NBA 2K13 News Post

NBA 2K13 Cover Athletes Are Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose

08:41 AM - June 26, 2012 by Steve_OS

2K Sports Crowns Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin
and Derrick Rose as Cover Athletes for NBA® 2K13

Trio of young superstars represents the “New Dynasty” of NBA legends

New York, NY – June 26, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced that the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose have been crowned the cover athletes for NBA® 2K13, the next installment of the top-selling and top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise*.

”Being crowned as one of the NBA 2K13 cover athletes is a huge honor and something I always dreamt about,” said Durant, who won his third straight scoring title and led the Thunder franchise to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1996. “It’s definitely humbling to grace the cover after the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.”

“There’s so much young talent around the NBA, so it’s very exciting to be chosen for NBA 2K’s ‘New Dynasty’ alongside Kevin and Derrick,” added Griffin, who helped lead the Clippers to their first postseason since 2006. “The NBA 2K series has always been my first choice when I want to get a game in.”

“It’s a dream come true to be one of the cover athletes for NBA 2K13,” commented Rose, the 2010-11 NBA Most Valuable Player, who led the Bulls to a league-best 50-16 record this season. “I’ve worked closely with 2K Sports since NBA 2K10, and I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan as the latest Chicago Bull to be featured on the cover.”

In their young but impressive careers, Rose, Durant and Griffin have each taken the NBA by storm. All three are past winners of the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and have also amassed eight All-Star berths, three scoring titles, and one Most Valuable Player award between them.

“There are many young superstars in today’s NBA, but we’ve selected three incredible athletes for the cover of NBA 2K13 that represent the NBA well,” concluded Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “It’s clear to us that Blake, Derrick and Kevin are the most deserving guys to inherit the NBA 2K cover from Jordan, Magic and Bird.”

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available on October 2, 2012 in North America and October 5, 2012 internationally. The Wii U version of the title will be available during the holiday season. Fans are encouraged to pre-order now at participating retailers in order to receive the downloadable NBA All-Star content package presented by Sprite on day one at no extra cost.

For more information on 2K Sports, visit www.2KSports.com.

For more information on NBA 2K13, visit http://www.facebook.com/NBA2K.

Game: NBA 2K13Reader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 75 - View All

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Member Comments

# 101 VDusen04 @ 06/26/12 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Posse512


	Obviously, Rose is out of the question due to injury. I think they have some of his signature moves and shots in the game already, since I'm pretty sure he's done Mo-Cap work in the past. I'd be a little surprised if Durant and Griffin can make it to a Mo-Cap session since I believe they both have commitments to team USA. Hopefully, 2K/VC can get them in before August or after September. We'll see...... From Spurs Nation/Bills Backer Clubhouse

It'd be real nice too see an extensive Blake Griffin dunk package make an appearance (including alley-oops). In fact, it'd also be nice to see his wacky, twisting layups.

# 102 youvalss @ 06/26/12 08:49 PM

Who said Lin isn't on some Chinese version of either of the games? Didn't the other company have different covers for different countries in the past?

# 103 youvalss @ 06/26/12 08:53 PM

Oh, and it will be so much easier for Durant. This time around he won't have to lie about the game...

# 104 Shinyhubcaps @ 06/26/12 09:04 PM

I don't like the cover, if that's the final one. Like the Bird cover last year, the full-body lanky view is framed poorly. Also there is too much empty space around the players. Something like the NBA Live covers (of which Durant was supposed to star in 2010-11) would be better.

Griffin and Durant were also both on NCAA covers for EA, so that's kinda surprising. Sorry if that's been mentioned.

# 105 wrestlinggod1 @ 06/26/12 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd@os


	Why is Michael Jordan standing next to Shane Battier on the middle row?

That my friend, is Joel Anthony.

# 106 youvalss @ 06/26/12 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrestlinggod1


	That my friend, is Joel Anthony.

Ha, it does look somewhat like MJ, and also like Mourning to me.

# 107 jd@os @ 06/26/12 09:08 PM

Haha I know wrestlinggod; just being sarcastic.

And Jim Carrey's standing beside Jordan.

# 108 cyborg.ninja24 @ 06/26/12 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinyhubcaps


	I don't like the cover, if that's the final one. Like the Bird cover last year, the full-body lanky view is framed poorly. Also there is too much empty space around the players. Something like the NBA Live covers (of which Durant was supposed to star in 2010-11) would be better. Griffin and Durant were also both on NCAA covers for EA, so that's kinda surprising. Sorry if that's been mentioned.

Kobe was on both Nintendo's and Sony's NBA game before gracing 2K10. Garnett was on Live 2000 before 2K9. Shaq was on Xbox's Inside Drive before appearing 2K6 and 2K7.

