NBA 2K21 is the signature basketball game out right now and is always the center of fan discussions and arguments. Some fans like to use it as the central focus of player rankings, while others believe the ratings couldn't be more out of touch.
Either way, it seems that overalls in the game are the main point of contention among fans when it comes to ranking players. Let's now take a look at the best small forwards in the NBA according to the player overall rankings in the next-gen version of NBA 2K21 on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
10 Gordon Hayward (83)
Since his gruesome injury as a member of the Boston Celtics, Gordon Hayward has had a hard time returning to his NBA All-Star form he had as a member of the Utah Jazz. He's now playing for the Charlotte Hornets and will likely be an important mentor in the growth of promising rookie point guard LaMelo Ball.
It's unclear if Hayward will ever be the player he once was, but his core talent and fundamentals still make him a Top 10 player at the small forward position for the time being. He has an overall of 83 in NBA 2K21.
9 Tobias Harris (84)
Is Tobias Harris the most underperforming small forward in the NBA? That's a tough question to answer considering the Philadelphia 76ers had plenty of issues outside of Harris' consistency the last few seasons. He's had some of his best seasons in Philadelphia, but it's unclear if he provides enough in the postseason to help them win despite an NBA 2K21 overall of 84.
Not only did his points per game drop 4 points come postseason play, but Harris shot an abysmal 13% from the 3-point line after averaging almost 37% during the regular season.
8 T.J. Warren (85)
Readers may be scratching their heads wondering who T.J. Warren even is and how he has a Top 10 overall among small forwards in NBA 2K21. His 85 overall may seem egregious and high for a guy many people are unfamiliar with, but his stat line says it's 100% earned.
Warren had one of the breakout runs of the 2019-20 NBA playoffs in the bubble and posted multiple games of 40+ points. The Indiana Pacers may not have won much, but that says more about the loss of Domantas Sabonis and less about Warren's competitive effort when it mattered most.
7 Khris Middleton (86)
Khris Middleton is an excellent player who's currently dealing with what both Klay Thompson and C.J. McCollum have had to endure. Middleton is the 2nd best player on a team starring a perennial MVP and likely Top 100 player, but he would likely be a superstar on many other rosters.
Middleton is an effective wing-scorer whose game complements the inside the paint dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 86 overall is good enough to make him the #7 small forward, which is impressive considering the position features many of the NBA's most dominant players.
6 DeMar DeRozan (86)
DeMar DeRozan spent 9 long years making a name for himself in Toronto as a member of the Raptors organization. He built a resume that proved he was a star player and saw plenty of success in the magenta and purple. Since being moved to the San Antonio Spurs 3 seasons ago, he's all but been forgotten by fans despite averaging career bests in rebounds and assists per game and continuing to be a walking bucket.
Just because the basketball world has forgotten about DeRozan doesn't mean the 86 overall he has in NBA 2K21 is not spot on.
5 Brandon Ingram (86)
When the Los Angeles Lakers decided to move several young players to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis, it was unclear what Brandon Ingram was going to become. Once he landed in the bayou and was the clear #1 scorer for his team, Ingram flourished and showcased just how talented he was.
Ingram's large wingspan allows him to score similarly to Kevin Durant. NBA 2K21 giving Ingram an 86 overall, the same as Zion Williamson, misrepresents the breakout season Ingram had during the 2019-20 NBA season.
4 Jimmy Butler (93)
Hot off the heels of one of the more surprising and gritty NBA playoff runs in the history of the league, Jimmy Butler and company are out to prove it wasn't a fluke. Butler has always been an All-NBA defender and through the years he's done a good job at becoming a more consistent presence on offense.
Butler still lacks consistency from behind the 3-point line, but it doesn't hurt him enough to affect his 93 overall. Another deep playoff run in a Miami Heat uniform could have Butler obtaining a Top 5 overall in NBA 2K21.
3 Kevin Durant (96)
Kevin Durant has finally made his return to the NBA after overcoming an unfortunate Achilles injury that forced him to miss an entire season. Now, as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Durant is looking to contend for a title alongside point guard Kyrie Irving.
Because of his absence, some fans might have forgotten how good Durant is at basketball. He's an almost unguardable scorer who also happens to be a solid rebounder and underrated defender. Seeing him with a 95 overall in NBA 2K21 and landing as the #6 overall player feels a bit low.
2 Kawhi Leonard (96)
Kawhi Leonard caught a lot of heat for the Los Angeles Clippers postseason failures during the 2019-20 playoffs. Some of it was warranted, but Paul George was the primary reason the Clippers failed to reach their lofty aspirations. The NBA is divided on if Kawhi's resting schedule is good or bad for the game, but his 96 overall shows it's worth being careful and keeping him healthy. Thankfully those who use him in the game won't have to worry about providing special treatment or worry about him showing up late to practice.
1 LeBron James (98)
Whether you fall in the camp of LeBron James being the greatest NBA player of all-time or not, it's hard to deny his legacy. He's had the best run in terms of longevity and his streak of consecutive NBA Finals appearances was ended due to injury and his team not making the playoffs, not because he fell short and lost in a series.
James' 98 overall may seem like a no-brainer in NBA 2K21, but people forget he has played 16 seasons in the league and has logged more minutes on the court than anyone else to ever play the game.