Appearing on the cover of a video game is a step towards immortality for any athlete. With the passing of the years and the memory of emblematic titles, we see players who made history by appearing on the cover of a game. But there are also moments that are as curious as they are surprising, such as the one that took place this week with the announcement of NBA 2K26.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the standard NBA 2K26 cover will feature Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And why not, if he was a key player in winning the championship this season, in addition to being named MVP of the regular season and the Finals.
Meanwhile, the cover of the WNBA edition will feature Chicago Sky player Angel Reese. But the real surprise was the Superstar Edition, which will feature none other than 19-season NBA legend Carmelo Anthony.
Full screen
An achievement for the history books
With this new cover, Carmelo Anthony reaches a remarkable milestone: appearing on the cover of four different officially licensed NBA video games throughout different stages of his career. From his appearance in NCAA March Madness 2004 as a collegiate player to his debut in the defunct NBA Live 2005 and NBA Street Homecourt to finally his legendary status with NBA 2K26.
While there have been other athletes who have repeated covers, Carmelo’s is unique: appearing on different franchises at different points in his career, reflecting his ongoing impact not only on the NBA but on sports culture in general.
NBA 2K26 will arrive on September 5 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
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