Small forwards are the most exciting position inNBA 2K22. They can steal and block on one end of the court. On offense, they can dunk, post up, pop a mid-range jumper, and splash the three-ball. There is a reason that online play is riddled with players hoping to be the next LeBron James.
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But with the wrong team situation, they’re more likely to end up in the G league, wondering what could have been. On top of everything else, small forwards possess elite passing capabilities, and that means needing a team good enough to pass to. These are the units that work the best with a new small forward inNBA 2K22.
Updated on May 4th, 2022 by Hodey Johns:With the NBA regular season in the books, rosters have settled in until NBA 2K23 hits the shelves. The final major shuffle gamers will see has already occurred and now picking a team will be a less tumultuous process. As it tends to happen throughout the year, team dynamics have changed, and therefore this list needed to be updated. So teams had better openings for small forwards, others locked the position up, and still more had the supporting casts change. This guide has been updated to reflect these changes. The MyPlayers on these teams will have the best careers at small forward.
What To Look For
Ideally, small forwards need to find a team where the existing small forward position is in need of an upgrade. An 80 OVR or lower can be replaced within the first month of play. Teams with a starter who is 84 are higher are generally interested in the MyPlayer’s services, no matter how dominant.
Additionally, the team around the small forward should be solid. A 78 or 79 player isn’t going to be too detrimental to the team, but the best fit is to find a team with most of the team at 80 or higher. And, of course, a superstar to pass to and from doesn’t hurt.
90
80
78
83
Clint Capela
85
The Hawks were fortunate to keep their starting five for the entire season. The team generally profited from this cohesion with the exception of small forward De’Andre Hunter, who fell from 80 OVR to 78 OVR. This gives the MyPlayer a golden opportunity to compete with a solid team that is ready to start winning titles as soon as they get their small forward position resolved. With a player character in the starting squad,the game predicts a championshipin Atlanta sooner rather than later.
92
84
77
96
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The 76ers are one key piece from winning not just one but multiple championships. They’ve got two bonafide superstars in James Harden and Joel Embiid, one ofthe best centers in the gameand also one of the best players overall, to go along with Maxey and Harris. The only issue, and it’s a big one, is Whybulle at small forward. Considering that small forwards have some tough matchups, this creates a consistent problem for what should be the team of this decade. The MyPlayer small forward that goes to Philadelphia will never have to worry about the team, it’s solid.
Andre Drummond
81
It’s hard to believe that the Nets are in such disarray. Beginning the season as the only team with three 90+ OVR players on the roster, a combination of injuries, trades, and drama resulted in a squad that never realized its obvious potential.Players might make a lot of mistakes playing the game, and passing on the Nets would be another error in judgment for small forwards. Given the strength of the squad and two of the biggest superstars in the game, it’s very easy to right all of the wrongs from the season and capture a title.
82
87
74
88
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Last year’s number one seed had high expectations this year but unfortunately couldn’t match the standard they set for themselves. The biggest issue isn’t hard to see, the Jazz have a starting small forward with a putrid 74 OVR. That’s bad news for the team in real life but fantastic news for a player inNBA 2K22. Sneaking into this squad allows them to immediately refocus on winning the first championship in Utah. The rest of the team is great on defense and shooting, so even an average gamer can pull out above-average results from the organization.
95
Dwight Powell
The Mavericks achieved far more than they should have this season considering that the team was very much Luka Doncic and company. The “company” bit is suspect as no other player on the team is ranked above an 81. But this makes for a decent situation if players are interested in becoming a monster on the interior at small forward. Bullock’s horrendous 74 OVR means players will be starting immediately. The rest of the interior is weak, giving players a chance to get more rebounds and hammer down more dunks. Have them clear the way and go to town in the paint.
NBA 2K22was released on September 9th, 2021, and is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
