With the NBA Playoffs for the 2020 season coming to a close, the Los Angeles Lakers are the league's current reigning champions. Until the next season starts, fans must invest their time and effort into the virtual world of basketball via NBA 2K21.
The MyTeam mode allows people to build dream lineups consisting of players from the NBA's past and present. Though the mode can be addictive, it still is quite enjoyable to mess around in. Currently, there are a ton of players to choose from, so it's good to know who the best available are at each card tier.
10 Trae Young (86)
Everyone who plays NBA 2K knows that each of their friends likes to play the game a bit differently. Some prefer an old school slow pace while others love to hoist shots from the 3-point line. Those who relate to the latter are the perfect people to pursue Trae Young's sapphire card.
Young is an emerging star guard for the Atlanta Hawks and is a problem on the offensive side of the ball from pretty much anywhere outside of the paint. Pair him with a defensive-minded shooting guard and a player will have quite the tandem.
9 Chris Bosh '12 (86)
Chris Bosh was the third person when mentioning the big three in Miami when the Heat won two championships with LeBron James at the helm. Dwayne Wade is pointed to as someone who helped teach James leadership, but Bosh was right there in his ear as well.
If it wasn't for unfortunate health issues, Bosh could have still been playing possibly in the NBA. His 86 overall sapphire card from the Finals theme in NBA 2K21's MyTeam is a solid rebounder and can do more than opponents may expect from outside the paint when it comes to scoring.
8 Robert Horry '08 (86)
Robert Horry isn't a name that comes up all too often when discussing all-time champions in the NBA's storied history. The man played a contributing role in seven championship teams and won two rings with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two more with the San Antonio Spurs.
Horry was a great role player who could be a reliable third scorer on a team or even provide energy off the bench. His sapphire card pairs as a dynamic duo with the lock-down defender Bruce Bowen's ruby card, as well.
7 Chris Paul (86)
When Chris Paul was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2020 NBA offseason, most thought he was going there to waste a year of his storied career. He managed to lead that team to the NBA Playoffs.
On top of being one of the greatest point guards in the NBA the last decade, Paul has been a model of consistency and leadership on and off the court. Paul's 86 overall sapphire card is a must-own for anyone looking for a pure playmaking point guard for their team.
6 Jayson Tatum (86)
When fans think of Boston Celtics legends, they think of bombastic and loud personalities that had a certain toughness about them. Though Jayson Tatum doesn't impose his will on the court, he's a great versatile player for his team and with the departure of Kyrie Irving, he's been thrust into a leadership position.
Tatum works best in lineups where he can move around and play like a big guard, so don't put him in expecting LeBron James at the small forward position. Right now in his career, Tatum's looking to define what makes him special.
5 Donovan Mitchell (86)
Most people refer to Donovan Mitchel as Spida, but the young guard can now simply be called a superstar. Alongside his All-Star center Rudy Gobert, the two managed to take an injured Utah Jazz lineup and make some noise in the NBA Playoffs in 2020.
Mitchel is a high-flying guard who has developed a consistent 3-point shot and his ball-handling skills are getting better every year. If a player is looking for a guard that can post highlights in NBA 2K21, they might want to snag Mitchell's sapphire card in MyTeam.
4 Walt Frazier '72 (86)
Younger NBA fans might wonder if the New York Knicks were ever good. Well, the truth of the matter is that when Walt Frazier was the star of the team in the 1970s, they were ultra-competitive.
Frazier was a solid scorer but the reason he helped the Knicks win championships was because of his defense. An effort that landed him on the NBA's All-Defensive first team an impressive seven times. Pair Frazier with a scoring guard who can create their shots and prepare to dominate every backcourt.
3 Jimmy Butler (86)
Jimmy Butler is currently coming off of a legendary playoff run with the Miami Heat where they defied the odds and made it to the NBA Finals. Butler proved that he can lead a team and is also a premier superstar in the league that can play with the best of them on both sides of the ball.
Butler has never been a fantastic ballhandler, and though his sapphire card reflects that, it still comes with great defensive attributes that hoist it up to the 86 overall.
2 Pascal Siakam (86)
Despite Pascal Siakam having a tough time during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, he still proved the Toronto Raptors right by helping them be successful in the playoffs without Kawhi Leonard. He is a lengthy forward with a lot of athleticism and has slowly begun to develop the skillset in which he can create his shots.
Siakam is still not quite a superstar yet, but his 86 overall card shows he's on the right track. The sapphire-colored collectible is a jack-of-all-trades with none of the ratings being jaw-dropping, but it also has no real weaknesses at all.
1 Russell Westbrook (86)
Since he entered the league, Russell Westbrook has put on a show of world-class athleticism. Ever since his earliest days in Oklahoma City as a member of the Thunder, he would attack the basket and dunk with the best of them despite being a point guard.
Over the years, Westbrook's game has evolved and he currently lacks a consistent jump shot or playmaking ability. His sapphire shows off what Westbrook does best as it has great speed and athleticism across the board.