NBA 2K11 says Carmelo Anthony is better than KD

NBA 2K11 leaked its starting five ratings today and for the Thunder, our boys go like this: Russell Westbrook, 81; Thabo Sefolosha, 66; Kevin Durant, 91; Jeff Green, 77; Nenad Krstic, 59.

Take that in for a second. First off, even before we get to Durant, Krstic a 59? You know who else is rated a 59? JaVale McGee. Darko Milicic is just two behind at a 57. Amir Johnson is a 63 for crying out loud. I’d say Nenad got the short end here. Nenad was rated a 98 in chair throwing though.

But let’s look at where KD fits in. First, the players rated higher than him: LeBron James (97), Dwyane Wade (97), Kobe Bryant (97), Chris Paul (95), Carmelo Anthony (93) and Deron Williams (92). So according to a video game, Durant is the seventh best player in the league. I certainly don’t agree.

Where does Westbrook fit in? Compared to other point guards, Westbrook was behind Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tyreke Evans (depending on what you classify him), Derrick Rose, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups and Steve Nash. Westbrook was rated higher than Tony Parker, Andre Miller, Stephen Curry, Aaron Brooks and Darren Collison.

While Durant’s 91 isn’t necessarily extremely low, shouldn’t the reigning scoring champ and MVP runner-up maybe have been in the 94-95 range? I don’t disagree with LeBron being higher, but seventh best?

Maybe it’s because Durant is on 2K11’s rivals’ cover in NBA Elite. Maybe it’s just because KD isn’t quite getting the deserved respect yet. Or maybe, it’s just a video game and this actually doesn’t matter at all.