NBA 2K27 Cover Athletes Revealed
The upcoming edition of the NBA 2K video game will feature three distinct cover athletes across its various editions. On Wednesday, it was announced that Victor Wembanyama, a star for the San Antonio Spurs, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, and NBA veteran Derrick Rose will be highlighted on the covers of NBA 2K27. The game is scheduled for release on September 4.
Victor Wembanyama, who led the San Antonio Spurs to the 2026 NBA Finals, will be featured on the “Standard Edition” cover. At 22 years old, Wembanyama is already recognized as a dominant force in the league. His impressive performance during the 2026 season included leading the Western Conference Finals in scoring, earning him the Most Valuable Player award for that series. He also finished third in the Kia MVP voting, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić.
Wembanyama’s contributions extended to the defensive end, where he was named the Kia Defensive Player of the Year. During the regular season, he averaged 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, helping the Spurs achieve a 62-20 record. His selection as a cover athlete follows a trend where recent postseason success has played a significant role in determining who graces the cover. For instance, Jayson Tatum was featured on NBA 2K25 after winning a title with the Celtics in 2024, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on NBA 2K26 after his Thunder team won the NBA Finals in 2025.
Despite the Spurs losing to the Knicks in the NBA Finals, Wembanyama’s selection for the NBA 2K27 cover was announced on Wednesday. His international recognition may have contributed to this decision, as he has quickly become one of the prominent figures in the NBA early in his career. Wembanyama also garnered significantly more MVP votes than Jalen Brunson during the regular season.
Clark and Rose Featured on Special Editions
Caitlin Clark, a standout player for the Indiana Fever, will appear on the “Deluxe Edition” cover. Her inclusion continues the practice of featuring a WNBA player on one of the game’s covers. Clark recently achieved a notable milestone in WNBA history, becoming the first player to record 40 or more points and 10 or more assists in a single game. She is a three-time All-Star and was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2024. Her collegiate career at Iowa also saw her accumulate numerous accolades.
Derrick Rose, a celebrated figure in the NBA, will be featured on the “Ultra Edition” cover. This marks his second appearance on an NBA 2K cover, having previously shared the cover of NBA 2K13 with Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin. Rose was the Kia NBA MVP in the 2010-11 season, and at 22 years old, he became the youngest MVP winner in league history. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 Draft.
Throughout his career, Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists across 723 regular-season games. He is a three-time All-Star, was selected for the All-NBA First Team in 2010-11, and earned the Kia Rookie of the Year award in 2008-09. His enduring legacy in the sport is recognized with this latest cover appearance.
Consideration for Other Athletes
While Victor Wembanyama was chosen for the main cover, there was speculation that Jalen Brunson might have been considered for the role. Brunson led the Knicks to an NBA championship this past postseason and was awarded the NBA Finals MVP for his performance. The Knicks defeated a young and talented Spurs team that had made a strong playoff run, including beating the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
Despite the Spurs‘ loss in the NBA Finals, Wembanyama was still selected for the NBA 2K27 cover. The decision to feature Wembanyama over Brunson, despite Brunson’s recent championship success, highlights that postseason results are not always the sole factor in cover athlete selection. Wembanyama’s significant social media following, with 6.2 million Instagram followers compared to Brunson’s 2 million, also demonstrates his broad appeal in the sports world.
It is anticipated that Brunson, along with other prominent players such as Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards, may be considered for future NBA 2K cover athlete roles.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
