NBA 2k14 Association Mode: The Good, the bad and the ugly (A more in depth look)

[CWSapp757]

Most of you know me from the draft classes that I do with Dreece but I only do them because of how obsessed I have always ben with the Association mode. Now there is going to be a lot of info here but I feel like it is only right that I start out with one of the more interesting discoveries that I have made (sorry if someone has already mentioned this):

POTENTIAL
For you guys that are in to Association like me, you know that the potential rating has been a bit of a disaster for years. Basically the potential rating increased as the player became better. For example, I had a playr in one of the draft classes that I made that was a 72 overall with an 84 potential rating. Within five years his potential rating was a 94 and his overall was a 93. This is the major reason why the league became a complete wreck with a ton of overrated players, teams running out of money and star players ending up in the free agent pool. WELL, this year we FINALLY got a change. I'm assuming it was never discussed or advertised because the masses probably don't care or really have no idea how detrimental ths was to the mode.

What we have now is a number that remains stagnant. If you draft a player with 82 potental, he won't surpass that rating. I have only tested this with six players but the two most recent I did were Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. The two have 86 potential and 82 potential respectively. Oladipo maxed out at 86 at 27 years of age while Zeller maxed out at 82 at age 28. The two both stayed at this overall until age 31 before dropping approximately1 or 2 points each year. Here is what this means: 1) Roster makers/draft class makers can have control of how the league will play out as there no longer increasng potentials that led to a guessing game. 2) While I still think many players are overrated it will not turn into the near fixable mess that I we have seen in the past like the free agency nonsense I previously mentioned. Speaking of free agency....


FREE AGENCY
While I wish that there was nothing but good news, I am a little disappointed to discover that the "improved CPU in regards to free agent signings" was... well I will let you make the decision. Several years in to the Association, Brandon Knight (80) signed with Cavaliers to back up Kyrie Irving (92). Jrue Holiday (89) signed with the pelicans to back up some generated rookie Wyatt Smith (90). And last but not least, brandon jennings (86) signed with the trail blazers to back up Damian Lilliard (93). And this is just point guards. I will be happy to look during a new Association at other positions but for the time being, let us continue.

THE DRAFT CLASSES
Well this is my area of expertise so I may be unfairly harsh on 2k so forgive me. For starters there are several new layup ratings since the inside shot rating is gone. When you allow 2k to generate a draft class, all of these ratings are 25 for ALL of the players. Potentials can also be unrealistically high as one draft class I went through had three players with 90 plus potential all at one position. My suggestion is to use created draft classes or edit your own.

TRADING
Well, it's there but I guess your expectations of how many should be there wil determine whether you're happy with it or not. In year one here are the four trades that were done:

Cavaliers trade Earl Clark and 2014 1st round pick to Pacers for Luis Scola

Wizards trade Jan Vesely and 2015 2nd round pick to Mavericks for Vince Carter

Celtics trade Courtney Lee to Rockets for Omer Asik and 2015 2nd round pick

Raptors trade Quentin Richardson to Spurs for Marco Belinelli and2015 2nd round pick

The following year there was two trades

CPU DRAFT LOGIC
Well, from my view I think its much better although not perfect, but do you really want it to be perfect? Here's an example of the how the first draft went for the top 15 (overall/potential):

1. Hawks Center Javier Sosa (64/85)
2. Magic PG Carson George (75/85)
3. Sixers PG Randall Mack (77/77)
4. Suns PG Joshua Ward (63/70)
5. Bobcats PG Sas Golob (61/69)
6. Mavericks SF Elden Marks (71/93)
7. Jazz SF Howie Robertson (69/77)
8. Pelicans Justin Cowens (66/66)
9. Wizards SG Gerard Jensen (78/93)
10. Nuggets SG Anderson Knight (71/66)
11. Celtics SG Nathan Blackwell (67/67)
12. Bucks SF Ruben Wise (59/70)
13. Kings SF Chucky Franklin (57/62)
14. Trail Blazers SG Rudolph Winston (62/73)
15. Pistons SG Howard Bass (61/69)


RATINGS IN ASSOCIATION
I know that I have seen some people ask about how players would be rated years in to the Association. I gave a list of top players at each position three years in and six years in below.

