Portland Trail Blazers: A look at the highest (and lowest) rated players in NBA 2K history

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrate their 125-115 win over the Denver Nuggets at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrate their 125-115 win over the Denver Nuggets at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The 10 highest-rated Portland Trail Blazers in NBA 2K history, 10 to 6:

Per Game Statistics in 2004-05: 16.8 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 2.1 APG | 50.3 FG% | POR record: 27-55

Silky-smooth shooting big man Shareef Abdur-Rahim barely edges out Gerald Wallace (NBA 2K13, 83 overall) and Bonzi Wells (ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4, 83 overall) for the opening spot on our list. Abdur-Rahim likely received the benefit of the doubt in 2K5 — he was a shell of the player he once was, by the time he joined Portland as a 28-year-old.

He’s somewhat of a forgotten contributor to the NBA in the 2000s these days, but he enjoyed a six-year window from 1997-98 to 2002-03, where he averaged 21.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on 46.7 percent shooting for the Vancouver Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks. A stretch-big before his time, Rahim nearly broke the record for most games played without a postseason appearance.

Per Game Statistics in 2001-02: 9.5 PPG | 8.8 RPG | 1.1 BPG | 51.0 FG% | POR record: 49-33

When the Portland Trail Blazers made the trade for Dale Davis (and earlier, Shawn Kemp) in the summer of 2000, it was believed that they finally had the toughness to bang on the low block with Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers.

Davis never quite proved to be the difference that pushed the Blazers’ title aspirations over the top, but NBA 2K2 had a respect for his ability to do the little things; the intangibles. He made the All-Star Game in 1999-00, and proved to be one of the best rim protectors of his time. Statistics won’t do him justice, but his spot here is solidified through game tape.

Per Game Statistics in 2018-19: 15.6 PPG | 10.4 RPG | 3.2 APG | 1.4 BPG | POR record: 53-29

Our first modern-day example goes in the form of Jusuf Nurkic. The do-it-all center has spent the last few seasons middling around the 80-overall plateau. In 2019, he secured an 85 overall, one point higher than his NBA 2K21 rating (84).

The 2018-19 season represented the first in which Blazers fans received a chance to see Nurkic over a full season. His gruesome leg injury ensured it ended in heartbreak, but at full health, he anchored the Blazers’ defense, and became the first player in NBA history to have at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 5 steals in a single game.

Per Game Statistics in 2004-05: 18.9 PPG | 9.6 RPG | 1.9 APG | 44.8 FG% | POR record: 27-55

The days of postseason appearance as a Blazer were far into the rearview, but it wasn’t to the fault of Zach Randolph. He was a reliable offensive hub for Portland, both in the low post, as well as in the pick-and-pop.

In what would prove to be the penultimate year of his career in Portland, Randolph missed 36 games due to injury. The difference in him being in the lineup and without was night-and-day. His offense pushed Portland to a workable 19-27 record, versus 8-28 without him.

Per Game Statistics in 2018-19: 21.0 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 3.0 APG | 55.3% TS | POR record: 53-29

After spending years providing buckets in abundance for good, but not great Portland Trail Blazers teams, everything rounded into form in 2018-19. McCollum’s individual statistics weren’t the best we’ve seen, but he was a cog in a winning basketball machine.

This is the season in which McCollum shined the brightest under the Playoff lights, and 2K Sports was sure to watch. His 87 overall made tied him for the No. 25 highest-ranked player in the Association, with his teammate Lillard clocking in at No. 11.