'NBA 2K18' All-Time Team Analysis: Biggest Omissions, Eye-Popping Inclusions And Editing Options

On Wednesday, NBA 2K released the entire rosters for every one of the game's 30 All-Time teams in NBA 2K18. These rosters are a massive conversation piece for 2K fans and hoops heads overall.

This is a concept I've manually created for the past three years using my Franchise Player Value Rating, and it's great to see 2K include it in this year's game.

I'm going to take a look at each team and pinpoint the biggest omissions (offering my best explanation for some of the absences), the eye-popping inclusions (offering my best explanation for their presence) and even discussing my intentions to edit and create my own version using this as a base.

Yes, that's correct, the all-time rosters are fully editable. In short, you can customize the rosters the way you want and that includes creating players and adding them to any team. I'll still be creating my fourth version of the Ultimate Legends Roster. This new feature has only made the task easier.

The players who are listed in bold are eye-popping inclusions and I'll talk about the players I believe are missing below the chart.

Philadelphia 76ers

Biggest Omissions: Charles Barkley, Dolph Schayes, Chet Walker, Moses Malone

Obviously Sir Charles still can't come to an agreement with 2K. Thus he isn't here or with Phoenix. Schayes is an old-timer, but he is the most accomplished player in team history. Moses Malone was one of the best centers in history and he helped lead the Sixers to a championship in 1983. There has to be an issue with licensing, because he's not with the all-time Rockets either.

Eye-Popping Inclusions:

Joel Embiid has played a total of 31 games, so it's impossible he deserves to be on any all-time team. That said, he is a member of Team 2K, and if the teams are based on the most talented players to ever wear an organization's uniform, then perhaps The Process has a case.

Jrue Holiday did make an All-Star team with the 76ers, but his four-year stint doesn't seem worthy of a spot on the all-time team.

Milwaukee Bucks

Biggest Omissions: Glenn Robinson, Marques Johnson

Both Big Dog and MJ averaged 21 points per game in a Bucks uniform. Robinson was the No. 1 pick overall in the 1994 draft and played eight years for Milwaukee while Johnson played seven years for the Bucks.

 

Chicago Bulls

Biggest Omission: Chet Walker and Norm Van Lier

Van Lier was an excellent defender and all-around contributor for the Bulls in the mid 70s. He's one of the organization's most beloved alumni.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Biggest Omission: John "Hot Rod" Williams

Williams was a key contributor to the Cavs teams that were a powerhouse in the mid-90s. He passed away in 2015.

Boston Celtics

Biggest Omissions: JoJo White

White is a Hall of Famer, former NBA Finals MVP and he averaged 18.4 points per game as a Celtic.

Eye-Popping Inclusions: Thomas is a beloved player and Walker had a solid run with the team in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but when you consider the history and success this organization has had, it seems like a few more players from championship squads should have been included–namely White.

L.A. Clippers

Biggest Omissions: Randy Smith, Elton Brand and Loy Vaught

I have to think there's an issue with Brand's license. Aside from that, he seems like an obvious choice. Smith played 9 seasons with the organization and scored 17.8 points per game and made two All-Star teams. Vaught was one of the best players on some bad Clippers teams. He spent eight seasons with the franchise.

Eye-Popping Inclusions: Miles might be the biggest head scratcher on any team. He played just two seasons with the Clippers and averaged 9.5 points per game. I have no idea how he made it.

Walton was decent when he played for the Clippers, but he only appeared in 169 games over six seasons.

Memphis Grizzlies

Biggest Omissions: Bryant Reeves, Stromile Swift

Big Country was a handful during his brief but mildly successful NBA career. Swift wasn't much else besides a dunker, but he would have been an exciting player to control. the Grizzlies don't exactly have a long list of past greats, but Reeves and Swift make my all-time team.

Eye-Popping Inclusions: Scott played one season with the franchise and averaged 10 points per game. Anthony played just two, and they were the best of his career, but I'd take Reeves and Swift over both.

Atlanta Hawks

Biggest Omission: Cliff Hagan

By my estimation, Hagan is the third most accomplished player in team history behind Pettit and Wilkins. That should be good enough for this list, but his career began and ended long ago.

