Under the tagline Anyone, Anywhere, 2K announced today the latest instalment of the iconic franchise will feature four bona fide stars across this season’s covers.
Dallas Mavericks’ talisman, Luka Dončić, will feature on the covers of the Standard Edition and Cross-Gen Digital Bundle, becoming only the second European to feature as the sole cover athlete (following Giannis on 2K19).
Making the global cover of NBA 2K22 is special for me,” said Dončić. “I’m proud to represent my country in a special cover that honours the colours of the Slovenian flag. Basketball has given me so much, and I’m excited to give back and work together with 2K Foundations this year to help the lives of young kids around the globe.
Via 2K
Instead of a Legend Edition, as we’ve seen in recent seasons, we’re getting an NBA 75th Anniversary Edition celebrating three of the most iconic “big men” in league history on one cover.
Hall of Famer, six-time NBA Champion, six-time MVP, and the all-time NBA scoring leader, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a legend who still influences today’s game, from his patented Skyhook to his activism on social issues.
14-time All-Star, NBA Champion and MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, embodies not only the global expansion of basketball but also the evolution of the game itself as the prototypical sharpshooting big man.
11-time All-Star, league MVP and two-time NBA Champion, Kevin Durant, a legend in his own right and known for his one-of-a-kind presence in the league appears for the third time as an NBA® 2K cover athlete.
I’m of course very honoured to be on the legends cover,” Nowitzski said. “I think it’s, that’s a huge honour for me. Of course, with Kevin Durant and Kareem, some of the best players to have ever played this game. You have Luka on the real cover, so two Mavs at the same time on the cover, which is super special, of course, so I’m super happy, super thrilled that I could be on the cover.
Via 2K
Both the NBA 75th Anniversary Edition and Cross-Gen Digital Bundle feature cover artwork painted by Atlanta-based artist, Charly Palmer, whose work in fine art is defined by complex compositions and a unique technique and style. Palmer’s work is exhibited across the nation; he is most recently known for his “Civil Rights” series of paintings and compositions titled “America Must Change,” which made waves as ’s cover in July 2020.
Check out our exclusive interview with the cover artist Charly Palmer below.
In addition, there are another two special versions of Standard Version of 2K22 covers. One featuring six-time WNBA All Star and WNBA Champion, Candace Parker, available exclusively through GameStop and EB Games in North America. Parker’s appearance is a milestone for NBA 2K: the first female cover athlete in the history of the franchise.
And in Japan, players can also purchase a special version of the Standard Edition that features Washington Wizards Rui Hachimura, a rising star who was the first Japanese player to be drafted in the first round in 2019 and first Japanese player to reach the NBA Playoffs.
Check out the NBA 2K22 official site for a full breakdown of the pre-order details and more info on the cover athletes featured across the different editions of this year’s game.
2K will also be releasing additional announcements about NBA 2K22 in the coming weeks, including first looks at features, the soundtrack reveal, live service updates, and much more so make sure you’re following Double Clutch as will be bringing you everything you need to know!