# 109 youvalss @ 06/26/12 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd@os


	Haha I know wrestlinggod; just being sarcastic. And Jim Carrey's standing beside Jordan.

All the Miami heat team in that drawing looks like T-Mac in Live 07: way too light. Joel Anthony looks like he hasn't been outside for 5 years.

# 110 King_B_Mack @ 06/26/12 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseySuave4


	Weak choices... Rose is hurt for a while, Durant just coming off a Finals loss and Blake the overrated flop machine.

Seriously when did winning in the playoffs become a requirement of being on the cover of 2K?

Know what the funniest thing about all this is? Even if 2K had LeBron on the cover this year, there'd still be endless bitching. I can see the different complaints now. There'd be a group bitching that Derrick Rose should have gotten it because he's been working with 2K for a while now and deserves it. There'd be talk about LeBron being bad for business so he shouldn't be on there and then most of the group complaining right now would roll out the tried and true,'Who cares who's on the cover you don't play the cover' line.

# 111 cyborg.ninja24 @ 06/26/12 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_B_Mack


	Seriously when did winning in the playoffs become a requirement of being on the cover of 2K? Know what the funniest thing about all this is? Even if 2K had LeBron on the cover this year, there'd still be endless bitching. I can see the different complaints now. There'd be a group bitching that Derrick Rose should have gotten it because he's been working with 2K for a while now and deserves it. There'd be talk about LeBron being bad for business so he shouldn't be on there and then most of the group complaining right now would roll out the tried and true,'Who cares who's on the cover you don't play the cover' line.

I wondered if anyone complained that Garnett got the cover of 2K9 instead of Paul Pierce who was Finals MVP.

# 112 iLLosophy @ 06/26/12 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlp111


	that's the world of marketing my friend, no different from McDonalds, Burger King, etc.

You're 100% right. But this level of marketing is pretty new for NBA 2K. Before NBA 2K was the underdog / people's champion game you enjoyed supporting because their game had substance versus the competition that was all hype. That's no longer the case as 2K has matched the hype of their opponent. The positive is there's no evidence to believe they will slip on substance anytime soon.

# 113 kolanji @ 06/27/12 01:28 AM

great choices on the first 3 athletes to be simultaneously captured on an nba 2k game {assumption}

great choices of players but the pics used are not something i like initially maybe its gonna grown on me eventually..... maybe

i was thinking that maybe the cover athletes should be more intertwine instead of random looking there has to be some kinda tie-in or connection with 3 ppl sharing the

same cover space

but like others before me, am more interested on what 2k13 plays like over what it looks like

# 114 LD2k @ 06/27/12 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ


	Still, at the end of the day, what matters most is what's on the disc.

Dat disk.

# 115 JerzeyReign @ 06/27/12 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLLosophy


	You're 100% right. But this level of marketing is pretty new for NBA 2K. Before NBA 2K was the underdog / people's champion game you enjoyed supporting because their game had substance versus the competition that was all hype. That's no longer the case as 2K has matched the hype of their opponent. The positive is there's no evidence to believe they will slip on substance anytime soon.

True. I was just 'bragging' about 2k on one of the forums I visit a few months ago that 2k was 'no talk, all action' -- funny how a couple dollarz make somebody switch up. They went from 'Many Men' to 'Candy Shop' lol #50Cent

But as long as they don't slip, they can talk all they want. If they start slippin', we'll get at them like we do any other gaming company -- kiss 'em today, kill 'em tomorrow.

# 116 KyotoCarl @ 06/27/12 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamLEGENDsince87


	cover sucks. Give Durant his own cover, and stop changing stuff. Covers are meant for ONE athlete IMO, and he deserves it after 2011s gaming debacle. I wouldnt say Bron is a lock for NBAL. They have had some surprising cover athletes so you never know with them.

Who says the cover is meant for just one athlete? Just because it's been like that in the past? The Jordan, Bird, Magic covers last year was and awesome move by 2K imo. Then it's up to me if I wanna spend money ln all of them.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

# 117 DirtyNeedles @ 06/27/12 02:22 AM

NO LeBron? NO Wade?

# 118 ojandpizza @ 06/27/12 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyborg.ninja24


	Kobe was on both Nintendo's and Sony's NBA game before gracing 2K10. Garnett was on Live 2000 before 2K9. Shaq was on Xbox's Inside Drive before appearing 2K6 and 2K7.

2001** Garnett

# 119 ojandpizza @ 06/27/12 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyborg.ninja24


	I wondered if anyone complained that Garnett got the cover of 2K9 instead of Paul Pierce who was Finals MVP.

I loved the Garnett cover

# 120 Jeromett @ 06/27/12 05:27 AM

All according to plan...

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