Miami Heat

Biggest Omissions: Mario Chalmers

He may have been LeBron and D-Wade's whipping boy, but chalmers played a major role on those four teams that went to the NBA Finals.

Charlotte Hornets

Biggest Omissions: Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor

Wallace accomplished more than Stephen Jackson as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats, including an All-Star berth. Crash also spent seven seasons with the team compared to just two for Jackson. There has to be a licensing issue here.

Okafor was a solid contributor, defensive and rebounding stalwart for the Bobcats as well. He deserves to be on the team more than Kenny Gattison.

Utah Jazz

Biggest Omissions: Carlos Boozer and Thurl Bailey

Boozer averaged 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game over six seasons with Utah. This could be another licensing issue and that makes me a little worried about his inclusion on the 2010-11 Chicago Bulls team. Bailey played 10 seasons with Utah. Only Malone, Stockton and Eaton played more years with the team. He only missed a total of four games in his first nine seasons.

Sacramento Kings

Biggest Omissions: Bob Davies and Jack Twyman

Both of these guys come from the early years of the franchise, but Davies was a four-time All-Star and one of the best point guards in the NBA in the 1950s. Twyman played all 11 seasons with the organization and averaged 19.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. He also made five All-Star teams. Chances are they too were bitten by the recency situation.

New York Knicks

Biggest Omissions: Bill Bradley, Harry Gallatin and Carl Braun

Bradley is probably the most underrated player from the quality Knicks teams from the 1970s. He made an All-star team and won two rings.

Eye-Popping Inclusions: Gallatin and Braun are from the early era, but it's hard to accept Stoudemire and Porzingis on this squad.

Stoudemire had one good season with the Knicks. The others were marred by injury or declining skills. Porzingis' best days are ahead, but has he done enough to be considering one of the greatest Knicks of all time?

Los Angeles Lakers

There are no major complaints with this roster. There are some stars from the Minneapolis years who aren't here, but for the most part, this is the most complete of all the all-time rosters.

Orlando Magic

Biggest Omissions: Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis

The ultra versatile Turkoglu was a key player for the Magic team that reached the NBA Finals in 2009. The same could be said for Lewis who averaged 17.7 points and made the All-Star team that season.

Eye-Popping Inclusions: Francis only played two seasons with the Magic. He was solid during that time, but hardly worthy of a spot on this team. Aaron Gordon put on the best display I've ever seen in a dunk contest, but his career averages over three seasons are 9.7 ppg and 5.3 rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks

Biggest Omission: Roy Tarpley

A bevy of personal issues shortened Tarpley's career. He died tragically in 2015. Perhaps there were issues with licensing or other problems including him in the game.

Eye-Popping Inclusion: In three years, Haywood averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. It would be nice to slide Tarpley into this spot.

Brooklyn Nets

Biggest Omissions: Bill Melchionni and Billy Paultz

While most every player included on the Nets all-time roster are plausible additions, Melchionni and Paultz still get slighted. It could be another recency issue, but Melchionni averaged 12 points and six assists during his Nets career. He won two rings with the franchise in the ABA and made three All-Star teams.

Paultz won a ring and made two All-star teams and he was a premier shot blocker for the team as well.

Denver Nuggets

Biggest Omissions: Ralph Simpson, Larry Jones, Bobby Jones

Where is the love for India.Arie's dad? That's a little known fact, Simpson is the father of the talented R&B singer, but he was also a heck of a basketball player. He's the third most accomplished player in Nuggets history according to my FPVR formula. He made five All-Star teams, went to the ABA Finals, made three All-ABA teams while playing seven seasons with the franchise. He should be there over Ellis, Gallinari, Abdul-Rauf and McDyess.

The same can be said for Larry Jones (25.4 ppg in three seasons) and Bobby Jones (one of the best overall defenders in NBA/ABA history).

