NBA 2K18 Top 10 Small Forwards

Pretty good list, although I really believe that Kawhi, LeBron and Durant should be tied. It'll be interesting how it pans out by season's end.
Everyone else falls in line to where they should be....
from Bills Backer/Spurs Nation HQ

Not a fan of his anymore, but Hayward should be at PG's level after last season tbh
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Either Wiggins is too high or Melo is too low, or both.

lol Wiggins and Booker being overrated as hell. Sure its 2k's typical disregard for defensive stats of most offensive players.

Great job!

Harrison Barnes should be 1 or 2 point higher. He played really well last season.
Solid list

Wiggins should be the 84 and Melo should be the 86.

I guess I wouldn't put them tied. And last year there was a whole thread on LeBron defense. K-why offense has made a huge jump. But I still don't think he's creative as a LeBron or Durant. Durant I just don't know. I think K Why will keep getting better.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Not a fan of melo or wiggins, but melo is a much better player imo.Both guys are 1 way players.

Wiggins....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have to say it again, LeBron in 2K18 looks amazing.
Just..... wow.

Older players like Melo, and Ibaka get underrated because they're not as good as they used to be (even though they're still productive).
Younger players like Booker, Wiggins, and Porzingis get overrated because there is more hype/excitement for them

Yea 84-85 is the max for them two from me personally . Melo I think is rated properly maybe 85 but he shouldn't go any higher than that.

They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but it is ludricous to say that an (soon to be 33 years old) aging LeBron is better than Durant & Leonard. It really is splitting hairs to say that one is better than the other at this point.
Playmaking is the only area that LeBron is tangibly superior to Durant and especially Leonard, but Leonard continues to improve in that area (he's gonna make a huge jump this incoming season, IMO) while Durant is above average to good.
While Leonard and Durant are consistently better defenders.
This isn't 2013 Miami Heat LeBron James, anymore, Durant and Leonard have caught him.
from Bills Backer/Spurs Nation HQ

Totally agree.... I guess I don't see a problem at the end of the day with this list. I'd like to see some ratings. That would make me feel better.

Wiggins 86 has to be one of the worst 2K ratings of all time. No joke.
23/2/4 + 31-51 + The Worst Defensive Player In The NBA =/= 86.

Absolutely awful rating.

Top 5 SGs gonna be hard , at the end it's gonna come between Bradley and CJ.
Harden
Butler
Derozan
Klay
Beal / CJ

Some Defensive Ratings are based on reputation.
Remember Paul Milsap had low 70s ratings for key defensive stats 2K15 or 16 until the week after he finished in the top 5 in DPOY. Since then he's had good defensive ratings.

28/30 GMs would take LeBron over Durant and Leonard this year. Let's not forget how incredible LeBron was in the Finals. Averaging a triple double on KD, Iguodala, Klay, and Draymond is just absurd. KD was incredible too, but he had nowhere near the amount of pressure/load/resistance that LeBron had. LeBron's impact, efficieny, and value on the court was the highest I've seen from him in so long. He was pitching perfect games. He's still on another level. Kawhi and Durant are definitely trending up though.

Danillo is top ten in the NBA at sf? I will admit I have not seen him much lately and it seemed like he is always battling injuries

I just expect alot more from them, to be more than just casual knowledge. Overrating both KAT and Wiggins based on that is about to give the
Wolves a 91-90-86 OVR core, which will probably be top 4-5 in the league? And better than the 1 seed Celtics Kyrie/Hayward/Horford core of 90-88-83*? The Wolves are just so overrated here.

Man, LeBron is definitely one of if not the best model in sports gaming.

