At 2:22 p.m. on July 8th, Take-Two Interactive, also known as 2K, announced a new cover athlete. The 2025 NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is the cover athlete for NBA 2K26. Thunder fans who felt he was snubbed last year got their prayers answered for the latest cover. What exactly goes into deciding who graces the cover of the illustrious NBA2K games?
A New Superstar Has Been Named the NBA 2K26 Cover Athlete
The Three Factors to Be Named the NBA 2K Cover Athlete
Last year, Clemente Almanza of The Thunder Wire asked Ronnie2K about the criteria for a cover athlete. There are three factors. Are you on an upward trajectory? Can they (2K) effectively link their narrative to the story they are trying to tell as a brand? The final factor is authenticity. Gilgeous-Alexander checked every box this past season.
He joins only one other Thunder player to grace the cover of NBA 2K, Kevin Durant. The Durantula was part of a trio of athletes in NBA 2K13, the other two being Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. Durant was then the sole athlete on the cover of NBA 2K15. Shai also joins Luka Doncic as the only two players from the 2018 draft class to grace the cover. Now, with 11 new renditions of NBA 2K, the Thunder finally have their star back on the cover of the biggest basketball video game in the world.
From All-Star to MVP to Champion to the release of his signature shoe, this has turned into the summer of Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. With the trajectory and impact that Shai and the Thunder have had on the game, it could turn into the year of SGA.
Impact of Shai Being the Cover Athlete
With his new shoe set to be released in the Fall by Converse, this is a special moment for Shai and Converse. Shai is the third Converse-sponsored athlete to appear on the NBA 2K cover and the first active player. The other two were Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Converse will, presumably, be back in the game as well, with their superstar releasing his new shoes. Shai being the cover athlete will be a massive boost to the company’s social awareness and potential revenue.
Gigleous-Alexander is also the first Canadian-born athlete to be on the cover of NBA 2K. Furthermore, Shai is the third international player, excluding special edition or country-limited edition covers, to appear on the cover. The other two are Giannis Antetokounmpo for 2K19 and Luka Doncic for 2K22 and 2K23. With the influx of top-tier talent from outside the United States, this could mark the beginning of a trend where international players are featured on the cover of NBA 2K.
Finally, this cements Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the face of the NBA. With so many superstars on the verge of retirement, the league needs a new face. The days of LeBron James and Kevin Durant being the faces are over. Now, it is time for the latest generation, and no one fits that moment better than Shai. SGA is the best player to come out of Canada, has revived Converse, achieved almost every single season accolade in NBA history, and is the star player on the 2025 NBA championship team. These achievements alone make him the face of the National Basketball Association.
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