NBA 2K12 News Post

NBA 2K12 Cover Athletes - Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird

12:00 PM - July 21, 2011 by Steve_OS

Jordan Returns: 2K Sports Announces
Trio of NBA® 2K12 Covers Featuring Three NBA Icons

Michael Jordan, joined by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson,
to grace three unique artistic covers in celebration of NBA legacy

New York, NY – July 21, 2011 – 2K Sports announced today that NBA® 2K12, the next installment of the top-rated and best-selling NBA video game simulation franchise*, will offer three separate covers for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft featuring three of the NBA’s greatest legends of all time, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

The new stylized NBA 2K12 covers are a unique, one-time departure from the traditional 2K Sports brand artwork, and will spotlight each legendary athlete on his famous team: the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. The covers featuring Bird and Johnson will be available at launch in a limited quantity.

A new feat in sports gaming, this three-part collection extends the strong legacy established by NBA 2K11, which has sold-in more than 5 million units worldwide and garnered over 20 video game accolades, including 14 ‘Sports Game of the Year’ honors.

“Bringing Michael Jordan to the virtual hardwood last year was a huge success for NBA 2K11; however, we didn’t want to stop there,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “We’re bringing ‘His Airness’ back to the NBA 2K franchise as part of a multi-year extended partnership, along with two other legendary icons – Larry Bird and Magic Johnson – for a special cover athlete collection representing the NBA’s greatest heroes.”

The unprecedented, stylized artwork covers underscore 2K Sports’ passion for bringing fans authentic NBA basketball across generations, while celebrating the legacy of legendary hoops athletes, past and present.

The cover artwork for NBA 2K12 was created by Adam Larson of Adam&Co. Larson has created dynamic artwork for galleries, magazines and various product advertising campaigns. His work has received numerous honors, including the Kelly Awards, Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, and two primetime Emmy nominations

NBA 2K12 can now be pre-ordered from leading video game retailers nationwide, and will be available on October 4, 2011, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360, Wii™ system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Windows PC.

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Member Comments

# 201 cjallure24 @ 07/21/11 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEFTFUNDAMENTALZ


	Don't see how anyone can complain about the choice of these three.

I knrow right. But hey, I think people would have had a problem with the cover athlete no matter who it is.

# 202 Vast @ 07/21/11 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimBaller


	It's ACTUALLY the 2001-02 Kings team, not the 2000-01 team. This gets you Webber, Divac, Bibby, Peja, Hedo, Bobby Jackson, Doug Christie, G-Force, Scot Pollard, and...Funderburke if my memory serves me correctly.

Yesssss!!! A non Bulls Full retro squad roster!!!! Heres hoping to every retro squad having more than just the starters.

# 203 sportjames23 @ 07/21/11 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uofmf4life


	So what do they do next year? Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk

We worry about that next year.

Sent from my MacBook Pro using my fingers

# 204 XtremeDunkz @ 07/21/11 06:48 PM

Covers are ok...I am not interested at all in historic teams, players, modes in the actual game though. I never use them, so hopefully it is not a main selling point as it was last year...

# 205 sportjames23 @ 07/21/11 06:53 PM

Did that stop your enjoyment of last year's game?

Why do these gamers today have a problem with 2K using three of the greatest NBA players of all time on the cover of their game? Players who saved the NBA when the league was dying (Magic and Bird) and made it the global juggernaut it is today (Jordan).

# 206 Tyrant8RDFL @ 07/21/11 07:02 PM

I love the design of the cover. Very nicely done. I would have went with the following:

Michael Jordan: Because he is a LEGEND
Kobe Bryant: Because he is a SUPERSTAR soon to be Legend.
Lebron James: CONTROVERSY. Many hate him and many Love him. I think more hate him.

# 207 ifriedrice @ 07/21/11 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportjames23


	Did that stop your enjoyment of last year's game? Why do these gamers today have a problem with 2K using three of the greatest NBA players of all time on the cover of their game? Players who saved the NBA when the league was dying (Magic and Bird) and made it the global juggernaut it is today (Jordan).

"These gamers today" may not have watched Jordan, Magic, or Bird play a single game in their lives. Even D-Rose said he never saw Jordan play and that Kobe was his Jordan as a kid. I hear my little kid neighbors outside play basketball and shoot the ball saying "Kobe", not historic players they've never seen.

I'm 29 and have never seen Wilt, Bill Russell, Oscar, Dr. J, etc., so I wouldn't be excited if any of them were on the cover of 2K12.

# 208 sportjames23 @ 07/21/11 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifriedrice


	"These gamers today" may not have watched Jordan, Magic, or Bird play a single game in their lives. Even D-Rose said he never saw Jordan play and that Kobe was his Jordan as a kid. I hear my little kid neighbors outside play basketball and shoot the ball saying "Kobe", not historic players they've never seen. I'm 29 and have never seen Wilt, Bill Russell, Oscar, Dr. J, etc., so I wouldn't be excited if any of them were on the cover of 2K12.

I never saw Wilt, Russell or Oscar play (saw the end of Dr. J's career), but I wouldn't be dismissive of them if 2K or any other company decided to feature them in their games or on their covers.

Respect what came before you. If it weren't for them, there would be no Bird, Magic or Jordan. And that means no Kobe, Wade, Lebron or Rose.

