When the latest version of the NBA 2K series is released, it will have a familiar face on its cover. Five-time NBA champion, Kobe Bryant will be the cover athlete on the latest installment of the famous video game franchise.
The official release date for NBA 2K24 is September 8, 2024.
There was plenty of speculation around which player would be on the cover of this year’s edition, with many quarters touting Denver Nuggets hit man, Nikola Jokic as favourite.
Jokic would have been a fair choice, having inspired Denver to their first NBA championship in 2023, but Bryant got the nod in the end.
And it is quite fitting that Kobe would be the face of NBA 2K24, given that he wore the No. 24 jersey with such distinction in the latter half of his 20-year NBA career.
Kobe Follows Jordan on NBA 2K Cover
Interestingly, NBA 2K23 had Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest NBA player of all time, on the cover of two editions (Michael Jordan Edition and Championship Edition), in recognition of Jordan’s iconic No. 23 jersey during his time with the Chicago Bulls.
Bryant donned the No. 24 shirt from the 2006-2007 season right up until the end of his career in 2016, after switching from the No. 8 he had worn in his first decade in the NBA.
Both the No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys were retired by the Lakers in December 2017.
Even in death, The Black Mamba continues to receive recognition from many quarters, with the NBA 2K series the latest to pay their homage to one of the greatest players to ever step foot on an NBA court.
Amongst Bryant’s many other achievements, he won the Championship with the Lakers five times, grabbing Finals MVP on two occasions. He was an 18-time NBA All-Star, and was a 2-time scoring champion in the league.
Bryant finished his career with a total of 33,643 points, an average of 25.0 points per game. He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, the second most points scored in an NBA game after Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point haul against the Philadelphia Warriors in March 1962. On the international scene, Kobe was part of the United States team that claimed consecutive Olympic Gold Medals in 2008 and 2012. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in May, 2021.
This is not the first time Bryant would be the poster boy of NBA 2K. He was also on the cover in 2010, 2017 and 2021.
“As we celebrate 25 years of NBA 2K with Kobe Bryant, we commemorate his legacy and the generational impact he has had on the game of basketball,” said Greg Thomas, president at NBA 2K24 developers, Visual Concepts.
The NBA 2K24 actually has four editions, with Bryant being the cover athlete on two of the four.
The 18-time NBA All-Star is the face of the standard edition, dubbed the Kobe Bryant Edition, while he also graces the front of the Black Mamba Edition, named after Kobe’s famous sobriquet.
The other two editions are the WNBA edition, with Sabrina Ionescu as its cover athlete, and the special 25th Anniversary Edition, which doesn’t have any athlete on its cover. Fans that purchase the 25th Anniversary Edition will get a 12-month NBA League Pass subscription.
NBA 2K Series – Delighting Gamers Since 1999
Originally published by Sega Sports, the NBA 2K series debuted in 1999, with 2K taking over publishing duties in 2005. The series has gone on to become arguably the most acclaimed basketball-based video game in the world.
Allen Iverson was the cover athlete in each of the first five editions of the series, but there has been more dynamism in the choice of athletes since then, with Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabber, LeBron James and Kevin Durant amongst the greats of the game to have been featured on the game’s cover.
The first WNBA player to appear on the cover of the game was Candace Parker, who was featured on the WNBA’s 25th Anniversary Edition in 2021 (NBA 2K22). Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were on the cover of NBA 2K23, with Sabrina Ionescu taking her turn on the 2K24 cover.
Over the years, the series has provided another medium for basketball fans to interact with the NBA, nicely complementing the thrill of watching NBA games. And these days, there is also online NBA betting to throw into the package, with fans now able to wager on NBA games and get their hands on a wide array of NBA betting bonuses.
These are indeed great times for NBA fans!
NBA 2K24 Ups the Game with Exciting New Features
The 2024 NBA 2K24 edition offers improved gaming experience from the previous versions. The dribble controls have been upgraded, allowing pure and dynamic gaming skills to shine through.
There are some features that are retained from NBA 2K23, like MyCareer and MyTeam, but NBA 2K24 naturally brings with it additional features like ProPlay, cross-play and Mamba Moments.
2K gamers have been clamoring for the crossplay feature for a while, and they have finally got their wish to be able to play against each other. However, crossplay will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S when the game is released in September.
ProPlay adds to the real-life experience by directly translating NBA footage into NBA 2K24 game play.
According to 2K Sports, “ProPLAY delivers animations and movements via on-court NBA action for a generational leap in authenticity”. Sounds like NBA 2K buffs have plenty to be excited about!
And with Kobe Bryant returning to the NBA2K cover, gamers are able to recreate Mamba’s signature moves and best NBA moments, thanks to the new Mamba Moments feature.
Mamba Moments lets players relive Kobe Bryant’s rise through the NBA, from the budding talent that stepped on to the stage in the mid-2000s to the legend that amassed five NBA Championship and all of those other incredible achievements.
There’s plenty to like already about NBA 2K24. From all indications, this will be by far the most immersive and technologically-advanced version in the long history of the series.