I still remember the first time I fired up NBA 2K13 back in the day - that rush of excitement scrolling through player ratings, trying to figure out which teams had the hidden gems that could turn my franchise mode into championship material. It's funny how these gaming experiences stick with you, almost like real sports memories. Speaking of real sports timing, I recently learned something interesting from pole vaulter EJ Obiena about strategic scheduling. He mentioned they deliberately set their competition dates after the World Athletics Championships from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan. That got me thinking about how we approach NBA 2K13 roster building - sometimes you need that same strategic timing to uncover the game's deepest secrets.
Let me tell you, finding those underrated players in NBA 2K13 feels like discovering buried treasure. Take Jimmy Butler on the Bulls - rated just 77 overall initially, but anyone who played through a season with him knows he'd develop into an absolute beast. I've had him reach 88 overall by the second season in my franchise saves, which is insane value for his starting rating. Then there's Kawhi Leonard on the Spurs at 79 overall - criminal how low they rated him initially! The man would consistently become a defensive monster and reliable scorer if you developed him properly. These are the kinds of strategic finds that can completely change your gaming experience, much like how athletes time their training cycles around major events.
What fascinates me about roster building is how it mirrors real sports preparation. Just as Obiena and his team planned around that September 13-21 window in Tokyo, you need to plan your roster moves around key moments in the game. I've found the best time to trade for hidden gems is early in the first season, before the CPU recognizes their growth potential. There's this sweet spot between games 15-25 where you can often snag developing players for reasonable trade value. My personal strategy involves targeting 3-4 potential gems per save file, then focusing my training resources on them specifically.
The shooting guards category particularly stands out for hidden value. Klay Thompson at 80 overall might seem fair initially, but his shooting mechanics in 2K13 are absolutely broken in the best way possible. I've had games where he'd sink 8+ three-pointers without missing, and his catch-and-shoot animation is arguably the smoothest in the entire game. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal at 76 overall feels like the developers completely underestimated his potential - his mid-range game develops into one of the most reliable in the franchise mode. These aren't just minor advantages; they're game-changing elements that can carry your team through playoff runs.
What many players overlook are the role players with specific elite skills. I'm talking about guys like Tiago Splitter (74 overall) whose defensive presence in the paint far exceeds his rating, or J.J. Barea (75 overall) who becomes an unstoppable force in the pick-and-roll despite his modest attributes. I remember one particular franchise where Barea averaged 14 points and 8 assists off the bench for me throughout the playoffs - numbers that would make you think he was rated in the mid-80s at least. It's these discoveries that keep me coming back to NBA 2K13 year after year, long after newer versions have released.
The point guard position deserves special attention because the depth here is remarkable. While everyone focuses on Chris Paul (94 overall) and Russell Westbrook (88 overall), players like Jeff Teague (76 overall) develop into legitimate stars if given starter minutes. In one of my most memorable franchise modes, I traded for Teague early and watched him blossom into an 84-rated monster who could attack the rim at will. Then there's the curious case of Damian Lillard - rated just 79 overall as a rookie but possessing one of the most unstoppable shooting strokes in the game. I've had him drop 50-point games multiple times in crucial playoff matches.
What really separates casual players from hardcore enthusiasts is understanding how to maximize these hidden gems within specific offensive systems. I've spent countless hours testing different players in various schemes, and I can confidently say that some of these lower-rated players perform better in certain systems than higher-rated alternatives. For instance, Kenneth Faried (78 overall) becomes a rebounding machine in uptempo offenses, consistently grabbing 12+ boards per game despite his modest rating. Meanwhile, Chandler Parsons (74 overall) develops into a perfect stretch-four in small-ball lineups, with his three-point shooting reaching elite levels by the second season.
The beauty of diving deep into NBA 2K13's roster system is that it rewards the kind of strategic thinking that real athletes like Obiena employ. Just as they plan their training and competition schedules around major events, we can plan our roster development around key game moments and systems. I've maintained multiple save files just to experiment with different player development paths, and the variations can be astonishing. One player might develop completely differently depending on your coaching settings and minute distributions. That depth of simulation is what makes NBA 2K13's roster system so enduringly fascinating to me, and why I still find new discoveries even after all these years. The game has layers upon layers of strategic possibilities waiting to be unlocked by dedicated players willing to look beyond the surface-level ratings.