NBA 2K Covers
The NBA 2K covers have each featured at least one NBA player, beginning with Allen Iverson in the original NBA 2K. In contrast to the NBA Live series, the NBA 2K games have repeated cover players, notably featuring Iverson on the cover for the first five games in the series and Shaquille O'Neal in back-to-back appearances for NBA 2K6 and NBA 2K7. Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant have also appeared on multiple covers.
In 2010, NBA 2K11 became the first game in the series to feature a retired player on the cover, namely Michael Jordan. Jordan returned as the cover player for NBA 2K12, with limited edition Magic Johnson and Larry Bird covers also being made available. NBA 2K13 marks the first time that multiple players appear on the same cover, with Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose appearing together. Beginning with NBA 2K16, a special collector's edition featuring a retired player was made available, officially titled the Legend Edition beginning with NBA 2K17.
Covers
Game | Player | Notes |
NBA 2K | Allen Iverson | |
NBA 2K1 | Allen Iverson | First repeat cover player. Won the regular season MVP award the same year. |
NBA 2K2 | Allen Iverson | |
NBA 2K3 | Allen Iverson | |
ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4 | Allen Iverson | The most cover appearances to date, with five. |
ESPN NBA 2K5 | Ben Wallace | The Detroit Pistons were the defending champions, and appeared in the 2005 NBA Finals. |
NBA 2K6 | Shaquille O'Neal | First player to win the championship the same season as appearing on the NBA 2K cover. Previously appeared on the NBA Live 96 cover. |
NBA 2K7 | Shaquille O'Neal | Second repeat cover player. |
NBA 2K8 | Chris Paul | |
NBA 2K9 | Kevin Garnett | The Boston Celtics were the defending champions coming into the season. |
NBA 2K10 | Kobe Bryant | Second player to win the championship the same season as appearing on the NBA 2K cover; also the defending champions. |
NBA 2K11 | Michael Jordan | First retired player to appear on an NBA 2K cover. |
NBA 2K12 | Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson | The Larry Bird and Magic Johnson covers were limited edition. Michael Jordan was the third repeat cover player. |
NBA 2K13 | Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose | First cover to feature multiple players. |
NBA 2K14 | LeBron James | The Miami Heat were the defending champions, and appeared in the 2014 NBA Finals. |
NBA 2K15 | Kevin Durant | Fourth repeat cover player, first solo appearance. |
NBA 2K16 | Stephen Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis Special Edition: Michael Jordan |
All three covers were available as an insert in the regular edition, so that they could be swapped according to preference. First Special Edition, featuring the third cover for Michael Jordan. |
NBA 2K17 | Paul George Legend Edition: Kobe Bryant |
Paul George was previously the "cover" player for the MyNBA2K16 companion app. |
NBA 2K18 | Kyrie Irving Legend Edition: Shaquille O'Neal |
Kyrie Irving previously appeared on the cover of NBA Live 14. Third cover for Shaquille O'Neal. |