The announcement of a cover athlete for an NBA video game is a landmark moment in the season. For the fans, it ends a period of anticipation, guessing and even self-created artwork for the soon to be released NBA games. For the athletes, it is a stamp of recognition and achievement. And for the game developers, it’s a symbol and an “I owe you” card for what they promise to deliver in their gamers.

This is a year 2K Sports can once again raise the bar and keep their top spot on the basketball gaming charts. So, it's only fitting that number 23 has been chosen to appear on the cover of NBA 2K11. At the same time, Kevin Durant, a budding superstar destined for greatness, is EA Sports' chosen one to lead the rebirth and creation of NBA Elite 11.

Can NBA 2K11 live up to the hype?

Whether or not these games live up to the lofty expectations that have been placed on them remains to be seen, but both the NBA 2K11 and NBA Elite 11 covers could one day crack the list of the most memorable NBA game covers of the decade. However, today we take a look at the best NBA covers of the last 10 years.

Rather Unique

After MJ’s second retirement, the NBA was hard pressed to find a new face of the league. But with a unique style both on and off the court, Allen Iverson stepped into that role as he ushered in a new generation of hoops.

The original face of NBA 2K.

2K Sports was along for the ride into the next generation, and the company tabbed Iverson for five straight NBA 2K covers. It was a match made in heaven as A.I. was taking the league by storm, and the NBA 2K franchise was rising in popularity and sales. Some have wondered if the MJ cover deal will also span over a couple years, and given the company's history and success while sticking with the then face of the league, why not try to do the same with the greatest of all time?

Best Artwork

NBA Live 08's Gilbert Arenas cover is the only basketball video game in the past eight years or so to feature the team’s alternate uniform. The Wizards black and gold was sure to catch your attention on the shelf.

One of Arenas' better moments in a Wizards' jersey.

No cover said "play basketball" to me more than Chris Paul’s NBA 2K8 look. The in-motion full-body shot of the best floor general in the game was a winner for me. However, the best looking cover has to be the recent NBA 2K10, manned by Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant. That particular shot won the fan vote to be the cover of NBA 2K10, and it is one of the rare basketball covers to be less photo and more artwork –- a masterpiece. Carmelo's pose on NBA Live 05 deserves an honorable mention as well.

The Least Exciting

After five straight years with Allen Iverson as the cover athlete, NBA 2K5 went with Detroit Pistons big man Ben Wallace. Now, defense might win championships, but let’s be honest here, defense does not sell video games. Luckily for 2K Sports, Big Ben was at least a defending champion at the time and had already established a relationship with the 2K fan base with some funny NBA 2K4 commercials.

The same cannot be said for Tony Parker’s appearance on the front of NBA Live 09. It almost seemed like EA Sports forgot to name a cover athlete that year and just went with someone it had worked with before via the European-specific covers. If EA was really that desperate, it would have been better to just go with Eva Longoria on the cover.

Cover athlete? How about a cover model?

This One's for the Streets

We also witnessed a slew of NBA arcade games in the form of the NBA Street and NBA Ballers series during the past 10 years. NBA Street Vol. 2 is actually where Michael Jordan made his game cover debut, sharing the spotlight with two other street ballers.

Throwback: MJ's first cover appearance.

The first NBA Ballers sported a young Stephon Marbury all decked out in fancy gear in front of what looked to be family and a rich estate –- all of which one has to question if he still has. Even if he doesn't have those things anymore, at least he has what I think is the best and unique looking street-themed NBA game cover.

But what NBA covers in the past decade stand out to you most and why? And don’t forget to vote in our best basketball cover poll to the right.

TD is an Operation Sports basketball and soccer writer. Atlanta-born and Nigerian-raised, he’s also a producer for NFL.com’s digital media. You can follow him on twitter @mrsimcity.