Who has been on the cover of NBA 2K? Complete list of cover athletes

NBA.com Staff

Who has been on the cover of NBA 2K? Complete list of cover athletes image

It's that time of the year again, and NBA 2K22 is here.

The latest installment of basketball's top-rated gaming franchise is set for a global release on Sept. 10, with Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic gracing the main cover ahead of his fourth NBA season.

In addition to Doncic, Chicago Sky superstar Candace Parker will grace 2K22's cover as the first-ever WNBA player to do so, Washington Wizards rising star Rui Hachimura will grace the cover in Japan and a special "Legends Edition" features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant on the cover.

Who else has been tabbed as the cover athlete for the NBA 2K franchise? Below, find a complete list of cover athletes, from Allen Iverson to Doncic.

NBA 2K cover athletes – Standard Edition
Release YearGameNameTeam
1999NBA 2KAllen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers
2000NBA 2K1Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers
2001NBA 2K2Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers
2002NBA 2K3Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers
2003ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers
2004ESPN NBA 2K5Ben WallaceDetroit Pistons
2005NBA 2K6Shaquille O'NealMiami Heat
2006NBA 2K7Shaquille O'NealMiami Heat
2007NBA 2K8Chris PaulNew Orleans Hornets
2008NBA 2K9Kevin GarnettBoston Celtics
2009NBA 2K10Kobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers
2010NBA 2K11Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
2011NBA 2K12Michael JordanChicago Bulls
 NBA 2K12Larry BirdBoston Celtics
 NBA 2K12Magic JohnsonLos Angeles Lakers
2012NBA 2K13Derrick RoseChicago Bulls
 NBA 2K13Blake GriffinLA Clippers
 NBA 2K13Kevin DurantOklahoma City Thunder
2013NBA 2K14LeBron JamesMiami Heat
2014NBA 2K15Kevin DurantOklahoma City Thunder
2015NBA 2K16Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors
 NBA 2K16James HardenHouston Rockets
 NBA 2K16Anthony DavisNew Orleans Pelicans
2016NBA 2K17Paul GeorgeIndiana Pacers
2017NBA 2K18Kyrie IrvingBoston Celtics
2018NBA 2K19Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks
2019NBA 2K20Anthony DavisLos Angeles Lakers
2020NBA 2K21Damian LillardPortland Trail Blazers
 NBA 2K21Zion WilliamsonNew Orleans Pelicans
2021NBA 2K22Luka DoncicDallas Mavericks

Since NBA 2K16, the franchise has released special editions of the game, from covers that honour legends to region-specific icons.

Find a list of each special-edition cover athlete below. 

NBA 2K cover athletes – Special Editions
Release YearGameNameTeamEdition
2015NBA 2K16Michael JordanChicago BullsMichael Jordan Special Edition
 NBA 2K16Pau GasolChicago BullsSpain
 NBA 2K16Marc GasolMemphis GrizzliesSpain
 NBA 2K16Dennis SchröderAtlanta HawksGermany
 NBA 2K16Tony ParkerSan Antonio SpursFrance
2016NBA 2K17Kobe BryantLos Angeles LakersLegend/Legend Gold
 NBA 2K17Pau GasolSan Antonio SpursSpain
 NBA 2K17Danilo GallinariDenver NuggetsItaly
2017NBA 2K18Shaquille O'NealMiami Heat/Los Angeles LakersLegend/Legend Gold
 NBA 2K18DeMar DeRozanToronto RaptorsCanada
2018NBA 2K19LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers20th Anniversary Edition
 NBA 2K19Ben SimmonsPhiladelphia 76ersAustralia/New Zealand
2019NBA 2K20Dwyane WadeMiami HeatLegend
2020NBA 2K21Kobe BryantLos Angeles LakersMamba Forever Edition
2021NBA 2K22Candace ParkerChicago SkyWNBA 25th Anniversary Edition
 NBA 2K22Kevin DurantBrooklyn NetsNBA 75th Anniversary Edition
 NBA 2K22Dirk NowitzkiDallas MavericksNBA 75th Anniversary Edition
 NBA 2K22Kareem Abdul-JabbarLos Angeles LakersNBA 75th Anniversary Edition
 NBA 2K22Rui HachimuraWashington WizardsJapan

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NBA.com Staff