NBA 2K25 predicts the season: Celtics slip, Luka Dončić is MVP and a new champion is crowned

Anthony Sulla-Heffinger
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is seen in NBA 2K25. (Photo courtesy of 2K)
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum as seen in NBA 2K25. (Photo courtesy of 2K) (2K)

Following in the footsteps of College Football 25 and Madden, we're simulating an entire NBA season in the recently released NBA 2K25. The NBA 2K series has been the cream of the crop when it comes to basketball simulation video games for nearly two decades now and has cemented itself in both gaming and hoops culture.

Since this is our first-ever NBA 2K simulation, let's explain how it worked:

  • We simulated from the MyEras mode (2K's version of franchise) starting in the Modern Era, with current rosters and the NBA Cup in-season tournament.

  • We were required to select a team to control during the simulation and randomly chose the Los Angeles Clippers.

  • All default MyEras settings were left intact.

  • CPU trade offers were disabled — although the Pacers and Pistons both tried to trade for the Clippers' Norman Powell before the switch was made.

  • All G-League, prospect scouting and rotational decisions were set to automated.

Keeping that in mind, let's jump right into a recap of how the virtual 2024-25 NBA season played out.

A year after losing to the Celtics in the 2024 Finals, the Mavericks were the class of the NBA. They finished with a league-best 63-19 record, edging out the Knicks (62-20), who had the top record in the Eastern Conference.

Jason Kidd was named NBA Coach of the Year for leading the Mavericks to the second-best win total in franchise history (Dallas went 67-15 in 2006-07). We'll leave it at that, because there's plenty more to talk about when it comes to the Mavericks.

Bronny James did not play a single minute in the 2K simulation — which seems extremely unlikely to happen when the season actually tips off next month. On the opposite end of the spectrum, LeBron James played in all 82 games (again, almost certainly won't happen considering he'll be 40 in December and in his 22nd NBA season).

LeBron finished the season averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7 assists in a shade under 30 minutes per game. The MPG would be the lowest of his career and the points average would be the lowest since his rookie year in 2003-04. On the defensive end, he did contribute 2.3 stocks, an uptick from his prior two seasons in Los Angeles. The Lakers as a team finished 42-40, good for eighth in the Western Conference and a spot in the play-in tournament.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during game four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LeBron James agreed to a two-year deal to stay with the Lakers this summer. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)

Staying in the West, Portland managed to have the worst record in the NBA in the 2K simulation, finishing 24-58 on the season. If this were to happen, it would actually be a three-win improvement over the 21-61 record the Blazers had in 2023-24.

However, it would also mark the fourth consecutive losing season in Portland — the longest such streak for the franchise since the 1970-71 through 1975-76 seasons. Thankfully for the Blazers, the 2025 draft class is loaded.

In a surprising outcome, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns to win the NBA Cup, the league's second annual in-season tournament. Zach LaVine, who missed the second half of the 2023-24 season with a foot injury, finished with a game-high 33 points in the championship game that ended in a 122-93 blowout.

From the slew of big-name moves the past offseason, only Paul George managed to not see a relatively significant decline in the simulation. The 76ers' newest star finished the season averaging 22.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists, which was right in line with his 2023-24 numbers with the Clippers.

As far as Klay Thompson's first season away from Golden State, the former Splash Bro managed to play in all 82 games (which would be only the second time in his career), but his 15.9 points per game in Dallas would mark his lowest average since his rookie season. Dejounte Murray (Pelicans), Mikal Bridges (Knicks) and DeMar DeRozan (Kings) all saw dips in production, too.

Victor Wembanyama made the All-Star game for the first time in his career in the simulation and coasted to his first DPOY trophy after finishing second in DPOY voting as a rookie. The Spurs' sophomore sensation led the NBA in blocks (3.2 BPG) and added 1.5 steals per game. He also paced the Association in rebounding (13.2 RPG), helping San Antonio finish 41-41 (plus-19 wins from 2023-24).

Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham won the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 10.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his first year in Minnesota playing alongside Anthony Edwards.

Dillingham, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, also made the NBA's All-Rookie first team alongside Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks), Alex Sarr (Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Rockets) and Timberwolves teammate Terrence Shannon Jr.

As much as a 62-win Knicks team would upend New York City and the NBA as a whole, that wasn't the biggest surprise in the simulation. That dubious honor belongs to the defending champion Boston Celtics, who somehow managed to finish 40-42 (a 24-win drop from 2023-24) and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Boston managed to advance out of the play-in tournament but was quickly bounced from the playoffs. We'll file this under "extremely unlikely to happen."

Following their seasons, three well-known point guards decided to hang 'em up: Chris Paul (Spurs), Russell Westbrook (Nuggets) and Kyle Lowry (76ers). When the simulated season began, I was prompted about Paul's decision and asked to allow a "retirement tour" for the 12-time All-Star. Paul helped San Antonio improve to .500, but finished his career without an NBA championship.

All three veterans promptly had their numbers retired in the simulation by their former teams, with the Clippers retiring Paul's No. 3, Thunder retiring Westbrook's No. 0 and Raptors retiring Lowry's No. 7. Toronto and Los Angeles were the only two NBA franchises without a retired number (excluding Bill Russell's league-wide No. 6).

Luka Dončić captured the first MVP award of his career by nearly averaging a triple-double for the season. Dončić led the NBA in scoring (30.8 PPG), was ninth in rebounding (11.1 RPG) and second in assists (9.8 APG), all while compiling a 50/84/42 shooting split.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks warms up prior to Game One of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on June 06, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Will Luka Dončić be MVP and champion this season? (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) (Adam Glanzman via Getty Images)

The Dallas Mavericks.

It was a very chalky road to the NBA Finals, with the top two seeds in both conferences squaring off for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Despite just one win separating the Mavericks and Knicks in the regular season, the NBA Finals were a complete blowout — with Dallas sweeping New York to take home the second NBA title in franchise history.

Dončić added to his trophy case by securing the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award, averaging 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 11.5 assists on 50/89.5/46.7 shooting in the first Finals sweep since the 2017-18 season.

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