I'm sure his athleticism ratings are very, very high, which probably leads to his overall being up little bit.
But honestly, he'd still play exactly the same if he was an 83 or 84 so it's really not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

I do agree with this. I think KD and Kawhi are getting better, and LeBron on the decline, but it's not to the point that they've caught him just yet. That could change next season, but as of now I don't see it.
I think it also depends how you choose to rate them. During the regular season LeBron is obviously not the same player he is in the playoffs. In the playoff's KD narrowly tops LeBron at 3pt%, but LeBron tops him at points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, FG%.. I do think there is a gap between those two.
Even just looking at the finals, KD scored more points but it was against one of the worst rated defenses in the league. And he only outscored him by one point at that. LeBron averaged a triple double and 34ppg against the best defense in the league. Hell over the past 3 season playing against what is historically the best team ever over any 3 year span he's averaging 33, 12, 9. First player to lead both teams in points rebounds assists, the next year the first player to lead both teams in points rebounds assists steals and blocks, the next year the first player to average a triple double in the finals. Also worth noting that over these past 3 finals he holds an average game score of 26.7, that's higher than Jordan's career finals game score.. and just to repeat that's against the best team (judging by a 3 year span) of all time.
I think what makes LeBron different is how he can shift his focus to what he needs to do. He can focus on scoring and drop 40 like KD, he can focus on defense and guard the best player like Kawhi, he can focus on rebounding and pull down 15 boards, he can focus on getting others looks and pick apart your defense and log 13 assists. He can go do nearly everything on the court at the rate of anyone in the league if he wants to make that his focus for that game. All while staying efficient.
Dude just has another gear, declining or not. He's not quite the player he was in Miami, but we still need to see how this year goes to know if he's regressed enough for either of those two to surpass or meet him.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like they're still fine tuning these player models. Lebron's neck and arms look perfect compared to other screens. Westbrook looks much better. I'm excited to see final version. Hopefully legends will get get their hair added or removed before game is released.
Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I'm not liking how every player seems so highly rated.

Also, whoever made LeBron's character model deserves a raise. Maybe the most realistic looking character model in any videogame?

Wow this looks even better than the previous Lebron screens and those were really good.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Operation Sports mobile app

No, they wouldn't. Durant & Leonard are younger, have less mileage on their legs and are just as good as LeBron. Only a moron, an extremely biased person (*ahem*) or person afraid to "hurt LeBron's feelings" would pick his nearly 33 - year old self.
I'm pretty sure the two other best players in the league can "shift their focus" and win games in different ways. Durant has become an incredible off - ball/help defender while Kawhi continues to improve annually as a decision maker with the ball in his hands.
You can attempt to look at just the playoffs (where Durant & Leonard were just a dominant) or Finals, but through the course of the entire season Leonard and Durant were his equal. I'd take either before LeBron at this point, but that isn't meant as a knock on LBJ.
from Bills Backer/Spurs Nation HQ

We also know Wiggins got a hair update - be nice if we could get a good look at his face (for WTF more than anyone :)).
Kawhi got a beard update - which is great because that's a visually noticeable thing from a gameplay camera.
I can't help but wonder if Greek Freak got a hair update aswell. Can't help but wonder who else has an update (Rose maybe?). Jimmy Buckets braids perhaps?

Seriously the best most accurate LeBron player model ever in a video game.

For this year, not long term. Kawhi is not on LeBron's level yet, but he could get there. That game against Memphis, wow. Clutch shot after clutch shot. And he was dominating the Warriors.
KD reclaimed his spot as LeBron's rival after the injuries and shortcomings the past few years. But I think most people are still picking LeBron first.

Yes, for this year I would take 26 - year old Leonard or 28 - year old (I believe) Durant over soon to be 33 year old LeBron. Kawhi is definitely on Durant and LeBron's level.
He's dragged an aging team to 67 and 61 wins, won back - to - back DPOY awards, top 3 in MVP voting two years in a row and somehow "still ain't on LeBron's level?" Okay, sure.....
Next you'll say he's just a "system player" or that Paul George and Jimmy Butler are as good as him.
from Bills Backer/Spurs Nation HQ

