Utah Jazz NBA 2K20: Simulating season with Gobert/Hayward/Mitchell core
In an NBA 2K20 simulation, a Utah Jazz team led by Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward and Donovan Mitchell fell way short of expectations.
With the 2019-20 season currently suspended, many NBA fans have turned to NBA 2K20 for entertainment. I decided to join in on the fun by simulating a Utah Jazz season with the Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward and Donovan Mitchell core we never got to see in reality.
Ever since Gordon Hayward left the Utah Jazz for the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017, fans were also left with the thought of having a fully healthy Hayward playing alongside Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
Not the Gordon Hayward that devastatingly suffered a fracture/dislocation of his ankle in his first game as a Celtic, even though has since recovered and is a boarder line All-Star. I’m talking about the Gordon Hayward that was one of the best players in the entire league in 2016-17.
If that Hayward remained with the Jazz, they’d be on another level, if you ask me. NBA 2K20, though, seems to have different plans.
I added Hayward to the Jazz from the All-Time Jazz roster (where his attributes are the same as when he left), and waived Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic. If Hayward remained with the Jazz, we would not be seeing these two in Jazz uniforms.
I did, however, add Ricky Rubio back to the Jazz. He was with the Jazz when Hayward left, and I was really excited to see how the pair of them would work in real life.
Before I go ahead and show the results of the simulation, here’s a quick look at the rotation I used. Injuries were turned off, so this is the group that played in all 82 games for the Utah Jazz during this simulation:
- Ricky Rubio – 82 overall, 32 minutes (12.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 9.2 APG)
- Donovan Mitchell – 88 overall, 34 minutes (21.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG)
- Gordon Hayward – 89 overall, 34 minutes (23.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.8 APG)
- Royce O’Neale – 74 overall, 25 minutes (6.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 32% 3PT)
- Rudy Gobert – 87 overall, 34 minutes (12.1 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 2.7 BPG)
- Joe Ingles – 78 overall, 26 minutes (6.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 38% 3PT)
- Jordan Clarkson, 81 overall, 25 minutes (15.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.9 APG)
- Emmanuel Mudiay – 78 overall, 10 minutes (5.6 PPG, 2.0 APG)
- Tony Bradley – 77 overall, 10 minutes (3.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG)
- Georges Niang – 76 overall, 10 minutes. (4.1 PPG, 40% 3PT)
That looks like one heck of a team, right? Plus, Gordon Hayward was named to the All-Star and All-NBA 3rd team. Rudy Gobert was named to the All-Defensive 1st team.
Here come the (disappointing) results from the simulation…
- 41-41 record, ninth seed in the Western Conference
- 22-19 record at home, 19-22 record on the road
- 24-28 record against the Western Conference
- 110.3 PPG (23rd in NBA)
- 112.8 PAPG (15th in NBA)
I definitely was not expecting this result. The Jazz missed the playoffs and struggled as a team offensively. With a Gobert/Hayward/Mitchell core, I would expect them to be at the top of the Western Conference.
This is a video game, though. Unfortunately, we will never know how good this Utah Jazz team could have been if Gordon Hayward stayed and continued to improve without suffering a career-altering injury.
Also, going back and trying to alter the past is a tough task. We have no idea if Mitchell would become the player he is today if Hayward remained in town. I like to think he would be. If you have that All-Star talent, it will show through, regardless of who’s in your way.
We’re talking about a healthy Hayward, Gobert in his prime and Mitchell as your third best player. That’s scary!
I will say, though, this cured any boredom I had for about an hour. If you own NBA 2K20, hop on the sticks and get creative. There are countless amounts of things you can do to pass some time as we await the end of this hiatus.
