Who Was the Last 99 Overall Rating in NBA 2K History?

The name at the top of that mountain in the NBA 2K series has an iconic ring to it – LeBron James. He remains the last player to date to achieve the coveted 99 overall rating all the way back in NBA 2K14.

To fully appreciate how rare LeBron‘s feat is, let‘s break down the numbers:

Only 5 players in NBA 2K history have earned a 99 overall rating:

Meanwhile, consensus GOAT Michael Jordan peaked at 98 overall – which goes to show how the 99 club is on another level when it comes to video game dominance.

Chasing Greatness in Miami: LeBron‘s Epic 2012-13 Season

So how did LeBron ascend to this rare peak to join the likes of MJ, Kobe and Duncan as one of the few 99 overall players ever?

We need to flashback to the 2012-2013 season where LeBron posted extraordinary numbers for the championship-contending Miami Heat:

26.8 points per game on 56.5% shooting – crazy efficient volume scoring

8 rebounds per game – excelling on the glass despite playing on the wing

7.3 assists per game – proving his elite playmaking at 6‘8"

31.6 PER – topped the NBA in this catch-all offensive metric

.322 WS/48 – also #1 in the league in Win Shares per 48 minutes

9.7 BPM – another advanced stat he lead the league in as the best overall player

These stats barely scratch the surface, but they helped propel LeBron to his 4th MVP award almost unanimously with 120 out of 121 first place votes.

He also lead the Heat to the best record in basketball at 66-16 in the regular season. And of course, he ultimately lifted Miami to their second straight championship by taking down the San Antonio Spurs in one of the most epic NBA Finals series ever.

This version of LeBron was him at the very apex of his powers – having refined his devastating blend of scoring, playmaking, efficiency and defensive impact into the game‘s most unstoppable force.

He averaged a robust 25.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7 assists in the Finals on 60% true shooting to capture Finals MVP and affirm his status as the world‘s best.

In rewarding this sustained brilliance by having LeBron join the vaunted 99 Overall Club after that career-defining season, NBA 2K14 cemented his status as a certified video game legend as the last player to achieve that pinnacle.

The All-Time 99 Overall Starting 5 Team

Now just for fun, let‘s speculate what an All-Time Starting 5 of 99 Overall players might look like based on NBA 2K history:

Look at that lineup…Undisputed GOAT MJ in the backcourt running pick and roll with perhaps the greatest point guard Chris Paul. Meanwhile the front court just bullies teams with the most physically dominant center ever in Shaq combined with the athleticism and versatility of Duncan and LeBron at the forward spots. Good luck trying to score on that squad!

This thought experiment highlights how the 99 overall standard spans different positions and eras of basketball royalty – reminding us how unattainable it is for most players, even icons of the sport.

Will We See Another 99 Overall Rating Again?

While so few have ever reached those hallowed heights, could a current player potentially replicate LeBron‘s 99 overall accomplishment from NBA 2K14?

The closest we‘ve seen lately is players like Giannis, Jokic and Luka Doncic consistently earning 97 overall ratings for their real-life dominance. They likely need both an MVP and a championship in the same season to truly separate themselves into the 99 club conversation.

Of course, injuries and age make it difficult to sustain that MVP+title combo needed for 99 status – and once you fall off even slightly, you won‘t get that top-tier rating back as we‘ve seen with Steph Curry bouncing between 95-97 in recent years.

Perhaps Giannis Antetokounmpo currently has the best shot if he can win another MVP and championship this season while putting up insane statistical numbers for the Bucks. Social media would meltdown over a Thanasis Antetokounmpo 99 overall brother duo!

Ultimately, so much has to go right in the same year for someone to truly dominate enough to deserve joining the likes of LeBron, Jordan and Shaq. The NBA 2K99 crown is still very much up for grabs – and might remain vacant for seasons to come as LeBron continues casting a long shadow as the last player ever bestowed such an honor.