Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Dazzles as NBA 2K26 Cover Star: Was It Ever Really a Question?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the cover athlete for NBA 2K26, which is about as surprising as finding a microtransaction in a AAA game these days. The real question is: will this year's game actually be *good*, or just another reskin with a shiny new face?
Right, so the word's out, mate! *Game Rant* dropped the news that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA to his mates) is gracing the cover of NBA 2K26. And fair dinkum, it feels like the most obvious layup since, well, ever.
After the Oklahoma City Thunder's absolutely bonkers season, bagging a championship thanks to Shai's wizardry (averaging 32.7 points a game, no less!), it's hardly a shock. Remember last year when we had Jayson Tatum, A'ja Wilson, and Vince Carter all getting their own covers? And before that, the heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant on NBA 2K24? This year it's all about SGA, and rightly so.
Now, some folks (myself included, I'll admit) were eyeing up Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. Especially with rumours swirling around Luka's potential move – a bloke can dream of marketing gold, can't he? But it seems like Visual Concepts and 2K went for straight-up performance. Can't argue with that, can you?
And here's a fun fact to toss around at your next gaming night: Shai's the *first* Canadian cover athlete for NBA 2K. Bet you didn't know that, did ya?
Ronnie Singh, the legendary Ronnie2K (you know, the Digital Marketing Director at 2K, the bloke who's always stirring the pot with teases and the occasional controversy), practically confirmed this ages ago when he posted a cheeky photo with SGA. Subtlety? Never heard of her!
Speaking of controversies, reckon they'll finally fix the dodgy player animations this year? Or will we be stuck with another round of awkwardly floating elbows and uncanny valley faces? Only time will tell, eh? Fingers crossed, anyway.
Look, at the end of the day, SGA absolutely crushed it last season. He’s a deserving cover star, and I'm genuinely keen to see what new features and gameplay tweaks 2K26 brings to the court. Maybe they’ll even throw in a special Shai-themed game mode where you can only score with fadeaway jumpers while wearing a ridiculously stylish outfit. A bloke can dream, can't he? It's all about potential, innit?
Tags: NBA 2K26, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Sports Games, Basketball, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant