Tag Archives: Cover Player

The NBA 2K27 preview season is officially underway, as the covers were revealed this week, along with some first-look screenshots and pre-order details. This year’s cover players are Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose. Furthermore, we have confirmation that NBA 2K27 will not be available for Gen 8 consoles (i.e. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch). It will be coming out on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4th, 2026.

Victor Wembanyama appears on the cover of the Standard Edition of NBA 2K27, which will have a physical release. Caitlin Clark and Derrick Rose appear on the covers of the Deluxe and Ultra Editions of NBA 2K27 respectively, though both are digital-only releases. The Deluxe and Ultra Editions aren’t available in some regions, as they contain pre-order bonuses related to the game’s recurrent revenue and gambling mechanics.

NBA 2K27 is already available to pre-order. As for the pre-order bonuses, it’s the usual assortment of VC, MyTEAM cards, and boosts for MyCAREER; at least in the two more expensive editions. The Standard Edition only includes 10,000 VC, not counting any bonuses that may be offered by local retailers. Up to seven days of Early Access is available when pre-ordering the Deluxe and Ultra Editions of NBA 2K27. Additional bonuses for both NBA 2K26 and NBA 2K27 are available if you pre-order the premium editions of the latter before August 17th.

The first-look screenshots show off the three cover players, as well as Cooper Flagg. We’ve also gotten a glimpse of the “2K Mart”, an in-game shop. No other details are available at this time, but we’ll soon be getting a roadmap for the rest of the NBA 2K27 preview season. Based on previous years, I’d expect weekly developer insights through August, a gameplay trailer, and a few other snippets here and there. As always, we’ll be aggregating the news and previews, while highlighting the key information.

In the meantime, you can check out the artwork for the NBA2K27 covers below, along with the first-look screenshots and a breakdown of the pre-order bonuses. Got any thoughts? Feel free to share them in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion in the newly-launched NBA 2K27 section in our Forum! I’ll also be adding a portal for NBA 2K27 here on the main site shortly, so stay tuned for that and more details on the game as they’re released.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #537 of the NLSC Podcast!

The first details about NBA 2K25 have been revealed, and they’ve brought some extremely exciting news: the New Gen version is coming to PC! This week, we join the community in discussing this much-anticipated announcement, including what it will mean for a modding community that’s been aching for a PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X port. It’s not the only noteworthy news of course, as we already have the system requirements, confirmation of no crossplay on PC, and word of a new era coming in MyNBA which naturally has us speculating as to what it will be. We also react to the cover players and art, and touch on some other tidbits that we’ve noticed such as combined pre-orders on console, and purported Steam Deck optimisation.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:16:24 — 52.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

Although I’m past my huge NBA Live 10 kick from a few years ago, I still enjoy firing up the game and sharing the highlights whenever I do! With Blake Griffin recently announcing his retirement after 13 NBA seasons, I felt inspired to stage a showdown of cover players with the face of NCAA Basketball 09 taking on Dwight Howard in his own game.

While Griffin ultimately missed what should have been his rookie season, we can obviously still put him on the floor in NBA Live 10 to create some high-flying highlights. Lob City may have been a few years away, but the tandem of Griffin and Blake Davis is also quite capable of connecting on alley-oops. I managed to do just that – no mean feat in NBA Live 10, as many of you are no doubt aware – as well as frequently find Griffin on the fast break for some vicious finishes. Davis was also a lot of fun with his signature dribbling package, while Howard and Mickael Pietrus led the way for Orlando in a game that was tightly-contested until the fourth quarter. Check it out!

NBA Live 10 is still a blast to dust off over a decade later, so I hope that you enjoyed these highlights! Be sure to subscribe to the NLSC YouTube channel for more basketball gaming content, and as always, feel free to hit Dee and I up with suggestions of games that you’d like to see us play.

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the EA Sports cover players that can be found in NBA Live 16.