After the 2016 – 2017 Season

HIGHEST RATED PLAYERS BY POSITION

Point Guard
Chris Paul 93
Derrick Rose 93
Russell Westbrook 93
Kyrie Irving 92
John Wall 92
Damian Lillard 92
Jrue Holiday 90
Brandon Jennings 88
Rajon Rondo 88
Deron Williams 88
Stephen Curry 88
Ty Lawson 86
Kemba Walker 85
Ricky Rubio 85
Eric Bledsoe 84

Shooting Guards
Paul George 93
James Harden 91
Dwayne Wade 89
Eric Gordon 87
Dion Waiters 87
Gerard Jensen (Generated player) 87
Victor Oladipo 85
Bradley Beal 84
Iman Shumpert 84
Jimmy Butler 84
Monta Ellis 83
Demar DeRozan 82
Ben McLemore 82
CJ McCollum 82
OJ Mayo 82

Small Forward
Lebron James 99
Kevin Durant 96
Carmelo Anthony 91
Kawhi Leonard 88
Rudy Gay 86
Tyreke Evans 85
Josh Smith 84
Andre Iguodala 84
Elden Marks (generated player) 84
Chandler Parsons 83
Nicolas Batum 82
Otto Porter 82
Harrison Barnes 81
Danilo Gallinari 81
Michael Kidd Gilchrist 81

Power Forward
Kevin Love 90
Anthony Davis 90
Blake Griffin 88
Serge Ibaka 86
Derrick Favors 85
Greg Monroe 84
Derrick Williams 84
Lamarcus Aldridge 84
Anthony Bennett 84
Kenneth Faried 84
Anthony Randolph 81
Thomas Robinson 80
Thaddeus Young 80
Amare Stoudemire 79
Cody Zeller 79

Centers
Dwight Howard 91
Demarcus Cousins 87
Andrew Bynum 86
Al Jefferson 84
Larry Sanders 84
Chris Bosh 81
Al Horford 80
Brook Lopez 80
Roy Hibbert 79
JJ Hickson 79
Jonas Valanciunas 79
Andre Drummond 78
Nikola Vucevic 77
Deandre Jordan 77
Javale McGee 77

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After 2019 – 2020 Season

HIGEST RATED PLAYER BY POSITION

Point Guards
Derrick Rose 93
John Wall 92
Damian Lilliard 92
Russell Westbrook 91
Kyrie Irving 91
Chris Paul 90
Jrue Holiday 90
Steph Curry 88
Brandon Jennings 87
Tiago Viana (generated player) 87
Ricky Rubio 86
JP Stockton (generated player) 86
Trey Burke 85
Deron Williams 85
Kemba Walker 84
Carson George (generated player) 83
Tyreke Evans 83

Shooting Guards
Paul George 92
James Harden 91
Gerard Jensen (generated player) 91
Dion Waiters 89
Eric Gordon 86
Victor Oladipo 86
Bradley Beal 85
Iman Shumpert 85
CJ McCollum 85
Ben McLemore 84
Jimmy Butler 84
Jacque Perben (generated player) 83
Kentavious Caldwell Pope 82
Dwayne Wade 81
Avery Bradley 81

Small Forwards
Lebron James 97
Kevin Durant 96
Elden Marks (generated player) 91
Kawhi Leonard 88
Carmelo Anthony 87
Tyreke Evans 85
Trevor Ariza 84
Michael Kidd Gilchrist 82
Harrison Barnes 82
Chandler Parsons 82
Issac Buford (generated player) 82
Jackie Perkinson (generated player) 81
Gordon Hayward 80
Danilo Gallinari 80
Rudy Gay 80

Power Forwards
Anthony Davis 93
Kevin Love 89
Blake Griffin 88
Anthony Bennett 86
Derrick Williams 86
Derrick Favors 84
Greg Monroe 84
Kenneth Faried 84
Serge Ibaka 83
Lamarcus Aldridge 81
Thomas Robinson 81
Cody Zeller 81
Anthony Randolph 81

Centers
Dwight Howard 89
Nerlens Noel 87
Demarcus Cousins 87
Andrew Bynum 86
Larry Sanders 82
Jonas Valanciunas 82
Paulo Pessoa (generated player) 82
Javier Sosa (generated player) 80
Brook Lopez 80
Andre Drummond 80
Al Jefferson 78
Artie Smalls (generated player) 78
Michael Jacobs (generated player) 78
Enes Kanter 77
Nikola Vucevic 77


ASSOCIATION STATS
I know that I have seen some people also asking about statistics in the Association. I gave a list of each category three years in and six years in below.

