Mook Morris boycotts NBA2k


If you asked NBA players twenty years ago what their rating in a video game was, the answers received would either be "I have no idea" or "I don't know what you're talking about." Even if they did know their rating -- or had a clue what the question was even in reference to -- 99% of players would've likely gone about their business not giving it a second thought. After all, they had bigger fish to fry -- like figuring out a way to keep Dennis Rodman off the glass.

But that was then.

Today, we live in a social media-fueled society, where every movement, every choice of drink, jewelry, etc. are all full display.

With Instagram and Snapchat and all the rest, players are not just members of a franchise, they're their own franchise. It's like Jay-Z said: "I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man."

So, when you factor in each player taking their brand to heart, not to mention the obvious egos that come with being competitive professionals, it's no wonder players today are getting so riled up at their ratings in the most popular basketball video game: NBA2K.

Like when Boston Celtics veteran forward Marcus Morris discovered his rating, well, let's just say he wasn't exactly thrilled.


Mook Morris isn't the only one who takes his rating to heart. It's a big chunk of the league, as evidenced by the hilariously true words of Ronnie Singh, 2k Sports' Digital Marketing Director (aka the guy who came up with the ratings formula) when he was confronted by players at Harrison Barnes' wedding last year:
“I was at Harrison Barnes’ wedding and a major point of contention was Wesley’s [Matthews] rating. He found out that he was an 78 overall and he got pretty upset about it. He kept talking to Rick Carlisle about it. Well, Rick was the MC of Harrison’s reception. It got to the point that during the reception, in front of about 40 NBA players, Rick gets on the mic and says, ‘Ronnie, we have to address this rating thing right now. You need to come up here.’So during the reception, I’m up there in front of these 40 NBA players explaining why the ratings are the way they are and how they’re determined.”

A wedding was interrupted to clear the air for a video game rating. Whether it was done so out of anger or jest, or some combination therein, the fact that it was done at all speaks volumes to the state of today's society, and what something like this means to today's NBA player.

Most players simply voice their displeasure of their rating on Twitter or some other social avenue; however, some players, namely our beloved warrior/king-of-confidence Marcus Morris, have taken their disgust at their rating a step further, staging a boycott from the game due to what he feels is nothing short of disrespect.

I averaged 14 [points per game] for the last three years. There's no way I'm a 77 and dudes who average less than me are in the 80s. I don't respect it. So I can't play it.

I'm sure I speak for all Celtics fans when I say I couldn't care less what his rating is in a video game, as long as he does what I know he's capable of on the parquet.

That said, I think I'll join Mook and put down the 2k sticks too.*


*I don't play anyway

Follow Edward Babaian on Twitter: @bojixbabaian

Photo Credit: NBC Sports