Did you know that every single NBA 2K cover player is available to play with in NBA 2K24? Between the cover players that are still active and the game’s array of classic and All-Time teams, they’re all accounted for. Obviously, we haven’t had a new NBA Live since 2018, but even then, NBA Live 19 didn’t include every cover player in the history of the series. On top of that, a couple of the cover players that were included in NBA Live 19 were nevertheless retired, and thus exclusive to the collection of Legends in Ultimate Team.

If we want to find the last NBA Live game that featured a healthy selection of players who appeared on the cover of EA Sports’ long-running basketball sim series, we must go back a few years to NBA Live 16. In fact, not only does NBA Live 16 feature a number of NBA Live cover players, but also players who graced the covers of EA Sports’ college basketball titles. And so, I thought it might be fun to spotlight those cover players who are readily accessible in NBA Live 16, wearing EA Sports jerseys in the game’s practice mode. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the Class of 2003, and their impact on and connection to basketball gaming over the years.

Somehow, it’s been twenty years since the Class of 2003 – widely considered to be one of the best NBA Draft Classes of all time – debuted in the NBA. Only one player from that Draft – LeBron James – is still active, and now playing in his 21st season. With the retirement of Andre Iguodala and Udonis Haslem, he officially became the league’s oldest player. This is something I’ve been trying to get my head around and make peace with. After all, I’m a couple of months older than LeBron, which means I’ve reached the point where I’m older than all active NBA players. Old head indeed!

This day was bound to come, of course, but it’s not something you really think about when you’re a hardcore basketball fan in your late teens or early twenties. However, the entry of the Class of 2003 into the NBA two decades ago was one of my first “Oh, I’m not exactly a kid anymore” moments. More than starting to go out to clubs and pubs, staying up as late as I wanted, or any other rites of passage, realising that there were now NBA players who were my age made me feel…well, not that I was grown up, but definitely in the next stage of life! Let’s take a look back…way back…

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some assorted cover player trivia.

I’m sure that it’s apparent from my various features, as well as comments I’ve made on the NLSC Podcast, that I really enjoy trivia about my passions. I love discovering new “fun facts” about my favourite hobbies and interests, and of course, discussing them in the content that I create. Of course, the downside of being passionate about trivia is that it’s easy to come off as a know-it-all, or a bore. Still, I imagine that if you’re here to consume content about basketball video games, you enjoy these facts as well! It’s always my aim to share something that hopefully not everyone will know.

So, cover player trivia. It seems only appropriate, since in the grand scheme of things, there aren’t too many aspects of basketball video games that are as trivial as the cover player! The face of the game doesn’t necessarily indicate its quality, and there have been some out-of-the-box choices on the front of the box throughout the years. It’s still a point of interest, of course. We admire creative cover art, and while it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) impact our enjoyment of a game, we also appreciate a worthy cover player. With so many basketball games and a multitude of players appearing on their covers, there’s some interesting trivia we can dive into as we tip off another week.

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Pre-orders for NBA 2K24 are now open, and the pre-order bonuses have subsequently been revealed. As usual, they consist of VC, MT, MyTEAM packs and cards, boosts for MyCAREER, and MyPLAYER gear. All of the pre-order bonuses for each edition of NBA 2K24 can be found below.

Speaking of editions, two more have been announced, and their covers revealed. There will be a 25th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K24, with a cover featuring a custom championship ring. It’s the premium edition of NBA 2K24, and once again includes a one-year NBA League Pass subscription, as well as additional bonuses if you pre-order by July 25th. This year’s WNBA edition features Sabrina Ionescu on its cover, and is once again exclusive to GameStop and North America. A first look screenshot of Ionescu has also been posted.

Following up on the leak from the 2K Intel account, crossplay has also officially been announced. It is a Next Gen/New Gen exclusive however, but it does mean that PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S gamers will finally be able to meet up in cooperative and competitive play in NBA 2K24. A trailer touting crossplay has also been posted, which you can check out below along with the latest covers, Sabrina Ionescu screenshot, and details on the NBA 2K24 pre-order bonuses.

