If you want to know which are the best rookie players in NBA 2K24, then you came to the right place. This year’s NBA 2K title launched on 8 September, and has received plenty of criticism from the 2K community.
Most of the top athletes in last year’s edition of the game will retain their superstar player ratings. I’m talking about the likes of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James.
But what about the teenage rookies trying to reach the pinnacle of the sport just like the aforementioned names have done? Which one of them starts closer to the peak of the mountain? Let's find out below.
Victor Wembanyana, San Antonio Spurs (C, 84 OVR)
First up, we have Victor Wembanyama, one of the most hyped rookies ever.
Wembanyama garnered considerable attention for his performances in the past two years. With a towering on-court presence and ball-handling skills to match, he’s one of the few rookies who has the honour of being compared to the legendary LeBron James.
There’s no doubt we have a generational talent here, as Wembanyama swept up a trifecta of individual honours in 2023. He won the MVP, Best Scorer and Best Defender Award in the LNB Pro A league.
Wembanyama had great numbers in the LNB Pro A league, with 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2.4 assists per game. So, it's easy to understand why the French player is the highest-rated rookie in NBA 2K24, with an 84 OVR.
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets (SF, 78 OVR)
Brandon Miller secured second place with a 78 OVR. The small forward played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets. Michael Jordan saw something special in Miller, and that pretty much says everything you need to know.
He led Crimson Tide to the number one overall seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament. In a span of 37 appearances for Alabama, he recorded some pretty neat stats. All of that contributed to his 78 OVR in NBA 2K24
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers (PG, 78 OVR)
Scoot over because Mr Henderson has entered the building!
Drafted to the Portland Trail Blazers, Henderson is a likely NBA Rookie of the Year contender. He’s shown to be more than capable of scoring baskets and impacting the game in a big way. These are two of the necessary requisites to being in the mix for such a prestigious award.
Because of that, 2K decided that a 78 OVR was appropriate for the new Portland Trail Blazers guard. This makes him the third-highest-rated rookie in this year's edition.
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets (PG/SG, 76 OVR)
Amen Thompson comes into the NBA as a widely regarded five-star recruit, having won a state high school basketball title with Pine Crest School. The Houston Rockets saw in him yet another young talented player to add to their roster, and they didn't think twice about selecting him.
Thompson and his brother were so good that they bypassed senior-year players to start and win games for the Overtime Elite. In NBA 2K24, Thompson has a 76 OVR, which is quite good for a rookie player.
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons (SG, 76 OVR)
Brother of Amen Thompson, Ausar definitely wasn’t lurking under his sibling’s shadow! He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in Round 5, which gives you a glimpse into just how good he is as a player.
Ausar has a huge presence on both sides of the field and possesses a deep offensive bag. He is also very athletic, and a great shot-blocker. 2K took all of this into account and decided that a 76 OVR was perfect for him.
With this rating, Ausar Thompson is the fifth-highest-rated rookie in the game.
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (SF/PF, 74 OVR)
Jarace Walker had a fine high school career, notching up some impressive stats. Walker averaged 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior.
Walker is also one of the best defensive prospects for next season, which was one more reason for the Indiana Pacers to draft him. His rating in NBA 2K24 is a quite modest one, with Walker only being a 74 OVR. Despite that, he still has some great attributes in the gmae.
Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets (SF, 74 OVR)
Cam Whitmore has a 74 OVR in NBA 2K24, and his performances while on the Villanova Wildcats contributed a lot to that. He made 26 appearances for the Wildcats and posted some impressive numbers.
Just like in real life, Whitmore is a very athletic player in NBA 2K24, possessing a great vertical jump, speed, and acceleration. His playmaking ability is also decent.
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (PG/SG, 73 OVR)
Anthony Black was drafted by the Orlando Magic and played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. There, he was regarded as a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class.
In his only collegiate season with Arkansas, he was able to average 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks. Because of that, 2K gave him a 73 OVR. He is an excellent on-ball defender and a good passer. Black is also quite an athletic player.
Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards (SF, 73 OVR)
Bilal Coulibaly is a French professional basketball player, who was drafted by the Washington Wizards. Coulibaly was a teammate of Wembanyama. They played for the same Metropolitans 92 team that blazed their way to the top of France’s LNB Pro A league.
Coulibaly is well-regarded as a difference-maker around the rim. He is also able to move intelligently without the ball in his hands and to pounce on offensive rebounds.
So, a 73 OVR seems too low for the French player. He might not be a generational talent like his friend Victor Wembanyana, but he still is a very good player.
Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz (PF, 73 OVR)
Last but not least, we have Taylor Hendricks, who was drafted by the Utah Jazz. Hendricks, who is known as a sharpshooter, has a modest 73 rating in NBA 2K24.
However, he still possesses some good shooting attributes, such as a 78 Three-Point Shot, 75 Mid-Range Shot, and 75 Close Shot.
Some of these players might be good additions to your MyNBA team, as they have a lot of potential. If you also want to know which are the best players in NBA 2K24 for every position, check out our guide.