NBA All-Star Weekend is in two weeks, can you believe it? Come February 16, the league will descend upon San Francisco for the 74th NBA All-Star Game and feature many of its biggest stars. From LeBron James and Stephen Curry to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and more, NBA All-Star Weekend boasts world-renowned talent and is a spectacle to behold. But before we get ahead of ourselves, imagining all of the highlight-reel plays, let’s focus on what’s brought us to this moment.

The NBA regular season is officially past the halfway point and the NBA Playoff picture is beginning to take shape. There’s been a palpable shift in intensity the last two weeks and players around the league are starting to find their mid-season rhythm, including established veterans like LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan, and rookie Kel’el Ware. The trio have made their presence on the court felt and it’s reflected in the NBA 2K25 Player Ratings.

LeBron James, Forward, Los Angeles Lakers: 96 OVR (+1)

Forty years old and amid Year 22 in the NBA, LeBron James continues to amaze and fend off Father Time. It’s easy to take the four-time NBA Champion for granted; he’s been a fixture in the Association for two decades and his elite consistency has made many fans numb to his greatness—but we need to cherish it before it’s gone.

Over the last two weeks, the 21-time NBA All-Star is averaging 23.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 9.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. His 9.6 assists during this stretch are third-best in the NBA, only behind Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić’s 11.7 and Los Angeles Clippers point guard James Harden’s 10.1. On January 21, against the Washington Wizards, LeBron became the second player in NBA history to post a triple-double at age 40 or older, joining NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is in uncharted territory, giving longevity at the professional level new meaning. The sun may be setting on LeBron’s transcendent career, but as long as he continues to deliver historic performances his NBA 2K rating will continue to rise.

DeMar DeRozan, Forward, Sacramento Kings: 87 OVR (+1)

New team, same DeMar. The 16-year veteran’s been an exceptional scorer throughout his career, with a career average of 21.3 points per game, and that trend has continued during his first 41 games with the Sacramento Kings. 

Last offseason, the Kings were eager to add a veteran starter capable of providing 35 minutes and contributing around 20 points per game, and DeRozan fit the bill. The 35-year-old sharpshooter has a knack for scoring, but his consistency has been his calling card. DeRozan has 12 consecutive seasons of 20 points per game, which ranks fifth among active NBA players and 14th all-time.

Since the Kings parted ways with former head coach Mike Brown, DeRozan’s seen an uptick in his production, posting 25.1 points per game over the last two weeks. During that time frame, his 25.1 points rank 16th in that category, and it’s helped the team win seven of their last 10 games. Many wondered how DeRozan would pair with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but it hasn’t impacted his ability to score whatsoever

Kel’el Ware, Center, Miami Heat: 80 OVR (+6)

The roster situation in Miami’s been a little stormy lately, but rookie Kel’el Ware’s increased minutes and production as a starter have been a beacon of positivity for the franchise and Heat fans. Selected by the Heat with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Ware excelled at the collegiate level as a rim protector and floor stretcher, capable of thriving in the pick-and-roll or on the perimeter, which complements Heat guard Tyler Herro’s game perfectly.

Through the first 26 games of the season, the coaching staff cautiously eased Ware onto the court, giving him a little more than 15 minutes per contest; however, over the last two weeks, he’s started in four consecutive games and is up to 29.5 minutes per game. The increased volume has translated to the box score also, with the rookie averaging 13.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, which ranks 25th among 448 players during the two-week period.

We’re past the halfway point of the NBA regular season and the Rookie of the Year race is sure to heat up—no pun intended—after the All-Star break. Keep your eyes on the Eastern Conference as Ware develops more familiarity as a starter, he's a candidate to take home the prestigious hardware.