Barnes an experienced professional of 15 years who was a part of 2k23 mt two seasons for the Lakers' Pau Gasol/Kobe Bryant He also mentioned that he was the host of a 2K launch party recently and that Westbrook's ranking was the most talked about 2K23 factoid of the night. 

"I believe, even though Russ experienced an off-season last season, I think his ranking is low," Barnes opined. I believe Pat Bev is right there..."A 79 is a decent ranking but Russ's rating is way too low."

If 79 is a solid player, shouldn't 78 be as well? Beverley is a great defensive player and is a great three-point shooter. Westbrook might be a better player (at least, in the initial 40 minutes of a game) and rebounder, stats that a video game might give, but he's definitely not the "better" player than Beverley at the moment in their respective careers. "Russ even though you doubt your game and you criticize his weaknesses, I believe that he's still an effective player," Ogwumike contended on the show. "

He's on the scene, and he'll get you at minimum 20 pointspossibly 8 or more [assists]? rebounds? unclear]. "Of course, the majority of that output is the direct result of Westbrook not paying attention to or ignoring open teammates and causing low-percentage heaves during traffic. As the focal point of an offense, his six-foot-3" UCLA product is now at a disadvantage to his teammates' progress.

The decline of Westbrook came quickly. He was a fringe All-Star in his 2018-19 NBA year with the James Harden's Houston Rockets. However, that particular model of Westbrook is gone. His flaws outweigh his strengths. Sure, he puts some numbers (though even those figures are declining) however, he's likely to be used in the near term as an ignition source off cheap mt nba 2k23 the bench, facing off against opponents' second units rather than as a starter.