Is MJ a 100 overall in 2K23?

No, the legendary Michael Jordan does not have a perfect 100 overall rating in the latest edition of the popular basketball video game franchise NBA 2K. With his array of elite offensive and defensive skills, MJ sits at the top of the NBA 2K23 player ratings with an astounding 99 overall.

While a 99 rating cements Jordan‘s greatness and status as possibly the best player modeled in NBA 2K, he falls just short of the mythic 100 rating threshold that has only been achieved once in the game’s history by Hall of Famer Shaquille O‘Neal.

MJ Dominates the 2K Series With Sky-High Ratings

Throughout his decorated career as a 14x All-Star, 6x NBA Champion, and 5x MVP, Michael Jordan has unsurprisingly held elite overall ratings across his player models in the NBA 2K games.

Per 2KRatings.com tracking, Jordan’s last five overall ratings in 2K games are:

As we can see, Jordan has maintained stellar ratings in the high 90s throughout recent 2K iterations, a testament to his basketball brilliance. The 99 rating awarded to his classic version in the latest 2K23 sim matches his peak production during his ‘96-‘98 championship three-peat with the Bulls.

The Prestigious 100 Rating – Exclusive Club of Shaq

While Jordan stands on the edge of basketball immortality with his 99 rating in NBA 2K23, he falls just short of the exclusive 100 club. In the game’s entire history since its first release in 1999, only legendary center Shaquille O’Neal has ever been anointed with a perfect 100 overall rating.

Shaq accomplished this feat in the NBA 2K2 edition over 20 years ago in his prime coming off a season where he swept MVP, Finals MVP, and his first championship with the Lakers. It is likely the developers at Visual Concepts wanted to pays respects to possibly the most physically dominant force the real-life NBA had ever witnessed at the time.

Since then, despite insane statistical seasons from contemporary superstars like LeBron, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and more, no NBA player has measured up to Shaq’s lofty standard for the 100 rating honor. It remains an exclusive club with Diesel as the lone member for now.

Breaking Down MJ‘s 99 Attributes in NBA 2K23

So how exactly does 2K determine Jordan‘s overall 99 rating? We can examine his key attribute categories and badge loadout:

Key Attributes:

• Finishing: 95
• Shooting: 88
• Playmaking: 80
• Defense: 96

Hall of Fame Badges (9 Total):

• Acrobat
• Relentless Finisher
• Posterizer
• Difficult Shots
• Tireless Defender
• Clamps
• Interceptor
• Pick Pocket
• Intimidator

With elite level ratings in the key areas of finishing, defense, and athleticism combined with a stacked Hall of Fame badge arsenal, MJ‘s model in 2K23 is designed to dominate games on both ends of the floor in the vein of his real-life 90s heroics.

When comparing his badges and attributes to current NBA elites:

• MJ edges 2K23 cover star Devin Booker (97 OVR) in critical defensive areas
• Ranks slightly behind Giannis (97 OVR) in finishing skills
• Unable to match Stephen Curry‘s (97 OVR) limitless shooting range

But overall, the balanced two-way excellence displayed by Jordan‘s 99 OVR player build showcases why many consider him the definitive GOAT both in real basketball history and now too in the virtual world of NBA 2K.

Requirements for the Elusive 100 Rating

Given Jordan‘s stellar 99 rating model and the fact no current NBA superstar comes close to touching the max 100 OVR, what exactly does it take to get there? Based on Shaq‘s historic achievement of that honor, I speculate the thresholds include:

• Real-life MVP and championship production
• Top-three ranking in PER, Win Shares, BPM, and other all-in-one advanced metrics
• Excellence across counting stats (points, rebounds, blocks, steals)
• No identifiable weaknesses in the player‘s statistical profile
• Peerless display of dominance that transcends the NBA landscape for an era

When balancing these factors, the reality is even the most prolific stars in recent NBA history fall slightly short of meeting this outrageous criteria carried by Shaq in his peak season.

However, some all-time great individuals seasons that could warrant a 100 rating by 2K‘s standards include:

• 2016 Steph Curry (Unanimous MVP, 73 Wins)
• 2013 LeBron (MVP, Finals MVP, Title)
• 1987 Michael Jordan (MVP, DPOY, 35 PPG)
• 2002 Shaq (Third straight Finals MVP)

Outlook for Future 100 Ratings

Barring any future updates by Visual Concepts to make achieving a 100 OVR more accessible, it appears the rating will remain an elusive pinnacle only touched by Shaq.

However, I speculate that had analytics and activity tracking been prevalent in Michael Jordan‘s era, his metrics likely reveal a GOAT-tier peak matching Shaq‘s own production. We never got to fully quantify MJ‘s true shooting percentages, rebound chances, and defensive impact in terms of attempted field goals prevented and other box score estimates.

In another universe, perhaps the 2K developers grant Jordan a 100 overall rating to symbolize his statistical dominance in both counting and advanced numbers. For now, fans can still marvel in awe at his 99 rating and remain eager to take over games with the virtual Air Jordan.

Closing Thoughts

While Michael Jordan unfortunately does not earn the prestigious 100 rating in NBA 2K23, his 99 OVR still encapsulates his greatness as possibly the perfect archetype of a basketball player. MJ rightly belongs in any "GOAT" debate both in real statistical metrics and too now in virtual gaming simulations.

Few players can match Jordan‘s competitive spirit and drive for excellence that translated into peerless production across the stat sheet for over a decade with the Bulls. So in that sense, MJ sitting one notch below mythic rating territory feels symbolic of his just missing out on reaching actual basketball deity status during his legendary career.