: All-Around Threat
Best Stats: 99 Pass Accuracy, 99 Pass IQ, 99 Pass Vision

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is regarded by most as the greatest point guard ever. He excelled in the fundamentals of the role, leading the league four times in assists per game and recording double-digit assists in nine consecutive seasons.

The point guard was an integral part of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, along with another player on this list: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar led the Lakers to five championships in their time together.

The pass-first point guard excels in passing ability in 2K22. His 99 passing accuracy, 99 pass IQ and 99 pass vision allow him to attempt and make passes that few could dream to land. He also has the Bullet Passer, Dimer, Floor General, Needle Threader, Relay Passer, and Special Delivery badges to a Hall of Fame level.

3. LeBron James

Overall Rating: 99
Position: SF/PF
Team: All-Time Miami Heat
Archetype: All-Around 2-Way
Best Stats: 98 Intangibles, 98 Hands, 98 Offensive Consistency

One of the most incredible stats about LeBron James is his win share in the playoffs. Michael Jordan has a 39.76 win share, second of all time, whereas James has a whopping 55.68.

James has played in every All-Star game since his draft, totaling 17 All-Star games – third on the all time list. He has four championships for three different teams and continues to dominate at the age of 36.

Without any ratings of 99, LeBron James’ versatility shines through. Collectively, his outside scoring stats average out at 91, his athleticism averages out at 92, and his playmaking stats average out at 90. He also holds nine Hall of Fame-tier badges too.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Overall Rating: 99
Position: C/PF
Team: All-Time Milwaukee Bucks
Archetype: 2-Way Mid-Range Finisher
Best Stats: 99 Post Hook, 98 Post Control, 98 Hands

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar created and perfected the skyhook during his playing career. The unguardable shot hooks the ball over your own body and consequently over the defender, making it nearly impossible to block.

Abdul-Jabbar won one championship with the Milwaukee Bucks before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won a further five. He holds the record for the most All-Star games played and the most points totaled throughout his career with 38,387.

Unsurprisingly, Abdul-Jabbar has a 99 post hook rating along with 98 post control. He also has a 98 offensive rebound and a 98 defensive rounding to complement his 98 strength rating. Abdul-Jabbar is the epitome of the traditional big man.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon

Overall Rating: 98
Position: C/PF
Team: All-Time Houston Rockets
Archetype: 2-Way Mid-Range Finisher
Best Stats: 99 Interior Defense, 99 Post Control, 98 Post Hook

Beyond a token season with the Toronto Raptors in the twilight of his career, Hakeem Olajuwon played all of his games for the Houston Rockets, where he won two championships and two finals MVP awards.

At the height of his dominance, Olajuwon averaged 37.5 points and 16.8 rebounds in the 1988 NBA playoffs. In the Rockets’ title-winning years, Olajuwon averaged 28.9 points and 33 points per game.

In the low block was where Hakeem Olajuwon did most of his damage, and that’s reflected in his 2K22 ratings, with him boasting 99 post control, 98 post hook, and 98 post-fade. Leading the league in blocks three times in his career, Olajuwon has a 99 interior defense rating and 95 block rating.

6. Oscar Robertson

Overall Rating: 98
Position: PG/SG
Team: All-Time Sacramento Kings
Archetype: All-Around 2-Way
Best Stats: 98 Pass Accuracy, 98 Pass IQ, 98 Layup

Famous for being the first player to average a triple-double, Oscar Robertson achieved the feat that few thought could be achieved in only his second season in the league.

Robertson’s team success only happened once he joined the Milwaukee Bucks, partnering up with Abdul-Jabbar. The Bucks won the 1971 NBA Championship, beating the Baltimore Bullets in straight games.

The all-around nature of Oscar Robertson means he doesn’t have any 99-rated attributes on NBA 2K22. Still, he does have a 95 playmaking collective rating along with a 94 outside scoring collective rating.

7. Dirk Nowitzki

Overall Rating: 98
Position: PF/C
Team: All-Time Dallas Mavericks
Archetype: 2-Way 3-Level Scorer
Best Stats: 99 Post Fade, 98 Mid-Range Shot, 98 Post Control

Dirk Nowitzki mastered the post-fade-away with his knee lifted to a 90-degree angle. The combination of the knee and the 7’0” height of Nowitzki made the move extremely difficult to block.

His patience with the Dallas Mavericks franchise paid off in 2011 when they won their only NBA Championship, beating the Miami Heat in six games.

A collective 97 outside scoring rating shows how much of a threat Nowitzki is away from the basket. Closer to the bucket, his 99 post-fade and 98 post control made him leather all over the floor.

All the best all time players in NBA 2K22

Below is a list of the top 20 all time best players on NBA 2K22 with details of their height, position, and the all time team that they play for.

With so much talent on offer, who will you choose to play individually or as the star within your team?