As has become common for NBA 2K games, several cover stars have been chosen to represent the next instalment in 2K's basketball sim, with a different player for each edition of the game.
The premium *Mamba *Forever Edition will feature LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, a fitting tribute to the five-time NBA champion and eighteen-time All-Star following the star's passing in January.
Two different covers have been produced for this edition — which replaces the usual Legend Edition of the game — one each for current-gen and next-gen consoles.
First to be announced as a cover star was five-time All-Star Damian Lillard, with the Portland Trail Blazers point guard taking his place on the cover of the current-gen versions of the game.
For the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X version of the game, 2K have chosen 2019 National College Player of the Year Zion Williamson. The forward was chosen as the 1st Overall Pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing at 2K, offered some insight into this year's choices.
“Each of our cover athletes represent different eras of the game of basketball – Damian Lillard dominates the court today, Zion Williamson is a standard bearer for the next generation of NBA superstar and what more could be said about Kobe?
“Three athletes representing the current, future and storied history of the game. Today’s exciting announcement is just the first of many for NBA 2K21; it’s going to be a huge year for basketball fans and NBA 2K gamers.”
NBA 2K21 comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020, with next-gen editions to come as console launch titles.
