The small forward position is the most versatile position not only in NBA 2K, but also in basketball. Small forwards include some of the best players in history (like LeBron James), and most small forwards have to be both proficient at offense and defense to see time on the court. If the opposing team’s best player is a point guard, shooting guard, or small forward, the small forward is usually tasked with defending them.
Basketball has become hybrid these days. You see big men handling the ball and guards sliding up positions. It only opens up more opportunities for the three position.
It’s safe to say that most teams need more small forwards, but not all are the best landing spots in NBA 2K23.
How is each team going to utilize you? Will you slide up to a small four or a big two? It’s crucial in determining the best teams for a small forward in 2K23.
Your teammates should give you enough touches to be an efficient contributor. Having a lineup that gives you versatility is what you’ll need to succeed. Note that you will begin as a 60 OVR player.
What are the best teams for your small forward build? Here are the top landing spots for your small forward.
Lineup: Kevin Porter, Jr. (77 OVR), Jalen Green (82 OVR), Jae’Sean Tate (77 OVR), Jabari Smith, Jr. (78 OVR), Alperen Şengün (77 OVR)
Houston has a problem with who is going to take over games. Jalen Green is definitely going to have defenses all over him, which makes a small forward on the wings an easy option for the kickout.
The Rockets have always thrived with a 3-and-D guy regardless of what era or lineup they have. It’s likely the culture there is to have someone lengthy enough to be a two-way player.
Eric Gordon is going to be happy doing spot-up duty as long as you take care of the drives. The team plays small ball as well, which instantly gives your small forward a significant role on both ends. Alperen Sengun showed promise in 2021-2022, and a full off-season together with Green, Gordon, Kevin Porter, Jr., and Garrison Matthews (among others) should help Houston see improvement in 2022-2023, led by you.
Lineup: Monte Morris (79 OVR), Bradley Beal (87 OVR), Will Barton (77 OVR), Kyle Kuzma (81 OVR), Kristaps Porziņģis (85 OVR)
All the small forwards in Washington have slid up to the four. Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, and Rui Hachimura will all love a wing player to play alongside them. Ironically, a similar play style in the small forward position will open up a lot of opportunities for you to score. While those three can score, they are more of the types that need to have the ball placed into ideal position rather than creating their own shots.
Bradley Beal likes to play floppy and isolation, which makes you the easy target for a kickout or an extra pass. Beal is probably the only player on Washington who is guaranteed to be able to create his own offense, but that’s a lot for one player. Create a versatile three who can create scoring opportunities for yourself and your teammates while also playing stout defense on the wing.
Lineup: Trae Young (90 OVR), Dejounte Murray (86 OVR), De’Andre Hunter (76 OVR), John Collins (83 OVR), Clint Capela (84 OVR)
Atlanta’s backcourt is stacked after the trade for Dejounte Murray. Having a versatile wing will help Trae Young and Murray have easy assists and buckets.
Having those two guards at the backcourt will change the team’s tempo from isolations and pick and rolls to transition offense. You could develop a nice pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop chemistry with Young, Murray, or both. You can also use your screens to open up slashing lanes or open threes for Young and Murray.
John Collins is starting to fall in love with the corner spots, but if you call for a pass, he’ll definitely pass to the you in transition. Collins is also great to pass to for a quick corner three after drawing in the defense. Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter will also help out on offense, with Hunter better on defense than Bogdanovic.
Lineup: Darius Garland (87 OVR), Donovan Mitchell (88 OVR), Isaac Okoro (75 OVR), Evan Mobley (80 OVR, Jarrett Allen (85 OVR)
The three 7-footer lineup experiment is no longer sustainable. Lauri Markkanen is gone and Jarrett Allen is firmly entrenched as the starting five. Donovan Mitchell is aboard, taking pressure from Darius Garland, but leaving the three as a weak spot in the lineup.
Cleveland has a small forward problem as there are not many players to space the floor when Allen or Evan Mobley grabs an offensive rebound. Calling for a pass will be more feasible as you have the wing area open for a reset in play.
Once these big men get a defensive rebound, you’ll see your small forwards, Garland, and Mitchell running in transition. The roster is a bit lacking in higher rated players, so just know it’ll be a bit of a struggle particularly if you’re playing with one or both of Mitchell and Garland on the bench. Just hope that you play most of your minutes with Allen.
Lineup: C.J. McCollum (85 OVR), Brandon Ingram (86 OVR), Herbert Jones (78 OVR), Zion Williamson (87 OVR), Jonas Valanciunas (83 OVR)
Zion Williamson was never classified as a three since entering the league. Brandon Ingram plays more like an off-guard despite both being 6-foot-7.
It is obvious that C.J. McCollum isn’t enough to carry the offensive workload when Ingram gets physically dominated. McCollum at point guard and letting Ingram play shooting guard is the perfect scenario for a small forward like you.
Transition offense is the key here as well as all players who fit a transition scheme. The second unit has defensive players as well to blend in with any play style a small forward may have. Develop a nice pick-and-roll chemistry with both big men, and a pick-and-pop or roll with Ingram as he can do both.
Lineup: Tre Jones (74 OVR), Devin Vassell (76 OVR), Doug McDermott (74 OVR), Keldon Johnson (82 OVR), Jakob Poeltl (78 OVR)
The current San Antonio rotation is unproven at the small forward position. If there’s one thing constant about their lineup, players perform better with a defensive-minded small forward, which means you could easily overtake Doug “Dougie McBuckets” McDermott.
Each player is already fixed at their position. With McDermott stretching out the floor, you can be a post-up small forward like Kawhi Leonard. You’ll compete with the likes of Keldon Johnson and McDermott, but McDermott especially is mainly a shooter, so you should be able to find ample playing time with a more versatile build.
Ball movement is the Spurs’ calling card, which only means the guards and the bigs won’t hesitate to make the extra pass to you.
Lineup: De’Aaron Fox (84 OVR), Davion Mitchell (77 OVR), Harrison Barnes (80 OVR), Keegan Murray (76 OVR), Domantas Sabonis (86 OVR)
Harrison Barnes is a wing-type power forward. He’ll be happy to be sharing wing duties with someone who can stretch out the floor, just like himself when he slides over to the four.
In reality, it’s Kevin Huerter who is tasked to do such even as more of a natural shooting guard, so your small forward will be able to share the floor with them as well.
Rebounds won’t be a problem with Domantas Sabonis and Richaun Holmes to do that for you. Davion Mitchell will be defending while De’Aaron Fox is first option in scoring.
It won’t be that hard to shine in Sacramento as the wing position is open for the taking.
Being a good small forward in 2K23 is quite easier than in other positions. The position is open to a lot of high percentage looks.
A scoring small forward is the perfect build for NBA 2K23 as you’ll be able to make the defense collapse on a fake and easily drive to the basket. Then, you have the option of drop passing to the big man or kicking it out to an open man in a floppy play.
Molding your small forward after a DeMar DeRozan or a Paul George build is the best offensive build. You can go for a Jimmy Butler-type of small forward as well. The beauty is that in NBA 2K23, you can decide.
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