In every release of the “NBA 2K” game, fans are most excited to know if their favorite players have made the cover. This year, developers named two different athletes, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ben Simmons, as the featured stars in the “NBA 2K19” main cover.
More importantly, putting Antetokounmpo on the “NBA 2K19” cover signals a new milestone for the franchise. This is the first time that the franchise has selected a player who was not born and raised in the United States to grace the game’s cover. The 23-year-old player was born in Athens, Greece, with immigrant parents originally from Lagos, Nigeria.
“I am honored to be the first international player featured on the cover of ‘NBA 2K19,’” said Antetokounmpo. “I love playing ‘NBA 2K’ so this means a lot to me. I have worked hard to earn recognition in the NBA and being on the cover of ‘NBA 2K19’ is a dream come true.”
In a press release, publisher Take-Two Interactive said that Antetokounmpo is also the first-ever NBA player who finished the regular season by entering the league’s top 20 with key playing stats. The Milwaukee Bucks player, also known as the Greek Freak, ended his season 2017-2018 run with an average of 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
This is also the first time that developers will release a region-exclusive “NBA 2K19” cover featuring Simmons, the promising rookie player for the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons will be gracing the “NBA 2K19” cover for copies that will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand for obvious reasons. The 21-year-old athlete was born in Melbourne, Australia.
Like Antetokounmpo, Simmons also had a very impressive performance during season 2017-2018. He was averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game.
“NBA 2K19” will be released on Sept. 11 for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Copies can be pre-ordered now, including the 20th Anniversary Edition — featuring LeBron James on the cover — that will grant players a four-day early access to the full game.


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