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Aside from most of these being the best cards in the game, Pink Diamonds and Galaxy Opal cards included, they are available for tournament play and for challenges that prove too difficult for most normal teams. The prices can also be afforded by freebie players who work hard, giving them a chance to show their skills in NBA 2K22 without spending huge dollar amounts.
Updated on June 21st, 2022 by Hodey Johns: As can be imagined, this list has wildly changed since the game’s initial release. Some cards stay put, proving their power while others fell down the rankings or off of this list entirely due to newer, stronger cards. Players who use mostly Free Agents cards can now put together a team fit to contend for regional titles. In addition to updating this list with new cards and players, a chart has been added to the list that gives studious MyTeam players an insight as to why these cards have been ranked as highly as they are.
11 Stephen Curry
The best three-point shooter build in NBA history belongs to Stephen Curry. He’s lethal on the dribble and the instant he gets an opening, he’s either passing to his splash brother counterpart or taking the three from any point on the court.
He’s one of the few players in MyTeam that has gained a 99 rating on offense. With the amped-up ability to shoot three-point balls this year, Curry’s card becomes all the more valuable. For those who need range from their point guard, look no further.
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9 Dwight Howard
When new players are learning about MyTeam, they’ll quickly discover that many of the cards that can play center actually aren’t good centers. They’re undersized; good badges and statistics can’t overcome this disadvantage inside.
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Thankfully, Dwight Howard is a 6'11" true center. Given his defensive badges and height, his maxed-out 99 rating eliminates the possibility of getting schooled in the paint.
8 Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury has only a single weakness, but he doesn’t allow that to get in the way of all the positives. Although his statistics add up to a respectable 91 on defense, he only has one bronze badge there. Against tougher cards, he’ll get bullied a bit.
But his 98 on offense features all of his legendary cards in both shooting and finishing, so he can score from legitimately anywhere on the court. And over half of the playmaking badges available are gold, so if he’s really covered, the man can pass and assist without any worries.
7 Russell Westbrook
Here’s the deal with MyTeam tactics on most possessions; the goal is to drive to the rim with the point guard and, if the lane isn’t there, to pass it back out to the perimeter. With superior passing and layups thanks to 12 legendary badges, Westbrook is the key to making this strategy work.
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Thanks to some of the best finishing badges in the game, Westbrook plays exactly the way pro players demand. His 97 offense assures that he’ll be getting some free buckets every game. But it’s his 96 defense that is the difference-maker.
6 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Anybody who denies the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t been paying attention. He’s got one of the best builds a power forward could ask for with the ability to win with strength or speed. After two MVP seasons, he finally the Bucks, of all teams, their first title last year.
His perfect 99 score on defense goes along with a 94 on offense, a combined score that will drop an opposing player’s jaw. Those 12 legendary badges certainly don’t hurt either.
5 Paolo Banchero
With a staggering number of badge totals, it’s easier to discuss the badges that Paolo Banchero doesn’t have than the ones he does. If any hypothetical area of his game can be criticized, his shooting from range doesn’t have any legendary badges, but the golds are still valuable for a few three-pointers each game.
As a center and power forward, that’s probably not a place most users will care about. His perfect offensive rating makes him ultra-lethal on the interior. And his playmaking, for a center, is surprisingly good, so if the shot isn’t there, he’ll find someone who is open.
4 Ja Morant
As the highest-rated free agent card in the game, it isn’t going to get much better than Ja Morant. Sometimes the raw overall numbers are misleading (many other 96s were left off of this list) but Morant is the real deal, giving players badges in quality and quantity.
His legendary badges are split among all four categories, enhancing Morant’s game at every level. The perfect 99 rating on offense is the highlight and he’ll move over to shooting guard without any issue for players that find themselves a better point guard.
3 Klay Thompson
It’s almost tiring to hear analysts talk about how underrated Klay Thompson’s defense is. But they have to keep talking about it because his long-range shooting almost always steals the show. Rest assured, nobody is going to underestimate his perfect 99 on defense in NBA 2K22.
Between playmaking and finishing, Thompson only has one badge, so he has his weaknesses. But he’s as good outside of the arc as they come and his defense is good for inducing double-digit rage quits from opponents every year.
2 Kawhi Leonard
There is a good reason Kawhi Leonard is considered one of the best small forwards in the NBA. He brings either championships or championship runs to any city he goes to. Usually leading the league in steals is reserved for guards, but Leonard is one of the few exceptions.
As a card, nobody can top a 99-rated defense, the best in the game. Aside from the top card on this list, he’s got more legendary badges than any other Free Agent card with a total of 18. Shooting, dunking, passing, and defense, Leonard has it all.
1 Dominique Wilkins
Yes, Dominique Wilkins is a 94, so how does he rank higher than the 95s and 96s on this list? It’s simple; he’s got 26 legendary badges. That’s 8 more badges than the runner-up, then coupled with 22 Gold badges.
They’re split evenly among finishing, shooting, defense, and passing. That’s exactly what is needed out of a small forward. To top it all off, his 98 offense and 94 defense make him overpowering on either side of the ball.
NBA 2K22 was released on September 9th, 2021, and is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
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