The cover athletes for NBA 2K22 have been announced and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be on the NBA’s 75th-anniversary version of the game alongside a pair of other legends in Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant.
As far as the regular edition of the game, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will grace the cover this year and former Los Angeles Sparks and current Chicago Sky star Candace Parker will also become the first female athlete to have a cover in honor of the WNBA’s 25th anniversary.
NBA 2K22 is set to be released worldwide on Sept. 10, although pre-order sales are being taken now:
Luka Magic ???? Introducing our #NBA2K22 Cover Athlete @luka7doncic
Pre-order now ➡️ https://t.co/vvOEdFGQaU pic.twitter.com/EhgfUTnodn
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 14, 2021
???? 75 years since the NBA was born
???? 3 legends of their eraIntroducing our #NBA2K22 75th Anniversary Cover Athletes @KDTrey5 @swish41 @kaj33
Pre-order now ➡️ https://t.co/vvOEdFGQaU pic.twitter.com/3ZrU9NlZ1i
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 14, 2021
The first WNBA player on a cover of NBA 2K ????
Introducing our GameStop Exclusive Cover Athlete @Candace_Parker pic.twitter.com/OKG8nDDRCF
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 14, 2021
Abdul-Jabbar also took to his own personal Twitter account to express his excitement for being on the cover:
I have 2 big announcements to make: I’m headed to Milwaukee for Game 4 tonite & can’t wait to see all the fans for the win! If you’re lucky enough for me to hear u scream I’ll flip you a signed card. More of a wowzer…
“I’m so excited to be on the cover of #NBA2K22. Thx @NBA2K! pic.twitter.com/JC7MJta5UU— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 14, 2021
NBA 2k has seemed to be the leading innovator when it comes to sports video games in recent years so it will be interesting to see what ideas they come up with for this new version. Recent additions such as The Neighborhood and WNBA players have helped expand the game, allowing users to have different game-play options other than just a normal NBA game.
Abdul-Jabbar presents Carmelo Anthony with first-ever social justice award
Abdul-Jabbar, who is not only one of the best basketball players of all time, but also one of the leading social justice warriors, recently had the NBA’s first-ever social justice award named after him.
Portland Trail Blazers veteran Carmelo Anthony was the recipient of the 2021 award and had it presented to him by Abdul-Jabbar himself.
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