2K today announced the full roster of cover athletes for NBA 2K22!
Global phenomenon and two-time NBA All-Star, Luka Dončić, graces the Standard Edition and Cross-Gen Digital Bundle, while a trio of the NBA’s most impactful big men – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant – feature in a premium, NBA 75th Anniversary Edition, showcasing how each of these athletes changed the game.
Featuring best-in-class visual presentation and player AI, historic teams, and a wide variety of hoops experiences, NBA 2K22 puts the entire basketball universe in the player’s hands.
2K unveiled the first NBA 2K22 Player Ratings & 1st Look Screenshots, highlighting the top rated players across the NBA, as well as eye-popping imagery of the players in-game.
The first NBA 2K22 Player Ratings to be unveiled include Luka Dončić (94), Kevin Durant (96), Steph Curry (96), Giannis Antetokounmpo (96), Khris Middleton (88), Jrue Holiday (85) and Nikola Jokić (95), with many more to come on social media throughout the day on August 18.
Later in the day, NBA 2K22 will unveil all of the player ratings grouped by Top 10 Rated Players, Top 5 3PT Shooters, Top 5 Rookies, Top 5 Dunkers, Top Jordan Brand Players and more.
And celebrating 25 years of the WNBA, 2K will also introduce Candace Parker’s rating (93) and the top 5 WNBA players: Breanna Stewart (95), A’ja Wilson (94), Jonquel Jones (94), and Brittney Griner (93).
This year, NBA 2K22 will offer three editions of the game available on digital and physical formats: Standard Edition, a Cross-Gen Digital Bundle and a special NBA 75th Anniversary Edition:
- The Standard Edition will be available for $59.99 on previous-gen platforms (PS4, Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC) and $69.99 on new-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S);
- The Cross-Gen Digital Bundle ($79.99) will grant players access to the Standard Edition across previous- and new-gen within the same PlayStation and Xbox consoles;
- NBA 2K22 NBA 75th Anniversary Edition ($99.99) will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Dual-gen access is included for both the Cross-Gen Digital Bundle and NBA 75th Anniversary Edition for the PS4/PS5 and Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S platforms and provides a version of the game on each console generation within the same console family. The NBA 75th Anniversary Edition for Nintendo Switch will only be available on digital format in the EMEA region.
The NBA 75th Anniversary Edition celebrates three of the league’s most iconic big men who revolutionized the league over its 75 years:
- Hall of Famer, six-time NBA Champion and six-time MVP, and 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 protoypical 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.
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 TIME Magazine’s cover in July 2020.
In North America, players can purchase a special version of the Standard Edition featuring six-time WNBA All Star and WNBA Champion, Candace Parker, on the cover and available exclusively through GameStop and EB Games. Parker’s appearance is a milestone for NBA 2K: the first female cover athlete in the history of the franchise. The Chicago Sky star’s cover feature is the latest step in NBA 2K’s ongoing initiatives to feature women prominently in the game. 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.
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. With ever-expanding content and one of the most passionate hoops communities, basketball never stops in NBA 2K.
All editions of NBA 2K22 are currently scheduled for worldwide release on September 10, 2021 and are available for pre-order today.
More articles about NBA 2K22