Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the cover athlete for the standard edition of NBA 2K26, which “further solidifies” him as “one of the biggest names in basketball,” according to Justin Martinez of the OKLAHOMAN. Gilgeous-Alexander is the “second active OKC player to grace the standard edition cover of NBA 2K” after Kevin Durant did so for NBA 2K15. NBA 2K26 is set to release in September (OKLAHOMAN, 7/8). YAHOO SPORTS’ Jason Owens writes the honor is the “latest from a season in which Gilgeous-Alexander secured a virtual sweep of the most significant achievements in the NBA,” winning a championship and being named NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP. When it “came time to choose the cover player for the next rendition of NBA 2K, the decision was presumably a no-brainer,” as Gilgeous-Alexander “is the easy pick” (YAHOO SPORTS, 7/8). USA TODAY’s Jon Hoefling writes a spot on a 2K cover “marks that player as one of the faces of the league.” It identifies the “most marketable player in the league and makes them front and center” (USA TODAY, 7/8).
