Roundtable: we have THOUGHTS on NBA 2K18’s All-Time Mavericks team

Thursday, NBA 2K18 released their version of "All-Time" teams for each franchise. Here is what the 15-man roster looks like for the Dallas Mavericks:

Starters: Derek Harper, Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguirre, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Bradley.

Bench: Jim Jackson, Jason Terry, Michael Finley, Jamal Mashburn, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, Sam Perkins, J.J. Barea and Brendan Haywood.

No, that was not a typo. You read those last two names correctly. After looking over the list, we asked our staff:

Where do you think the 2K crew messed up with the overall roster? What are your thoughts on the starters that were chosen?

Doyle (@TheKobeBeef):

Shawn Bradley? Look, by all accounts Bradley is a nice man and loves his family. For that he gets high marks in everyone's books. However, he will always be known for two things: his role in Space Jam and for Tracy McGrady effectively ending his career. Sure, his career number are fine but an all-time Mav? I'm not so sure about that. Also, why are there four, FOUR centers on this list. Dallas as spent years chasing it's white whale center and has been dragged to the depths repeatedly. Perkins and Chandler are the only ones that should appear on this list.

Further, why is J.J. Barea on this list? Again, he's a nice guy. He also helped win the championship in 2011. But really? He could be replaced with any number of players from Mavericks history. The first tha comes to mind is former All-Star Josh Howard. While Howard didn't help the team win a title, he was part of the 2006 team that went to the Finals. We all know the officiating travesty that ensued. Howard was far and away the best player outside of Dirk and JET during that era. 2K really missed the mark here and by doing so guarantees that I will not be playing it anytime soon. (I don't play it anyway. NBA Street Vol. 2, NBA Jam, and NBA Live 2006 are the best basketball video games.)

Dalton (@dalton_trigg):

Let me start off by confirming some of what Doyle just said — NBA Street Vol. 2 is absolutly one of the best basketball video games of all time (R.I.P. Gamebreakers).

So the last time we talked about this, we only picked 12 total players for who we thought should make the Mavs All-Time team. 2K decided to go with a full 15-player roster, which should've made the choices a little easier, but apparently it didn't.

I realize players need to give consent before being included in the game, but come on man. Brendan Haywood and J.J. Barea are being portrayed as being top-15 in Mavs franchise history, when players like Brad Davis, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion, Roy Tarpley and even Nick Van Exel get left off? As far as the starters go, I would've started either Kidd or Nash over Harper, and definitely would've started Tyson over Shawn Bradley. I will be playing with this team, regardless, as soon as the game is released in September.

Josh (@Boweman55):

I was filled with supreme rage of seeing Brendan Haywood and J.J. Barea on there instead of the likes of Josh Howard, Brad David, Shawn Marion, James Donaldson and Roy Tarpley. I wanted to ball the entire internet into the garbage, light it on fire and bury it in the ocean. Then I realized that a lot of these misses on these all-time rosters is due to 2K needing the player rights for all these guys that aren't playing anymore. It made sense for bigger names like Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller but like, what's Howard and Donaldson doing nowadays? I imagine it just wasn't worth the effort for 2K to negotiate since 1.) these games have insane development turnarounds year after year and 2.) this isn't the most important part of the game.

So, OK, fine, whatever, 2K had it's hands tied and we got a garbage roster. HOWEVER, that does not explain why Shawn god damn Bradley is not only rated the same as Tyson Chandler but he's STARTING OVER HIM. SHAWN EFFING BRADLEY. Look, I actually don't mine Bradley being on the roster. He played most of his career in Dallas, he holds a ton of all-time franchise records and he was part of the transition from the Mavericks being a laughing stock to a Western Conference power. He helped! But he in no way should be starting over Tyson Chandler. Who ever decided that should be court marshaled. Then we have Derek Harper, who is awesome, but somehow starting over prime Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. Harper was a brilliant player but let's be real -- Kidd or Nash deserve the start there. My final irk is that Jason Terry and Michael Finley are rated the same and as much as I love Jason Terry and want his number in the rafters, Finley was a better overall player when you account for defense and also just the weigh Finley carried before Dirk became Dirk. This roster is an abomination.

Danny (@DannyWebster21):

I really don't understand this world of video games in which we live in. I was a Brendan Haywood fan when that trade happened. He gave me life in knowing a competent center could play for the Dallas freaking Mavericks (before Tyson Chandler came along). But he shouldn't be on this all-time team. And Shawn Bradley seems like a friendly giant and is a solid actor for his role in Space Jam. Playing the lanky, tall white man hitting his head on the door was Oscar worthy. But he should not be an 82 overall. He also should not be the same rating as the aforementioned Tyson Chandler, and HE SHOULD NOT BE STARTING OVER THE BEST CENTER IN THE TEAM'S HISTORY. Ronnie needs to go back to Harrison Barnes' wedding and explain why this is even a thing.

Why in the bluest of blue hell is this a thing? Why is Derek Harper starting over Steve Nash and Jason Kidd? How did J.J. Barea become an all-time Maverick? I love J.J., but for the love of God, no. This roster is a joke. The only bright sides are the three J's are actually on the team, and I can change the starting lineup to how I see fit. I get it. There are limits for 2K. But Shawn Marion isn't on the Mavs. He's on the Suns. Josh Howard isn't even an option. This roster is garbage.