Got any thoughts? Feel free to share them in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion in our NBA 2K24 Forum!

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Another preview season is officially underway, and usual, it begins with a cover reveal! 2K has revealed that there will be two Kobe Bryant covers for NBA 2K24: one for the Kobe Bryant Edition, and one for the Black Mamba Edition.

Although further details are yet to be revealed, it seems safe to assume that the Black Mamba Edition is this year’s premium edition of the game. Pre-orders will open tomorrow, so it’s possible that we’ll get some preliminary info about the bonuses at that time.

Judging by recent years, we probably won’t get a ton of details about NBA 2K24 until August. That’s usually when the developer blogs and gameplay trailers drop, with 2K revealing their roadmap for the preview season in late July as part of the hype train. In any case, I’ll be aggregating the news throughout the preview season, and Dee and I will of course discuss the developments on the NLSC Podcast.

In the meantime, you can check out both NBA 2K24 covers featuring Kobe Bryant below. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum! Please note that I’ve added a page for NBA 2K24 in our Wiki; as always, I invite you to add information as it’s confirmed. I’ll also be launching a portal for the game here on the main site soon, so stay tuned.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #451 of the NLSC Podcast!

Revisiting NBA 2K8 produced a very satisfying co-op win, and also brought back memories of two Bens on the  Chicago Bulls. We also had a session with NBA Live 2000 in order to compare it to NBA Live 99, and the verdict is that they’re both pretty exceptional releases! We’re also going extremely old school this week, as we played the PC version of Jordan vs Bird via floppy disk; after entering the correct value from the copy protection wheel, of course. We also reflect on former Boston Celtic point guard Marcus Banks, discuss recent retro pickups and modding projects, and open up the mailbag to discuss favourite cover players and some interesting cover player trivia.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:27:49 — 60.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #434 of the NLSC Podcast!

How much would you pay for a sealed copy of Lakers vs. Celtics? Here’s a hint: it’ll set you back more than the Championship Edition of NBA 2K23! Speaking of which, in the wake of the NBA 2K23 preview season tipping off, we discuss the cover reveals, pre-order bonuses, and the return of the Jordan Challenge. With the news that the PC version will be Current Gen once again, we consider the possible reasons for the decision, and the future of the series on the platform. We also talk about some interesting NBA Live rumours, and the underrated NBA Inside Drive series. In this week’s mailbag, the community reacts to the news about NBA 2K23 PC, and suggests new games for the Jordan Challenge.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:43:36 — 71.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

Shams Charania leaked it last week, but 2K have now officially announced that Devin Booker is the cover player for the standard edition of NBA 2K23. If you’ve missed the previous announcements, the special and championship editions feature Michael Jordan/his signed jersey on the cover, while the WNBA edition cover players are Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

As with the previous announcements, 2K has posted a teaser trailer featuring Devin Booker, as well as a first look screenshot and behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot. You can check them out below, along with the full cover art.

NBA 2K23 is now available to pre-order, and will be released on September 9th, 2022. The pre-order bonuses have been revealed, and include the usual assortment of VC, MT, MyTEAM cards, and cosmetic items. Notably, as originally reported by IGN, the Championship Edition also includes a year’s subscription to NBA League Pass. Special editions include the same pre-order bonuses as the standard edition, in addition to their own bonuses.

Further information on the different editions and their pre-order bonuses can be found below. What are your thoughts on this year’s bonuses, and Devin Booker being one of the NBA 2K23 cover players? Have your say in the comments, and join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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Following the reveal of the Michael Jordan Edition of NBA 2K23, 2K has announced the cover players of the WNBA Edition: Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm, and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury.

