NBA 2K26 Cover Athlete Revealed

2K has announced that the cover athlete for NBA 2K26 is none other than Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder had an incredible season, finally securing a long-awaited championship thanks to the superb performances of Shai and his teammates. Many fans had already predicted Shai would grace the next NBA 2K cover, given his undeniable impact on the team's recent success.

For those curious, last year's NBA 2K cover athletes were Jayson Tatum, A'ja Wilson, and Vince Carter, each featured on separate editions. Before that, NBA 2K24 honored the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant as its cover athlete, a decision that was appreciated by the community. With NBA 2K26, however, the spotlight now shifts to one of the league's rising stars.

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By Joey Haverford

Also known as SGA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the newest cover athlete of the NBA 2K franchise. He wrapped up last season with several major accomplishments, including leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first championship in the NBA. Averaging 32.7 points per game, he also earned the NBA MVP title for the 2024-2025 season. Shai is clearly one of the leading stars in the NBA and is also known as one of the highest-rated players in NBA 2K25. Given his recent accomplishments, it's no surprise that SGA is now the face of the upcoming game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is NBA 2K26's First Canadian Cover Athlete

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Canadian basketball star to be featured on the cover of an NBA 2K game. Rumors about his appearance as the next cover athlete began circulating in June, when Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie2K, shared a photo on social media standing next to the NBA superstar, which sparked speculations. For those unfamiliar, Ronnie2K is the Digital Marketing Director at 2K Games, known for teasing fans with cryptic posts and being at the center of several NBA 2K controversies over the years.

Of course, SGA wasn't the only superstar fans had in mind for the cover. Many believed Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were strong contenders as well. In particular, Luka's departure from the Dallas Mavericks was seen by some as a marketing opportunity for 2K Sports to capitalize on. Many have pointed to his blockbuster trade as a compelling reason for his selection as the NBA 2K26 cover athlete. Ultimately, though, it seems Visual Concepts and 2K Sports chose to prioritize overall performance when selecting the face of the upcoming game.

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