I like these ratings for the most part. Wiggins was by definition the "worse defensive player" in the NBA last year so his rating to me should be a little lower. Harrison Barnes should be a little higher as well. As for melo, I don't see him being an 84 and Hayward being a 88. I understand he was much more efficient and most likely better defense but I don't see the 4 point difference. However, if the ratings for overalls uses the same formula as last year then all these ratings would depend heavily on the "Intangibles" rating. For example, last year I believe Melos shooting ratings were like 90 mid range standing and 87 moving but his intangibles was a 64 and his overall rating was an 84, I tweaked the intangibles rating and ONLY the intangibles rating to a 80 and melo overall went up to 87. If this still
Holds true then the Indivudual ratings mean muchhh more than the overall ratings.
Side note this is most definitely the best bron has looked. Wow. They may have been holding back other years for these type of improvements.

I try to watch as much Giannis as I can, which is a good amount with league pass and youtube (not a Bucks fan).
When the 91 rating came out, I thought that was fair. But after seeing all of the other ratings in the game so far, I'd say they have him too low.

Like some of you have already posted,

Like some of you have already posted, I'm surprised by the refinement of player models/scans... I really hope LBJ and Russ' final builds look like what they've released today. 

Would be nice if we could get confirmation on this being the case. Because the LeBron player model is larger than those early screens that were released. His bodytype looks to be nearly perfect in terms of his actual build and his facial likeness is almost photo realistic and makes the 2k17 LeBron, which didn't look bad, look foolish in comparison.

No inside information here but I'm fairly certain the most recent updates are going to be what we get, lol
Sent from my SM-G955U using Operation Sports mobile app

I hope them posting that picture is confirmation enough that THAT is the final build for this year... and if it is (as I said for he seemingly improved 2k18 Westbrook), then I'm over the freaking moon
Sent from my SM-A910F using Operation Sports mobile app

That Wiggins ratings naw, I am sorry he is grossly over-rated.
He is one of the most athletic wings in the league but makes no impact on the defensive end, doesn't rebound, doesn't create well and a slightly above average 3pt shooter and below average mid range shooter. Doesn't protect the rim like you would expect from his insane leaping ability.
I get it he is 21 but for a small forward defense is very important or should be. The only positive from an offensive standpoint is he is a good at the rim and good spot up three point shooter.

Right. Agreed. My only concern is hopefully that they put this level of quality and detail into the 2007 Cavaliers LeBron player model. Because the 2007 Cavaliers LeBron player model in 2k17 was a huge step back from even the 2k16 2007 Cavaliers LeBron. You can't have this 2k18 current LeBron player model and then do nothing to improve the 2007 Cavaliers LeBron player model.

Agreed. Oddly enough, I liked the 2k17 2007 Bron more than the 2k17 2017 Bron -- he had a better body type/model
Sent from my SM-A910F using Operation Sports mobile app

What would you rate him then?
If you actually think he's "grossly" over-rated, then I'm assuming you want him in the high 70s?
Which, if that's what you mean, you're basically saying he's not much better than CJ Miles or Brandon Ingram, which is highly incorrect.

Well these top 10's have just been reminders of why I'm so glad we can fully edit rosters.

Don't let your bias show through. He is an inefficient non-factor on defense non playmaker. He basically had the same stats for 2016 as he did for 2017 check his per 36 min stats. He improved his 3pt% and that was it. Mid range shooting poor. I would expect 81 to 82. He is an uber athlete but none of it plays out in game. How can he be one the worst defensive players in the league and still be that high is mind boggling. I will love to see his individual ratings

Wiggins 86?
Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

That LeBron looks much improved, excellent even. I don't like the lack of detail in the earlier screens. This one is phenomenal though.
Now, like Mark said, let me get a good look at the new Wiggins please? Lol.

Wiggins is not a top 10 SF, lol. He's so inefficient and gives you nothing other than long 2s. He plays 36 mpg with high usage yet averages like 2 rebounds and 2 assists. For comparison, D'Angelo Russell played only 25 mpg and averaged about 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

If this is the final LeBron build, then I can finally get over Live 18 having a better-looking LeBron...
Sent from my SM-A910F using Operation Sports mobile app