How NBA 2K10 Taught Me Why Some NBA General Managers Overlook The D-League

When I wasn't watching college basketball this weekend, I was blogging dusting off the Playstation 3 and plying my trade as an NBA general manager with NBA 2k10.

I had it all set up perfectly:

Unfortunately, the game plan didn't work out how I wanted it to work out, leaving me frustrated, but teaching me valuable things about being an NBA general manager:

Most importantly? There aren't any faces in the D-League.

After assigning Thabeet to the D-League and trading Darrell Arthur for a second round pick (I don't want him to choke like his alma mater did this weekend), I realized I could probably use a back-up big man. Being a D-League supporter like I am, the first place I look is at the D-League's League Leaders.

The best player in the D-League is apparently Tom Thompson, a 6-foot-10, 232 pound rookie power forward out of Connecticut. The only thing I know about him, however, are his D-League statistics - a gaudy 23.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. Those numbers are impressive, sure, but it's against players I've never watched play - I'm assuming a video game's D-League is not very good. Plus, he doesn't even have a picture! Does this mean he has character issues and decided he didn't want to show up at media day? Why wasn't he drafted? What kind of parents name their child Tom Thompson? Regardless, a lot of downside to picking up the top player in the D-League.

When I look through the free agent pool, however, I notice that Melvin Ely is sitting at home, just waiting for a chance at playing for my franchise! He's played in the NBA eight seasons, he can play both the PF and C positions, he has an NBA ring and it looks like he was fairly productive with Charlotte for a few seasons! Plus, he has a sweet goatee, is a former first round pick, has the same 60 overall rating as Thompson! And Ely's a seasoned 31 years of age - he's still got a few years of prime ballplayin' left in him! Obviously if he's been in the NBA for this long, he's better than Tom Thompson. The best part about it? When I go to sign him, he happily accepts the veteran minimum for an 8-year NBA player and even the role as "bench warmer - playing time will be very limited."

I don't have anything against Melvin Ely, but I'm a bit disappointed that he was my final answer when it came to choosing between what was a faceless D-Leaguer or Ely - a guy that hadn't played all season and has never really been impressive over his NBA career.

Thus, my goal for the rest of the season is putting a face on all of the current D-Leaguers, starting with tomorrow morning's Randy Livingston Memorial On The Edge Call-Up Rankings, version 5.0 (most recent iteration here). I also plan to break down the top players by position. Starting with point guards Tuesday afternoon.

If there's anybody in particular you are interested in learning about, shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment - Yes, I'm taking requests, as long as I can fathom them being in the NBA someday.

Comments

Dude, really? You didn't sign Tom Thompson in a video game?

C’mon man! It’s a video game, roll the dice. I once created a team of my college roommates who were all between 5’11" and 6’3" and we played PG-PF for the Chicago Bulls and won a Championship. Anything is possible.

By NothingButHornets on 03.22.10 1:28pm

He didn't have a face

For all I know, I could’ve signed him and he’d have a blonde afro and be a big black dude and I’d just be pissed everytime he took the floor.

By Scott Schroeder on 03.22.10 3:01pm

With a description like that

you’d be pissed?

By Jon L on 03.22.10 3:05pm

Takes away the realism

I’m a purist, Jon L.

By Scott Schroeder on 03.22.10 3:38pm

And I'm not?

By Jon L on 03.22.10 4:05pm

Decidedly not an afro.

And he shaved it off the next day after learning that they wouldn’t update his hairstyle in NBA 2k10 because it wasn’t realistic, I’m told.

By Scott Schroeder on 03.22.10 4:12pm

I have to agree with Jon L here, I'm pretty sure I'd only be pissed if he looked like Adam Morrison.

By NothingButHornets on 03.22.10 3:24pm

You just described the very first player I create in every sports video game (assuming he also has blonde mutton chops). This followed shortly by creating my friends, though I usually scale them to NBA equivalent height – for example, if I know a guy who’s 6’6" in real life, he becomes 7’2" in video game basketball.

By richardhkirkando on 03.22.10 6:01pm

No, no, no. I stayed true to my friends heights.

It was epic. I was a 6’2" Kenyon Martin circa 2004-esque PF. Lets just say I got blocked a lot.

By NothingButHornets on 03.22.10 8:30pm

I like that you talk about your friends

Then only mention yourself. That was epic.

By Scott Schroeder on 03.23.10 12:53am

My team's star

Is based on my (IRL) 6’3" old roommate, who played some SF in high school and rarely got off the bench. But he wore goggles, a headband, and an arm sleeve, so he was pretty intimidating when he did play. Also had a Euro-mullet. I pretty much copied LeBron’s stats.

By richardhkirkando on 03.23.10 1:09am

My friend Mark was a 6'0" shooting gaurd who scored 28 a game and did nothing else.

So he was a better less PGish version of Blake Ahearn. See I can talk about my friends.

By NothingButHornets on 03.25.10 11:51am

Seeing as I'm 5'11" IRL

I figure that I would scale down to 5’5" or so, and I certainly don’t have the coordination to play PG. I’ll then exaggerate my speed and 3pt shooting so I’m not totally useless. As a way way way undersized SG, I also give myself cornrows so I can tell myself I’m kinda like a white AI.

I, too, get blocked a lot.

By richardhkirkando on 03.23.10 1:05am

It's really fun to see your digital self get blocked.

Only then to use the next 10 possessions to “get back at” the guy who blocked you via a nasty lay-up.

By NothingButHornets on 03.25.10 11:52am

Tom Thompson > Dwayne Jones

By Michael Levin on 03.22.10 2:24pm

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