Small forwards are the most exciting position in NBA 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.
RELATED: NBA 2K22: Best Small Forwards, Ranked
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 in NBA 2K22.
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 start 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.
Atlanta Hawks
| PG | Trae Young | 89 |
| SG | Bogdan Bogdanovic | 80 |
| SF | De'Andre Hunter | 80 |
| PF | John Collins | 84 |
| C | Clint Capela | 86 |
Only one team doesn't have a single starter in the 70s and that's the Atlanta Hawks. Thankfully, their small forward, De'Andre Hunter, is only an 80 OVR so the team will accept an upgrade at that spot. This is a complete team and enables the MyPlayer to use all four teammates nicely.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| PG | Darius Garland | 82 |
| SG | Collin Sexton | 82 |
| SF | Isaac Okoro | 74 |
| PF | Lauri Markkanen | 79 |
| C | Jarrett Allen | 82 |
RELATED: NBA 2K22: Best Shooting Guard Build
At a putrid 74, small forward Isaac Okoro is tied for the lowest OVR for any starter at any position. Players don't even have to spend any VC to replace him almost instantly. Markkanen is a bit of a liability, his OVR is alright at 79, but his grading is poor in most facets of the game. Still, Cleveland could use a star and the MyPlayer can fill that role while still using a decent supporting cast.
Brooklyn Nets
| PG | Kyrie Irving | 91 |
| SG | James Harden | 94 |
| SF | Joe Harris | 79 |
| PF | Kevin Durant | 96 |
| C | LaMarcus Aldridge | 79 |
Only one team in the league has three players in the nineties and that's the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are one of the most lethal three-headed monsters in all of NBA history. Replacing Joe Harris is simple with his 79 OVR (his grades are worse than his OVR suggests). LaMarcus Aldridge will be the only player on the team without a superb rating, but he's good enough to not blow the game for the squad.
Utah Jazz
| PG | Mike Conley | 83 |
| SG | Donovan Mitchell | 88 |
| SF | Joe Ingles | 80 |
| PF | Rudy Gay | 78 |
| C | Rudy Gobert | 88 |
Rudy Gay is going to be a bit of an issue with his 78 OVR, but the rest of this team is stacked as soon as the MyPlayer takes over for Joe Ingles. Utah was a number one seed last year and just needs a slight bump before bringing the Jazz their first championship.
Portland Trailblazers
| PG | Damian Lillard | 94 |
| SG | C.J. McCollum | 85 |
| SF | Norman Powell | 80 |
| PF | Robert Covington | 78 |
| C | Jusuf Nurkic | 81 |
Much like the situation with the Jazz, the Trailblazers have a great team outside of the Power Forward spot once the MyPlayer replaces the small forward. Robert Covington is better than his 78 OVR indicates, with an A- and an A defense on the interior and perimeter, respectively. He's also an A- three-point shooter, so he plays well enough to let the rest of the team cut loose.