League Leaders after 2016 - 2017
Points
Kevin Durant/OKC – 25.9
Lebron James/MIA – 25.6
Blake Griffin/LAC – 25.6
Kyrie Irving/CLE – 24.1
Russell Westbrook/OKC – 23.7
Derrick Rose/CHI – 23.3
Anthony Randolph/NYC – 22.9
Deron Williams/BKN – 22.6
Kevin Love/MIN – 22.1
Jeremy Lin/HOU – 21.8

Rebounds
Kevin Love/MIN – 11.4
Anthony Davis/NO – 11.3
Deandre Jordan/LAC – 11.1
Blake Griffin/LAC - 10.4
Andre Drummond/DET – 10.3
Kenneth Faried/DEN – 10.2
Larry Sanders/MIL – 10.0
Jonas Valamciaunas/TOR 10.0
Thomas Robinson/POR – 9.8
Kelly Olynyk/BOS – 9.6

Assists
Ty Lawson/DEN – 8.9
Chris Paul/LAC – 8.6
Kyrie Irving/CLE – 8.5
Ricky Rubio/MIN -8.0
John Wall/WAS – 8.0
Rajon Rondo/BOS – 8.0
Kemba Walker/CHA – 7.8
Jeremy Lin/HOU – 7.5
Jrue Holiday/NO – 7.3
Deron Williams/BKN – 7.3

Steals
Eric Bledsoe/TOR – 2.0
Tiago Viana/LAL (generated player) – 2.0
Dion Walters/CLE – 2.0
Ricky Rubio/MIN – 1.9
Mike Conley/MEM – 1.9

Blocks
Jonas Valanciunas/TOR – 2.1
Brandan Wright/DAL – 2.0
Derrick Favors/UTA – 2.0
Anthony Davis/NO – 1.9
Serge Ibaka/OKC – 1.9

------------------------------------------------------------
2019 – 2020 Season Stats
Points
Kevin Durant/OKC - 29.3
Blake Griffin/LAC – 27.0
Derrick Rose/CHI – 25.7
Russell Westbrook/CHI – 24.2
Kyrie Irving/CLE - 23.7
Lebron James/MIA – 23.7
Kevin Love/MIN – 22.6
Steph Curry/GS – 21.2
Derrick Williams/MIN – 20.8
Jordan Crawford/OKC – 20.3

Rebounds
Anthony Davis/NO - 11.6
Andre Drummond/DET – 11.4
Kevin Love/MIN – 11.0
Nikola Vucevic/ORL – 10.7
Javier Sosa/ATL (generated player) – 10.4
Demarcus Cousins/SAC – 10.2
Larry Sanders/MIL – 10.2
Jonas Valanciunas/TOR – 10.0
Andrew Bynum/LAC - 10.0
Kenneth Faried/TOR – 9.9

Assists
Rajon Rondo/BOS – 8.8
Damian Lillard/POR – 8.2
DJ Augustin/LAC – 7.8
Chris Paul/TOR – 7.7
John Wall/SAC – 7.7
Ricky Rubio/SA – 7.5
Deron Williams/BKN – 7.4
Kyrie Irving/CLE – 7.4
Jrue Holiday/NO – 7.1
Steph Curry/GS – 7.0

Steals
Russell Westbrook/CHI – 2.3
Ricky Rubio/SA – 1.9
Blake Griffin/LAC – 1.9
Paul George/IND – 1.9
Anthony Davis/NO – 1.8

Blocks
Anthony Davis/NO – 2.1
Derrick Favors/UTA – 1.9
Andrew Bynum/LAC – 1.9
Jonas Valanciunas/TOR – 1.7
Brook Lopez/BKN – 1.7



Now unfortunately I forgot to save this particular Association before I exited but I can go back and do another later in the night. I just wanted to give some information and spark some conversation for those interested in Association this year.

[seemoe]

thanks for this!

[jaosming]

fantastic job

you said the inside shot rating is gone and replaced by additional layup ratings?

[CWSapp757]

Yes sir. That is correct. I should have listed them before I stepped out but I was in a bt of a rush. If no one posts them before I get home I most definitely will. I know it's standing layup, euro layup, step through, runner and I believe one or two more.

[infam0us]

39 year old Wade rated 81...Not a fan, should have declined more being that Wade's athleticism is an important part of his game. Based off overall improvements clearly 2k still hasn't updated Anthony Randolph's potential.

Simulated stats still need some improvements.

[jaosming]

Quote: Originally Posted by CWSapp757

Yes sir. That is correct. I should have listed them before I stepped out but I was in a bt of a rush. If no one posts them before I get home I most definitely will. I know it's standing layup, euro layup, step through, runner and I believe one or two more.

oh wow, as ratings? hmm.... are there windmill/spin/tomahawk dunk ratings too? heh

thanks for the info though

[jrose11]

sorry this question may be repetitive from other others but just saw this one is for association mode and that's the only mode I really play and I play as classic teams and ones I create during the off season

Can you export teams and customize conferences/divisions?

Thanks if you can answer this.

[Sundown]

It's good that Potential no longer increases year to year-- that makes no sense. But shouldn't it decrease over time as players improve, get older, and settle into what they're going to be?