The wildly popular NBA 2K21 provides gamers with the ability to craft and customize their basketball star with MyPlayer. Badges can be applied to a player's build and will boost certain abilities in specific situations.
While players can choose any Badge they wish, some will be more useful than others depending on the position they play. For Small Forwards, they'll likely want Badges that help them space the floor from deep and be the most versatile defender on the court.
Catch and Shoot is a Shooting Badge that increases the ability of the player to score on jump shots. This Badge will activate when shooting immediately after catching the ball off a pass.
Small Forwards will be one of two wings on the team expected to space the floor by spotting up for 3-point shots. Along with Shooting Guards, they'll be tasked with getting open off-ball and being ready to shoot off the catch. This Badge will provide a noticeable improvement and help players become a serious threat to score from beyond the arc.
Corner Specialist is a Shooting Badge that improves the chances of a player successfully scoring on their shot attempt. This Badge will activate when the player is shooting from the corners, whether from 3-point or mid-range distance.
The corners are one of the best places for Small Forwards to spot up for open threes. While the bigs will usually hover around the paint, wings will often end up open on the weak-side corners as defenses gravitate to the ball handler. Players can also drive and pull up from mid-range while still benefiting from Corner Specialist.
Deadeye is a Shooting Badge that increases the ability of a shooter to make shots while contested. This Badge will activate when a nearby defender contests the player's shot.
Small Forwards won't typically be the best shooters on the team, which is why it's important to make the most of every opportunity. Deadeye on Hall of Fame can allow gamers to make shots in the face of all but the tightest of defenses and can turn close-outs from the other team into an afterthought.
Clamps is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that improves the ability of a defender to stay in front of their opponent when their opponent has the basketball. This Badge will activate when tightly guarding the ball handler.
This Badge makes a tremendous difference when trying to "clamp" down an elusive opponent. Small Forwards often switch and help on defense, given their proximity to the paint in a zone defense. Clamps can help keep up with a shifty guard or slow down a charging big.
Intimidator is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that increases the effectiveness of a player's shot contests. This Badge will activate whenever the player contests an opponent's shot.
While the player will ideally have two hands in the face of an opposing shooter, this Badge will allow those who select it to severely impact a shot just by being near it. Close-outs also receive a significant boost, and contests from behind and from the sides are much more impactful. Small Forwards will also often be in a position to collapse into the paint to help defend opposing drives.
Rim Protector is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that improves the likelihood of blocking a shot, grants unique block animations, and gives a boost to Team Takeover whenever completing a block. This Badge will activate whenever attempting to block a shot.
Small Forwards who want to provide extra interior defense need this Badge. Some plays from some opposing bigs can't be stopped simply by getting a hand up. To avoid getting dunked on, and to be the final brick in a solid wall of team defense, pick up Rim Protector.
Interceptor is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that improves the player's ability to steal or tip attempted passes by the opposing team. The Badge will activate whenever the player attempts to steal or tip a pass.
Small Forwards are primed for interceptions perhaps more than any other position. Not only can they get a hand on passes into the middle lane, but they can practically close off opponents who spot up in the weak-side corners. With predictable passing lanes to cover, Interceptor will drastically increase the number of passes that get broken up on defense.
Pick Dodger is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that reduces the effectiveness of opposing screens. This Badge will activate whenever the player attempts to navigate through a pick.
Screens are a classic way to create space in basketball. In 2K21, even minor contact with screens can cause players to be displaced from their intended position for a crucial two or three seconds. This Badge will allow players to slide around screens much more easily, allowing them to stay in front of their man on defense.
Pick Pocket is a Defense/Rebounding Badge that improves the effectiveness of on-ball steals. This Badge will activate whenever the player attempts to steal the ball from the opposing team's ball handler.
Steals can be unreliable in 2K21 as the ball will sometimes no-clip through a defender. Sometimes having good position and timing isn't enough to strip the ball. Pick Pocket will significantly increase the likelihood that a steal attempt is successful, allowing Small Forwards to become a strong deterrent to dribble-happy ball handlers.
Rebound Chaser is a Defense/Rebounding badge that allows the player to pursue distant rebounds more effectively. This Badge will activate whenever the player attempts to grab a rebound that is beyond their reach, providing quicker and more accurate animations.
Small Forwards are often the third man in a battle for a rebound on either end of the court, and as they are often further from the paint than Centers and Power Forwards, they'll likely benefit from the ability to quickly chase down long rebounds.
