NBA 2K22 predictions: The 5 highest rated small forwards

#3 Kawhi Leonard - 95

Kawhi Leonard as seen in NBA 2K20 [Source: Silversand Event Management]

Kawhi Leonard is a beast in NBA 2K and the second-highest rated player in NAB 2K22. 78% of his scoring attributes, whether outside or inside, are rated above 84. And then he can dominate the defensive end as well. Leonard is rated 88 in defense and five out of the eight attributes are rated 97 or higher. Ever since NBA 2K17, he has been one of the highest rated players in the game.

Kawhi Leonard finished NBA 2K21 with a 96 rating but has now reduced to 95 in NBA 2K22. He has suffered an ACL tear during the 2021 NBA playoffs and is now suspected to be out for the entire 2021-22 NBA season. Hence, his rating isn't expected to improve as the year progresses.

#2 Kevin Durant - 96

Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets in NBA 2K20 [Source: Athletes Creative Trap]

Kevin Durant is the joint highest rated player in the NBA 2K22. He can do almost anything on the floor on the offensive end as his jump shot is simply unguardable. He is a killer in the midrange and can decimate any defense in front of him. He's the highest in the game at 96 but he personally feels it should be even higher.

.@KDTrey5 thinks his 2K22 rating should be a 99 👀 Thoughts? #2KRatings pic.twitter.com/n5Pm3XzdVy

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 17, 2021

He had a phenomenal outing in the 2021 NBA playoffs and dropped a historic 49-point triple-double. He finished last season (NBA 2K21) as 96 and it has stayed put. Durant has 95-rated outside scoring, 85-rated inside scoring, 81-rated athleticism, 82-rated playmaking, 71-rated rebounding and 74-rated defense. He has a total of 43 badges in NBA 2K21 with 21 gold, six silver and 16 bronze. We know he is a jack of all trades but having zero Hall of Fame badges for KD is staggering.

#1 LeBron James - 96

LeBron James with the LA Lakers in NBA 2K20 [Source: visualurl.com]

King James shares the highest rating for a small forward in NBA 2K22 with Kevin Durant at 96. He has always been one of the highest rated players in the game ever since his early Cleveland Cavaliers days. Since NBA 2K6, James has never fallen below a 94 rating and has averaged a rating of 97. That's just how good LeBron James is. He is one of the most dominant players in the game with a more than four Hall of Fame badges. He had his rating increase to 98 during the 2020 NBA Finals.

LeBron James has gotten his damn respect... virtually, at least. He’ll be the highest-rated player in NBA 2K, and Anthony Davis is not far behind. https://t.co/p1oh7aaLe7

— Silver Screen and Roll (@LakersSBN) October 22, 2020

LeBron James is so good in the game that in 2015, Kevin Durant admitted to playing NBA 2K15 as him.

He has a whopping 61 total badges in the game with 28 gold and has 77% of his total attributes rated above 80.