As with last year’s WNBA Edition featuring Candace Parker on the cover, it will be a GameStop exclusive in the United States and Canada. All editions of NBA 2K23 will feature WNBA content, though it remains to be seen if the Current Gen/PC version has any of the WNBA modes that were introduced on Next Gen.

To celebrate their WNBA cover players’ commitment to equal opportunities for all athletes, 2K will also be donating $100,000 to Every Kid Sports. The donation will help increase access to youth basketball programs for over 550 girls from income-restricted families.

In addition to the cover art for the WNBA Edition of NBA 2K23, 2K has released in-game screenshots of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. You can check those out below, along with a teaser trailer. Further announcements, including the likely official reveal of Devin Booker as the standard edition cover player, will be coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion in our NBA 2K23 Forum!

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On the heels of the apparent leak revealing that Devin Booker will be the NBA 2K23 cover player, we have official confirmation…of the face of this year’s special edition! 2K has announced the NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition, featuring His Airness on the cover.

Additionally, it’s been revealed that NBA 2K23 will feature a revamped version of The Jordan Challenge. All of the original challenges will be included, albeit built from the ground up. Five additional games have been added, and the mode will also cover his accomplishments with Team USA.

There will also be a Championship Edition of NBA 2K23, featuring a signed Michael Jordan jersey on its cover. According to IGN, the Championship Edition will feature a year’s subscription to NBA League Pass. No additional details on the price or pre-order bonuses are available as yet, but that information should be coming soon. Both editions will be available to pre-order from July 7th.

2K has also revealed screenshots of 80s MJ and 90s MJ in NBA 2K23, along with a teaser trailer that replicates his famous free throw line dunk from the 1988 Dunk Contest. According to a caption in the trailer, it features gameplay from the Next Gen version of NBA 2K23. Check out the trailer and screenshots below, along with the cover art for both special editions.

What are your thoughts on the announcement? Have your say in the comments below, and join in the discussion in our newly launched NBA 2K23 Forum!

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #433 of the NLSC Podcast!

The official Electronic Arts and WWE Games Twitter accounts made bewildering gaffes this past week, and like many of our fellow gamers, we’re unimpressed. Obsidian, meanwhile, displayed an attitude that we’d like to see more often. Elsewhere, NBA insider Shams Charania apparently leaked the NBA 2K23 cover player, and we have some thoughts on 2K’s choice. Since the NBA 2K23 preview season is almost upon us, we also reflect on NBA 2K22, summing up our final thoughts on the game, and giving it a rating out of ten. After reminiscing about a satisfying session of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, we open up the mailbag to discuss who should be the five best-rated players in NBA 2K23.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:30:06 — 62.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

The NBA 2K23 preview season is right around the corner, which means we’re beginning to receive teasers from the official NBA 2K Twitter account. However, as I noted yesterday, it appears that NBA insider Shams Charania decided to leak the identity of the NBA 2K23 cover player: Devin Booker.

In a Tweet reporting Booker’s four-year, $214 million supermax extension, Charania casually threw out that per his sources, the Suns’ All-Star guard will be gracing the cover of NBA 2K23. This potential NBA 2K23 cover player leak hasn’t yet been addressed by 2K, and Charania’s original Tweet remains up as of this post.

While such scoops are obviously common in professional sports, video game publishers are generally quite particular when it comes to revealing details about forthcoming releases. With that in mind, this could be merely a rumour, or 2K may have approved a “leak”. It’s also worth noting that 2K’s teaser Tweet mentions cover players (plural), suggesting there are more than one. This wouldn’t be surprising of course, as 2K has previously featured additional cover players for its special and international editions.

For the moment, the NBA 2K23 cover player remains unconfirmed, though I’m guessing we’ll have an official announcement soon. However, Shams Charania isn’t just some random person wildly speculating on social media, so it’s quite likely that Devin Booker is indeed one of the featured players this year. What are your thoughts on Booker possibly being the next NBA 2K cover player? Have your say in the comments below, as well as here in our Forum!