NBA 2K13 News Post

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

09:41 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

# 121 SuperNoVa27 @ 06/27/12 07:23 AM

Bad choice, D.Rose should be doing a crossover dribble, K.D should be taking a jumper and Blake should be dunking. Would make the cover look a lot better and not so blandtastic....

# 122 cjallure24 @ 06/27/12 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyNeedles


	NO LeBron? NO Wade?

With you on the Lebron, but not D.Wade. Last thing I need is a image of a D.Wade on the cover pleading to the refs for fouls. I wonder if 2K will put that in this year. Every time you drive to the hole with D.Wade, and don't get the whistle, does he automatically not get back on defense, instead he looks at the ref. Call it "B!tch and moan" mode.

# 123 cmebfresh @ 06/27/12 05:26 PM

this probably a good thing the cover looks so bland. Which means they are focus on gameplay

- Im just saying

# 124 cmebfresh @ 06/27/12 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperNoVa27


	Bad choice, D.Rose should be doing a crossover dribble, K.D should be taking a jumper and Blake should be dunking. Would make the cover look a lot better and not so blandtastic....

YEAH GOOD IDEA

# 125 Epiffani @ 06/27/12 09:48 PM

Nice to see them stick by Rose after such a tough season for him riddled by misfortunes and injuries. Like Rose said, he's been putting in work for 2k for several years, including being in numerous commercials, press releases and being on the cover of the NBA 2K Draft Combine DLC. I'm happy for him and can't wait for him to come back and remind people exactly what makes him special as a NBA player.

Edit: just read that there will not be three different covers for the game. Would've liked to have bought just a Rose cover. Meh.

# 126 chance @ 06/27/12 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celticsfan1530


	Pretty good choices, even though I think Blake Griffin is one of the most overrated players in the NBA right now.

career avg of 20 & 10 in his first two years doesnt do it for ya?

# 127 Shinyhubcaps @ 06/27/12 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmebfresh


	this probably a good thing the cover looks so bland. Which means they are focus on gameplay - Im just saying

The two have nothing to do with each other.

# 128 Get Gooder @ 06/27/12 11:53 PM

This cover is the DEFINITION of "Doo Doo" I mean maybe if their poses were a little better it could work, but I personally think the background looks horrible with all three of them.
It should've been only LeBron or only Durant, nobody else really deserves to be on the cover this year. I am really glad that it wasn't MJ again!!

# 129 riichiieriich @ 06/28/12 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chance


	career avg of 20 & 10 in his first two years doesnt do it for ya?

He's a one-dimensional player. All he does is dunk and lay the ball up. No post game. No jumpshot. Can't shoot free throws. Doesn't play defense. Don't believe me? Watch some Clippers games and you'll see what I'm talking about.

# 130 AirJordanFan93 @ 06/28/12 11:20 AM

Id prefer if they had Lebron on instead of Griffin. None the less I kinda hope all 3 of them get a separate cover like they did last year with Bird MJ and Magic.

# 131 jhawk826 @ 06/28/12 02:12 PM

The cover is very bland and should have just been one athlete imo. It would have gone to Durant just off of what he's done the last couple of years and to redeem him from the Elite 11 debacle.

To the guy pointing out Blake Griffin's average of 20 and 10, this is one case where stats are very misleading in terms of what kind of player he is. He doesn't defend well, he has no post game and has no jump shot of any kind. Outside of the post, he's completely useless. He doesn't belong on the cover of a game, but the cover is for marketing purposes so we know who 2K is trying to appeal to outside of their loyal buyers. Off the topic, but Nike is going to muscle USA Basketball into putting Griffin on the Olympic team although he shouldn't be on it.

Unless his demands go away, we'll never see LeBron on a cover of Live or 2K so get used to it.

