Top 10 players who won't feature in NBA 2K25

The upcoming NBA 2K25 game promises to be better than its predecessors thanks to several new features. Revamped shooting mechanics, better dribbling and improved defensive mechanics are some of the features that 2K Games promises with their latest release.

However, there are also some areas where the game appears to have suffered. A handful of fan-favorite players are no longer usable in the game, possibly due to 2K Games losing the rights to include them.

Here are top 10 players who will not feature in NBA 2K25:

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Top 10 players not featured in NBA 2K25

#1. Blake Griffin

Six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin announced his retirement from professional basketball in April. Naturally, he was no longer going to be featured in the modern rosters and aspiring general managers could no longer sign him to their team on MyGM.

However, Griffin is not just being removed from the modern roster, he's also not featured in the all-time or classic teams. 2K25 players who want to play as the "Lob City" Clippers won't have Griffin at their disposal for those nasty poster dunks this year.

#2. Andre Iguodala

2K25 marks the addition of the Steph Curry era which features the Golden State Warriors dynasty. However, the inclusion of this era comes with the removal of one of its most important players.

Andre Iguodala, who won the NBA Finals MVP award in 2015, will not be in the game. The veteran leader was a major proponent in the Warriors dynasty but will not be available to use in any game mode.

#3. Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic is another former All-Star who announced his retirement from the game this year. As such, he won't be available to use on 2K25.

While Dragic's retirement might be bitter news for his fans, it did create an iconic moment. A farewell game was hosted in his honor which featured stars of today such as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic sharing the court with retired stars like Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

Expand Tweet

#4. John Wall

NBA 2K25 players who enjoyed the game modes where they got to simulate being a general manager had the option to sign John Wall as their backup point guard. In 2K25, this isn't possible despite the veteran point guard not yet officially retiring.

Not only was Wall removed from the official modern roster, but he is also no longer available on the Washington Wizards' all-time and classic teams.

#5. Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka last suited up in the NBA as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022-23 season. After that, he decided to play overseas. He joined Bayern Munich in 2023 and then announced his departure from the team in July.

However, he is not returning to the NBA. Instead, he is remaining in Europe to play with FC Barcelona which means he won't be featured in the official modern roster. Additionally, he is not available to use on any classic teams he normally features in such as the 2012 OKC Thunder or the 2019 Toronto Raptors.

#6. Will Barton

Will Barton was by no means a superstar, but at the peak of his career, he was a reliable sixth man. Best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets, Barton displayed remarkable talent as a do-it-all wing.

He last played in the NBA in 2023 as a member of the Toronto Raptors. This season, he opted to play overseas.

#7. Dewayne Dedmon

NBA 2K players who enjoyed the gritty realism of building a roster with real-life constraints such as finances will understand the value of role players who don't eat into cap space.

Players who needed a reliable veteran center to come off the bench and hold down the fort in the interior could always rely on Dewayne Dedmon but that won't be the case this year. Dedmon is one of the omissions from this year's iteration, reducing the number of reliable role players.

#8. Frank Kaminsky

Another role player who served as a reliable off-the-bench big man was Frank Kaminsky. Having him on a roster in NBA 2K guaranteed that the floor was spaced as he possessed a reliable three when left open.

This year, Kaminsky has been removed from the game, likely due to him playing overseas in Europe.

#9. JaMychal Green

JaMychal Green was a cheat code in previous 2K games. He used to be an inside-out threat on the offensive side who could hold his own during tough rebounding battles.

In 2K25, Green is reportedly unavailable despite there being no reports of him playing overseas. However, he is not even one of the listed free agents.

#10. Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel never quite lived up to his potential, but he still had several good seasons as a role player. One of the great things about previous NBA 2K editions is that Noel's fans could have boosted his attributes and turned him into the star they thought he'd be through training or by simply editing him.

However, that won't be possible this year as he is not included in the roster. The last time he suited up in the NBA was for the Brooklyn Nets on a 10-day contract. He did sign with the Sacramento Kings but he was waived before playing a single game.

Which player will you miss having on your 2K25 roster the most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Note: The list only consists of players who featured on 2k24 and are not part of 2k25.