Ask ten analysts what makes LeBron James so good and they'll all likely have something new to add to the conversation. His character in NBA 2K22 is as powerful as advertised and he dominates from the small forward position. What makes him dominant? Well, as the analysts would suggest, it's that he does everything incredibly well.

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A small forward is a position that needs to be able to pass and hit long shots like a guard but can also dunk and post up like a center. They need to be comfortable defending at the rim and on the perimeter. It's one of the most popular positions among veterans to NBA 2K22 because, on the court, anything can happen. And the small forward, when built correctly, is the one position that has the power to succeed at anything and everything.

Updated on October 25th, 2021 by Hodey Johns: For players looking for the generic basketball experience, the small forward is the way to go. The guide has helped players navigate what amounts to the most complicated build in the game. No pie chart allows players, at any position, to play everything perfectly balanced, so the attributes and badges have to assist in making a nice, even build. This guide has been updated with new information, specifically about animations after making the small forward and teams that will best utilize this build's capabilities.

The Case For An All-Around Small Forward

NBA 2K22 Dunking On The Timberwolves

The biggest criticism is that the small forward can be the "jack of all trades, master of none" and excel at nothing in particular. In sports, this is exactly the kind of player that thrives in any situation because they have the versatility to exploit any weakness by other players who decided to be an expert at just one thing.

Plus, if gamers are interested in only one single specialty, they should probably play a different position. Power forwards have a higher ceiling on the post-fade while shooting guards can hit the three-ball better. The small forward is designed for players who like to do a bit of everything and keep opponents guessing.

Split Between Defense And Shooting

NBA 2K22 Small Forward Splitting Defense And Shooting

For a position that spends so much time in mid-range, it's striking that every skill breakdown that doesn't focus on defense has a terrible interior defense. Small forwards have to go against the likes of Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James; a bad defense makes for a bad day.

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Also, adding the three-pointer to the arsenal is important, so shooting needs to be the other focus on the skill breakdown. There's a massive gap between players that can hit the three and players that thrive at hitting threes. This build needs to be a threat on dunks, mid-range jumpers, and deep.

Balance All Three Physical Attributes

NBA 2K22 Making A Small Forward With Balanced Physical Skills

The pie chart for the physical profile that appears to split the physical categories equally actually doesn't split them precisely equally. It's still the best for a well-rounded build and the lower-than-average strength number doesn't need to be a problem.

Barring extremely high or low strength, post matchups are going to be stuck in the same place most of the time. So long as this build isn't guarding a particularly huge center, this shouldn't be an issue for this build. The additional vertical and speed will be great for both ends of the court.

Setting the Potential

NBA 2K22 Best Potential Stats For A Small Forward

Close Shot

84

Driving Layup

69

Driving Dunk

73

Standing Dunk

26

Post Hook

71

Mid-Range Shot

59

Three-Point Shot

75

Free Throw

59

Post Fade

80

Pass Accuracy

70

Ball Handle

68

Post Control

64

Interior Defense

65

Perimeter Defense

55

Lateral Quickness

82

Steal

80

Block

69

Offensive Rebound

42

Defensive Rebound

68

NBA 2K22 Perfect Timing On A Deep Three

These numbers are very delicately balanced. Taking even one number away from any of these categories removes an entire badge. Badges are a big deal since they are the final layer that really makes the MyPlayer as versatile as he can be.

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Mid-Range Shot might seem low at 59, but consider the mid-range jumper is only to be taken when completely uncovered. The Offensive Rebounding is also low at 42; small forwards are usually only at the offensive rim if they are dunking the ball, in which case a rebound isn't necessary.

Adjusting The Physicals

NBA 2K22 Using The Default Height For The Small Forward

The default height is very short for small forwards, two to three inches shorter than fellow small forward LeBron James. But increasing the height punishes almost every stat except for blocking and strength. Keeping up the speed is more important than trying to blend in with these guys.

NBA 2K22 Adding A Pound To The Small Forward

Adding one single pound to the default weight increases player strength without detracting from any other potential skill. Make the MyPlayer 223 pounds.

NBA 2K22 Making The Small Forward Wingspan 85 Inches

An 85" wingspan will cost the one strength point just gained, but provide a bonus to a few skills that will be helpful, whereas strength rarely comes into play, so this will be worth it.

Be A Lockdown Defender

NBA 2K22 Choosing A Lockdown Defender Takeover With A Small Forward

The other three selections here involve specific kinds of scoring; from the post, dunking, and spot-up shooting. But the entire purpose of the build is to take what the defense gives. Choosing these takeovers locks into a playstyle and makes the small forward too predictable.

The Lockdown Defender takeover is perfect for the small forward because they have to defend at all three levels and the bonuses provided work for all three levels. It will be relevant for half of the game and against opponents at any position.

Critical Badges

NBA 2K22 Ideal Defensive Badgers For The Small Forward
  • Intimidator
  • Unpluckable

Unlike most builds, players will probably only want to put one or two points into most badge skills. However, there are two notable exceptions. Small forwards will be spending the bulk of their time in offense at the mid-range. This year, bonus animations and stats were given to stripping players in the mid-range so the Unpluckable playmaking badge becomes a requirement. It's already one of the top-tier playmaking badges, but it's extra important this year.

Also, the Intimidator defensive badge will help with some of the tougher matchups. The small forward has the tallest order to defend against in the NBA, so lowering the shot percentage of anybody matched up against the MyPlayer will be a recipe for success. Put four levels into this badge and ensure that every matchup is a winning one. After that, spread the love around among the best defensive badges in the game.

Best Team To Play For

NBA 2K22 Best Players On The Roster For The Atlanta Hawks

There are a handful of teams that desperately need a small forward. The Atlanta Hawks have an 80 player in at small forward, which isn't bad, but with a star at the spot, the entire team's starters can hold their own.

Some of the league's best players play small forward, which isn't surprising because of the skills needed to be successful at the position. Never, for any reason, play for a team that has one of these greats. The game favors overall rating more than performance, so MyPlayers will get stuck on the bench.

Ideal Animations

NBA 2K22 Selecting The Steph Curry Dribble Pull-Up

Statistics are only half of the equation. Now that the physicals and potentials are set up nicely, they must be complemented with a selection of dribble moves and jumpers that work best for the gamer. Customize a little bit here; the best shot animation is the one that the player can make, not what everyone else is using.

As always, play around with the custom jump shot animator until making the perfect jump shot. This is one of the only positions that shoots from mid-range, so prioritize a quick shot with a high release point to prevent interior defenders from getting their hands on it.

NBA 2K22 was released on September 9th, 2021, and is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

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