Gamers are used to utilizing Kobe Bryant to dominate in a basketball video game, but that might not be the case anymore in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K series.
Bryant received his lowest rating ever in the series as 2K Sports revealed on Twitter that the Lakers superstar will have an 85 out of 100 rating. According to CBS Sports, it will be the lowest rating of Bryant to date.
The "Black Mamba" @kobebryant in #NBA2K16, who has appeared in EVERY @NBA2K game to date! pic.twitter.com/Iy6vbRg5N6
"” Ronnie 2K 2K16 (@Ronnie2K) August 28, 2015
The 19-year veteran was given an 89 rating in NBA 2K15 -- the first time Bryant went below 90 in the popular basketball video game. Check out the yearly rating of Bryant since NBA 2K6 as reported by The Real 2K Insider.
- NBA 2K6 - 97
- NBA 2K7 - 98
- NBA 2K9 - 98
- NBA 2K9 - 99
- NBA 2K10 - 97
- NBA 2K11 - 97
- NBA 2K12 - 94
- NBA 2K13 - 93
- NBA 2K14 - 93
- NBA 2K15 - 89
- NBA 2K16 - 85
The 85 rating is quite understandable after Bryant was slowed down by a multitude of injuries over the past several seasons, which affected his production and explosiveness on the hardcourt.
Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon late in the 2012-13 NBA season, which forced him to miss the 2013 NBA Playoffs. He made his return the following season, but sustained a broken knee just in his sixth game back from the Achilles tendon surgery.
The 17-time All-Star was having a great year last season. He averaged 22.3 points on top of 5.7 points and 5.6 assists in 35 games, but his season was cut short again after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff.
Aside from the injuries he sustained over the past three seasons, Bryant also made it no secret that he might call it quits after the 2015-16 NBA season. In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, the 37-year-old superstar said that the upcoming season could be his last, but he will only make the decision next summer.
"We haven't set anything in stone and I've talked about it before. But could this be the last? Absolutely," Bryant admitted. "It's tough to decide. It's really tough to make those types of decisions. Players I have spoken to say, 'Kobe you will know.' I'm making this very simple."
