The thing about chasing down Sapphire cards in MyTeam is that it's a relatively easy thing to do. For gamers who don't (and shouldn't) shell out cash to buy cards, NBA 2K23 makes it very easy to play a few games of MyCareer and get enough Virtual Currency to buy some great ones.
So the real question for MyTeam fans isn't if these cards are worth it or not. Sapphire cards in NBA 2K23 give players a nice floor to jump from. The question is: Which of these cards should be purchased first? Since they are all close in price, go ahead and buy only the best of the best.
A special thank you to the folks over at 2kdb.net for keeping the database of cards up to date!
10 Rik Smits
When creating the best center build possible, it should be noted that it's not possible to create another Rik Smits. Smits is 7'4" tall, a whole inch taller than the maximum height NBA 2K23 allows players to be. That alone makes him a terrifying center.
That's not the end of the reasons to use him, though. He's great from the post or driving for a layup with his gold Aeriel Wizard badge. His hot zone is all around the net, so most shots in the paint are going to be no problem whatsoever.
9 Bradley Beal
What made Michael Jordan the scorer that he was? It was his ability to shoot as well as dunk and layup. There was no safe way to defend him because he was ready to do anything. Bradley Beal's Sapphire card is much the same.
His slashing abilities from the shooting guard spot are always a threat, but Beal almost has to hope his defenders bite too hard on drives since he's even better at putting it up from mid-range. With a gold in Volume Shooter, keep feeding him and he'll improve as the game goes on.
8 Frank Ntilikina
Guards that play poor defense are a sadly common issue, even when looking at the better Amethyst cards. Frank Ntilikina specializes in defense and can be used in either the point guard or shooting guard spot because he's also great at playmaking.
Before the game, go ahead and see which of the two opposing guards is a better scorer, then plug Ntilikina in. His gold Pick Dodger badge insures that man-on-man will work just fine for him, no need to switch on the screens.
7 Rudy Gobert
The Stifle Tower, or Rudy Gobert, gets his nickname for being a straight-up powerhouse on the defensive end under the rim. His gold badges in Achor and Post Lockdown complement his 7'1" frame nicely.
Post Lockdown is considered one of the best badges in the game because post scoring is now incredibly prevalent. He has a blue area just outside the rim, so don't try anything fancy on offense, but he does have a red when directly underneath it. Use his strength to get that perfect positioning.
6 Zion Williamson
Tired of interior defenders that can't score? That's a common issue in MyTeam. Thankfully, Zion Williamson breaks up the redundancy with a scoring onslaught. He has every finishing badge except for two and two of these badges are of the gold variety.
His defense isn't sacrificed too much either. The attributes are nothing to marvel at, but he does have the Brick Wall and Rebound Chaser badges, so he can at least handle himself. At 6'6", he's a bit undersized for power forwards (don't move him to center), but his strength helps him play bigger than his height.
5 Dennis Rodman
At 6'7", gamers might think that Dennis Rodman is more fit at small forward than power forward. The gold badge in rebounding proves this assertion to be incorrect. He also has two more gold badges in some of the best defense/rebounding badges available.
Rodman is also one of the rare interior shooters that prefers to shoot from the right side of the basket. With a center that likes to post up from the left, this can be a perfect two-pronged attack.
4 Kyrie Irving
It goes without saying that Kyrie Irving has some of the best dribble moves in the NBA. Animations are just as important, perhaps even more so than having good attributes. If a player ever feels worse than their stats, it's for this reason. Irving is just perfect.
That's not to insinuate any kind of flaw with his stats either, though. He's got no badges on defense, that's pretty common for point guards at this level, but his three gold badges when it comes to playmaking are all quite welcome. He can slash as well as shoot. When it comes to shooting, he has an 80+ in every attribute, so don't be afraid to fire away after pulling off an ankle breaker.
3 Jalen Duren
Although he's listed primarily as a center, Jalen Duren should probably be used more as a power forwards. His height, 6'11", is fine for a center but his skills pertain more to slashing and dunking than posting up and grabbing boards.
He has absolutely no badges at all in either playmaking or shooting, so that should give players an idea of where he excels. Against smaller opponents, his gold Masher badge will create many highlight dunks in every game.
2 Paolo Banchero
A 6'10" power forward with gold badges in finishing and defense/rebounding? Yeah, that's not something that any player is going to pass up on. Paolo Banchero does exactly this, adding in some playmaking and shooting as it pertains to posts and slashing.
The big kicker here is the speed. Few cards hit an 80 in speed, especially not at this height. Paolo Banchero is a quick defender who won't hold up the team and adds in some scoring thanks to some top-tier finishing badges.
1 Shaquille O'Neal
There is no greater liability than an average or below center. Once teams can score on the inside, it's all over. Might as well throw in the towel. Getting this position squared away should be at the top of every player's priority list. Might as well get it fixed with Shaquille O'Neal.
As one of the all-time greats, players aren't just treated to watching the big man's legendary slam dunk animations. He's got gold badges in finishing and defense/rebounding, so he's prepared to maximize every advantage he can get from that 7'1" frame.
NBA 2K23 is available now for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.