Indiana Pacers

Biggest Omissions: Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky and Freddie Lewis

The Pacers all-time roster is the most incomplete of all the teams. The issues getting Miller licensed have been discussed before. He and Barkley are arguably the most-requested stars who aren't in the game. However, by my estimation, Mel Daniels is still the greatest player in Pacers history. He passed away in 2015, but anyone who ever had an opportunity to watch the ABA knows the Pacers were a dominant team and Daniels was a major reason for that dominance. Perhaps there was an issue getting the players from the great ABA teams.

Brown, Netolicky and Lewis are all in that same category.

New Orleans Pelicans

Eye-Popping Inclusion: DeMarcus Cousins is great, but he played 17 games with the Pelicans. Too soon.

Detroit Pistons

Biggest Omission: Tayshaun Prince

Prince played 12 seasons for the Pistons and was the glue guy for the 2004 championship team. Some will scream for Rasheed Wallace to be included on this roster, and I get it. Wallace isn't included as there appears to be a licensing issue with him as well. However, I think he belongs more on the Portland Trail Blazers team. Aside from that, the Pistons' roster isn't too bad.

Toronto Raptors

Biggest Omission: Andrea Bargnani

While he never made an All-Star team after being selected No. 1 overall in 2006, Bargnani still played seven seasons with Toronto and averaged 15.2 points per game. I'd take him over T-Mac here. McGrady turned out to be a better player obviously, but he only averaged 11 points per game in his career with Toronto before he bolted and became a superstar with the Orlando Magic.

Houston Rockets

Biggest Omissions: Moses Malone and Rudy Tomjanovich

Malone's best statistical years in the NBA came with the Rockets. Tomjanovich played 10 years with the Rockets (his entire career) and averaged 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He also made five All-Star teams. He should be on this team ahead of Patrick Beverley and Cuttino Mobley.

San Antonio Spurs

I like the Spurs roster, though it's missing some ABA contributors. Anyone wondering why Alvin Robertson isn't in the game, this is probably the reason.

Phoenix Suns

Biggest Omission: Charles Barkley, Walter Davis

We know about Barkley's situation, but why isn't the Greyhound on the team? Davis averaged 20 points per game over 11 seasons with the Suns. He should be there over Ceballos and Barbosa. Also, Kidd's best statistical years were with the Suns. His highest rating should be with this team.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Biggest Omission: Gus Williams and Fred Brown

The Wizard was part of the elite backcourt that helped lead the Seattle Supersonics to the NBA championship in 1979. Harden was a really good player for the Thunder, but I'd put Williams and Brown over him on this team.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Biggest Omissions: Tom Gugliotta and Sam Mitchell

Googs is one of the most forgotten stars from the 1990s. In four seasons with the Wolves, Gugliotta scored 18.2 points per game and made his only All-Star team. Mitchell never had huge years, but he played 10 years with the team. I'd take him over Hassell and Gugliotta over LaVine.

Portland Trail Blazers

Biggest Omission: Brandon Roy, Maurice Lucas

Roy's career was cut short, but in his five seasons with the organization, he ranks as the ninth-best Blazer in history on the FPVR. His omission is likely due to a licensing issue.

Lucas is even higher. He helped the Blazers win their only championship in 1977 and he also averaged 15 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. I'd take him over Isaiah Rider and Nicolas Batum.

Golden State Warriors

Biggest Omissions: Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston

I know the new Warriors are all the rage right now, but both Arizin and Johnston were mega stars in their day. They lose out to recency here.

Eye-Popping Inclusion:

It was one heck of a season for Durant, but he's still only been with the team for a year.

Washington Wizards

Biggest Omission: Gilbert Arenas, Gus Johnson, Walt Bellamy and Phil Chenier

Arenas' absence is likely due to his banishment from the NBA. There's no doubt he'd be here if that weren't the case. Johnson, Bellamy and Chenier probably lose out to recency and simply being underrated. As cool as it will be to see Bol and Muresan, Johnson and Bellamy deserve their spots. Chenier could  be in over Chapman, Hughes and especially Porter.

He's had one good season in the NBA which is miniscule when compared to Chenier's tenure with the organization.

Overall, 2K did a fantastic job providing this feature. We don't know what parameters they had to work between to deliver such a huge roster addition, but it's one hoops historians should appreciate.