Best Small Forward Build in NBA 2K24

The Small Forward position, also called “The Three,” is a kind of master of all trades in 2K basketball games. He needs to master playmaking, ball handling, and shooting. And, at times, he can be called upon to play defense against centers and point guards. They can take over the center or point guard position, too, when needed. 

In that sense, you can hardly prioritize one stat and leave the rest unattended. At the same time, you’ll need to be careful to avoid creating a build that is a master of all yet a master of none. So, let’s go over the best Small Forward build in NBA 2K24 that maximizes the intense versatility a Small Forward player needs to play at their best. 

Body Settings

First things first, you want to set the height, weight, and wingspan of your Small Foward (SF) build as you start your NBA 2K24 journey. The Small Forward position in the NBA tends to have an average of 6'7″ height and 217 lbs weight. The best NBA Small Forward player, LeBron James, has a height of 6'7″. 

Small Forwards are typically taller than guards but shorter than point forwards and centers. It gives them an upper hand over taller defenders and boosts finishing. So, let’s go ahead and slot 6'7″ and 217 lbs for height and weight. As for the wingspan, let’s slot it at 6'11”. This will help boost finishing and defense, as well as make up for lower rebound and block stats.

Height: 6'7″

Weight: 217 lbs

Wingspan: 6'11”

Attributes

Finishing

Small Forwards need to master the art of driving toward the paint for a slick layup. So, bump up their driving layup stat to 80. Besides driving layup, Small Forwards needs to master a variety of ways to perform finishes. It’s a quality unique to them, where while many positions can finish from many levels, only Small Forwards can master scoring in every way. Whether posting up, slashing, or taking a close shot, you’ll want to make sure your Small Forward build optimizes scoring. They need to take every opportunity to drive or shoot from every range. 

When you optimize the driving layup and diving dunk, in particular, your Small Forward player can transform into a beast on the court. The Standing Dunk, though, isn’t a priority here because it needs you to be quite tall to make the most of it.

Close Shot: 60

Driving Layup: 80

Driving Dunk: 91

Standing Dunk: 45

Post Control: 82

Shooting

Small Forwards need to be able to make three-pointers all the way from downtown. They’re typically excellent three-pointers. So, make sure to bump up their three-point shot stat to 85. However, Small Forwards may also need to master a dynamic set of shooting options. You want a dynamic scorer for the moments when the Small Forward player is called upon to score. So, go ahead and bump the mid-range shot to 86 and the free throw to 61. Your SF will excel much better with the mid-range shot and the three-point shot. As for the free throw, you only need enough to get by.

Mid-range Shot: 86

Three-Point Shot: 85

Free Throw: 61

Playmaking

One of the most vital Small Forward skills is playmaking. It’s the skill that will do most of the heavy lifting on the court. Sure, racking up points goes a long way to winning. However, while the Small Forward player isn’t busy shooting, they’ll be engaged elsewhere, playmaking and giving an extra boost to their teammates. 

It’s in the name small “forward.” Small Forwards make plenty of passes while also moving like guards. So, you’ll want to make sure their pass accuracy stat is above average at 74. Passing is especially vital when your Small Forward player is optimized for defense. They can simply survey your team, find an open player, and make that solid pass. Then, pay attention to ball handling and speed with the ball. These should be high at 81 each. This will allow your Small Forwards to dribble like no one’s business.

Pass Accuracy: 74

Ball Handle: 81

Speed with Ball: 81

Defense/Rebounding

Oftentimes, a Small Forward player will slip back and forth between different roles. They’re an “all-rounder” player who can sometimes excel in offense, yet sometimes play defense. They need to be able to roam the perimeter. To make sure you have the defense part covered, make sure to bump up their perimeter defense to 94. They need to be able to guard the opposing team while also getting rebounds. With the defense locked and loaded, you may still want to call upon your Small Forward player to initiate an offense strategy. For that, you need to bump up the steal stat to 85.

Interior Defense: 74

Perimeter Defense: 94

Steal: 85

Block: 79

Offensive Rebound: 27

Defensive Rebound: 60

Physicals

Small Forwards need strength, speed, and agility. They need to be quick enough to stay ahead of shooting guards but also strong enough to defend against power forwards. They often help the power forwards and center on their team to defend the rim. Without speed and strength, it can get a little tricky. They also need quick acceleration. Small Forwards may need to keep pace with guards. They need to be fast and have enough stamina to run for days without getting tired. In fact, high stamina is extremely important for any player on the court.

Speed: 85

Acceleration: 79

Strength: 86

Vertical: 58

Stamina: 94

Remember that Small Forwards play diverse roles. They can excel at offense, defense, sharpshooting, playmaking, and a number of other playstyles. Our build creates an all-around Small Forward player. So, if you feel your team is lacking in a specific role, feel free to optimize your Small Forward player to fill the gap that’s missing. Have fun tweaking!

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our best Small Forward build in NBA 2k24? Are there more builds we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here.