# 132 Boilerbuzz @ 06/28/12 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twista308


	Does not make any sense to me. Rose 2011 MVP, Blake Griffin a high flying maniac, Durant 2012 NBA Scoring Champion, but sunk in the 2012 Finals. I am not a Miami Heat fan but King James should have definatly been on the cover.

Why do people keep asking for a guy that obviously has no real interest in being on ANY cover? I just don't get it. Move on. And he's NOT very popular at all right now regardless of talent or achievements.

# 133 youvalss @ 06/28/12 10:18 PM

I think it's a good thing that Durant isn't on the cover on his own. At least to me it would immediately remind me of Elite 11. Even if you know it has nothing to do with it, a Durant cover means Elite. Seeing him with 2 other players is something completely different, and pretty unique.

# 134 aloncho11 @ 06/28/12 11:21 PM

The three are good imo. Better to have a bit of diversity in the type of cover.

Maybe future covers will always feature multiple players. NBA Live is the game that has patented the one man cover, since the NBA Live 96 days (16 years ago).

# 135 youvalss @ 06/28/12 11:52 PM

As long as it doesn't turn into NBA '09 and its multi-player cover...

# 136 cyborg.ninja24 @ 06/29/12 02:32 AM

Blake couldn't be that overrated as a player, could he? He was selected for the 2nd All-NBA team--voted by the experts (sport writers and broadcasters). I am not a Griffin fan boy but a bit confused with all the hate. I do think his dunk-over-the-car was overhyped/overrated.

The cover is not about who deserves to be on the game but who would help sell more copies to the casual fan. Hardcore fans will buy the game regardless. A clueless mom will most likely pick the cover she finds more appealing.

Rose had the #1 selling jersey while Durant and Griffin were #8 and #9. James was #4. Hmmmm......would I rather have the #1,8,9 most popular players (in terms of jersey sales) on my cover or the #4. In addition, James is still one of the most hated players in the league----there are people who will flat-out not buy the game because he is on the cover.....cough...the entire state of Ohio...cough. Just saying. At least 2K didn't throw Jeremy Lin on there who did have the #2 best selling jersey.

If you wanted Lebron on the cover solely because he won the championship, then go buy a box of Wheaties.

# 137 jreezy18 @ 06/29/12 03:06 AM

Nice selection for the franchise's first multiple athletes cover.

# 138 I Djm @ 06/29/12 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyborg.ninja24


	Blake couldn't be that overrated as a player, could he? He was selected for the 2nd All-NBA team--voted by the experts (sport writers and broadcasters). I am not a Griffin fan boy but a bit confused with all the hate. I do think his dunk-over-the-car was overhyped/overrated. The cover is not about who deserves to be on the game but who would help sell more copies to the casual fan. Hardcore fans will buy the game regardless. A clueless mom will most likely pick the cover she finds more appealing. Rose had the #1 selling jersey while Durant and Griffin were #8 and #9. James was #4. Hmmmm......would I rather have the #1,8,9 most popular players (in terms of jersey sales) on my cover or the #4. In addition, James is still one of the most hated players in the league----there are people who will flat-out not buy the game because he is on the cover.....cough...the entire state of Ohio...cough. Just saying. At least 2K didn't throw Jeremy Lin on there who did have the #2 best selling jersey. If you wanted Lebron on the cover solely because he won the championship, then go buy a box of Wheaties.

blake is overrated period. his dunk over the car overrated period. outside of dunks he barely has any other means for scoring

# 139 Boilerbuzz @ 06/30/12 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jreezy18


	Nice selection for the franchise's first multiple athletes cover.

???

So 2K12 with Jordan, Bird, and Magic doesn't qualify as a "multiple athlete cover"?

And I agree that Griffin needs to VASTLY expand his game. Across the board. But that doesn't mean he's not good because the talent and potential is clearly there. Three of the top players in the league right now.

# 140 Angel_G @ 06/30/12 06:08 PM

He obviously meant 3 players in the same cover not seperately. It annoys me when people try to be contrarions on every single thing.

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