2K22 Cover: Every NBA 2K22 Cover Athlete And Edition Explained

Everything about the NBA 2K22 cover athletes is listed below. NBA 2K22 boasted several covers, each linked with a different edition of the game, highlighting a unique aspect of basketball history. While the main cover athlete was Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić, the roster featured famous all-time legends, a historical WNBA figure, and even a cover for Japan only.

The full breakdown of all NBA 2K22 cover athletes, editions they appear in, and what each of them means follows below.

Quick Facts About The NBA 2K22 Covers:

Detail	Information
Game	NBA 2K22
Release date	September 10, 2021
Standard Edition cover	Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Cross-Gen Bundle cover	Luka Doncic
75th Anniversary Edition	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant
WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition	Candace Parker (first woman on an NBA 2K cover)
Japan Standard Edition	Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards)
Cover artist (special editions)	Charly Palmer
Developer / Publisher	Visual Concepts / 2K

The Main 2K22 Cover: Luka Doncic:

The main cover athlete for NBA 2K22 was Luka Dončić – the young guard of the Dallas Mavericks who made a quick rise to fame in the league. Being selected as the main cover athlete at the age of 22 was a great honor for the young player and recognized Dončić as one of the current global stars of the game.

Dončić emphasized the personal meaning of having his cover art in the NBA 2K22. The design pays homage to his home country, Slovenia and its colors. Moreover, he promised to contribute to the charitable work of 2K and help children around the world. Appearing as the main cover athlete was a great recognition for an international star.

The NBA 75th Anniversary Edition: Three Legends:

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 2021-22 NBA season, 2K decided to create a premium edition featuring three of the greatest scorers the league had ever seen. The cover of the NBA 75th Anniversary Edition featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant.

It was a highly symbolic selection. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for the greater part of basketball history and a member of the Hall of Fame. Dirk Nowitzki is a legend of the Mavericks and the first European MVP of the league. Kevin Durant, an active superstar of the league at the time, was the embodiment of the prolific scorer in the modern era. The combination of three generations of the greatest scorers is a perfect way to commemorate 75 years of basketball. Kevin Durant said that it was a huge honor to be a part of such cover.

The Candace Parker Cover: A Historic First:

One of the most important 2K22 covers. Candace Parker, a champion of the WNBA and the six-time All-Star of the Chicago Sky at the time, became the first woman to be a part of an NBA 2K cover. She appeared in the WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition.

It was a truly historic moment. While NBA 2K started including teams of the WNBA and women players in 2020, none of them had a chance to appear on an official cover yet. Candace Parker said that she felt honored and proud being a part of such a cover. Candace Parker’s special edition of NBA 2K22 is available in North America exclusively in GameStop and EB Games.

The Rui Hachimura Cover: Made for Japan:

Lastly, 2K created a Japan-only Standard Edition featuring Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards. The Japan only version is sold in Japan, where Rui Hachimura is considered a national basketball figure.

The choice of Hachimura was very fitting. He was the first Japanese player to be drafted in the first round in 2019 and to reach the NBA playoffs. By featuring him, 2K celebrated his groundbreaking career and established connections with its Japanese fans.

Who Designed the 2K22 Covers:

Not a well-known fact: while the cover image of the main edition is a photograph, Cross-Gen Digital Bundle and NBA 75th Anniversary Edition’s covers are paintings. The covers are designed by Charly Palmer, a painter who explores Black history and culture in the USA through his paintings. Creating artwork in the style of fine arts rather than action photography gave a museum-quality look to these covers.

Why the 2K22 Covers Were Meaningful:

In retrospect, NBA 2K22 covers were telling not just about popularity of particular players. All covers combined celebrated the basketball past, present, and future. Rising international superstar Luka Dončić graced the standard cover, the 75th anniversary edition paid tribute to three generations of legendary scorers, Candace Parker broke the barrier as the first woman on the NBA 2K cover, and Rui Hachimura represented Japan. Overall, NBA 2K22 is one of the most diverse and historically meaningful collections of covers of the franchise.

Context within the series:

NBA 2K22 was a transitional point for the franchise as it was among the first games made for two generations of consoles. NBA 2K22 was released for PS4, Xbox One as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, thus explaining the existence of Cross-Gen Digital Bundle. Dončić followed prior cover athletes Damian Lillard (2K21) and Zion Williamson (2K21 next-gen). Just like previous games in the series, NBA 2K22 featured young marketable faces on its standard edition cover while special editions were dedicated to the legends of basketball and its history.

Final take: 2K22 cover

In conclusion, the NBA 2K22 cover collection included several artworks, each of which told its own story. Luka Dončić was the leader of the collection, while the 75th anniversary edition celebrated 75 years of the NBA, Candace Parker became the first woman on an NBA 2K cover, and Rui Hachimura represented Japan. Whether it was purchased to play the game or just admire the cover art, NBA 2K22 provided a set of covers celebrating basketball in its various aspects – past, present, and global.

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