# 209 ifriedrice @ 07/21/11 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportjames23


	I never saw Wilt, Russell or Oscar play (saw the end of Dr. J's career), but I wouldn't be dismissive of them if 2K or any other company decided to feature them in their games or on their covers. Respect what came before you. If it weren't for them, there would be no Bird, Magic or Jordan. And that means no Kobe, Wade, Lebron or Rose.

Respecting them doesn't include having to be excited about them being on the cover.

# 210 sportjames23 @ 07/21/11 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifriedrice


	Respecting them doesn't include having to be excited about them being on the cover.

No need to keep complaining about it, though.

# 211 ifriedrice @ 07/21/11 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Marlowe


	I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that the classic elements of 2k11 didn't have a good deal to do with its sales.

I bought 2K11 for today's NBA. The classic teams were a huge added bonus, especially MJ. I don't speak for anyone else's reason for buying 2K11, but I imagine you're right. A few people I know skipped 2K since the last gen, but picked up this last one 'cause of MJ.

# 212 ifriedrice @ 07/21/11 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportjames23


	No need to keep complaining about it, though.

Complainers can and should be ignored.

Added edit: Complainers with no substance can and should be ignored, unless they're paying your salary.

# 213 sportjames23 @ 07/21/11 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifriedrice


	Complainers can and should be ignored. Added edit: Complainers with no substance can and should be ignored, unless they're paying your salary.

True dat.

# 214 T3AMGEIST @ 07/21/11 07:57 PM

Want that Bird cover. Would be better if they were all on one cover.

# 215 mkharsh33 @ 07/21/11 08:38 PM

I'm more interested in what's inside the box than the wrapping paper and pretty bow. Shoot, I can make a Larry Bird cover for 2K11... Personally, I don't see the big deal. We have nearly every COMPLETE SEASON (360 users) from 1985 to present (with only a small amount missing) so 2k12 offers me nothing that I can't play this year. Sorry, I just don't get the appeal... 20+ pages of blathering about a cover and arguing over historical NBA players is quite comical to me...

# 216 Shinyhubcaps @ 07/21/11 08:39 PM

Very surprising, unless you consider that NBA.com and NBA-TV are wiped of current player images. Really cool art style, I wonder if we'll see any good custom covers this year (with the drawing instead of photos and whatnot).

# 217 stillfeelme @ 07/21/11 08:54 PM

I thought it would be Jordan, Magic, Bird, and Isiah all on one cover with the Larry O'Brien trophy with other legends in the background but I was wrong. Smart business move by VC I must say. This is the way you get multiple people to buy your game just to get the different covers. D Rose, Dirk are great and could have been on the cover but how many people would bought the Dirk cover and the Rose cover if they offered both of those?

# 218 VDusen04 @ 07/21/11 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkharsh33


	I'm more interested in what's inside the box than the wrapping paper and pretty bow. Shoot, I can make a Larry Bird cover for 2K11... Personally, I don't see the big deal. We have nearly every COMPLETE SEASON (360 users) from 1985 to present (with only a small amount missing) so 2k12 offers me nothing that I can't play this year. Sorry, I just don't get the appeal... 20+ pages of blathering about a cover and arguing over historical NBA players is quite comical to me...

In my regard, I'm always a fan of user-created historic rosters, but for console users, it's tough to beat the official inclusion of historic teams. Therefore, I'm a little excited about the prospect of having more historic teams and subsequently more historic arenas (or at least court art and/or jerseys) at our disposal. For instance, it'd be nice if the 1991 Warriors (unlocked with a preorder) came with their actual court design, like all the classic teams did last year.

Further, it's just more agreeable with me to have teams featuring real players. For instance, a lot of the classic teams and seasons created for 2K11 by users wouldn't have been nearly as awesome without the ability to use a real MJ, Scottie, Jud Buechler, Hersey Hawkins, or James Worthy. I thought the 2K11 classic rosters far eclipsed the 2K10 rosters due to that aspect alone. So I view the cover and very early news as an indicator that maybe we'll see even more of that (think a real Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway and Sarunas).

I understand a lot of folks are totally fine with using generic classic players with teams on current courts that look nothing like the actual classic floors, and it works for me in a pinch, but I sure like the idea of things getting a little more official in that regard.

# 219 Boogiemanjay @ 07/21/11 09:00 PM

Should put Blake griffin on It as the next best thing would been mind blowing news
I don't mind Jordan , magic ,or bird still plan to buy it just was a
Dull move by Ronnie to hype it the way they did

# 220 VDusen04 @ 07/21/11 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe24-


	If the Lakers of Kobe & Shaq is in the game..... I'm going to buy 20 copies of the game, just sayin... (exaggeration) but i will be extremely happy if the Kobe and Shaq era is in there, considering the Kings of vlade divac and chris webber is in there...omgomgomg young Kobe with an AFRO!!! AND DOMINATING WITH SHAQ!!!AHHH PLEEAASEEEE!!

I'm definitely curious of the angle they're taking there with the '02 Kings. As aloncho pointed out earlier, the '91 Warriors could be included as a playoff matchup with the '91 Magic Johnson Lakers (they had a duel that year) but there's no real connection between Magic, Larry, or Michael and the '02 Kings aside from the fact that Magic's former team beat them in seven that year. It'd be a fun inclusion.

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