NYSportsJournalism.com - Damian, Zion Got Video Game For NBA 2K21
Damian Lillard of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers has been named as cover athlete for 2K’s NBA 2K21 on all current-generation platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and Google Stadia.
Zion Williamson, in his rookie season for the New Orleans Pelicans, will be the next-gen star on the cover for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
They follow in the game-mode footsteps of NBA 2K20 cover athlete Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) and NBA 2K19 cover athlete Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks).
“Being on the cover of @nba2k is a dream come true,” Lillard posted to his social media platforms, “I’ve been playing 2K since the Dreamcast days! Hyped to be the #NBA2K21 cover.”
The reveal was supported by a multi-media campaign, anchored by a spot, “NBA 2K21: Everything is Dame,” in which the five-time NBA All-Star Lillard shows off his scoring skills and acting versatility by appearing on a variety of shows.
Interspersed with action shots of Lillard from the game hitting bucket after bucket, see him on a home shopping network, an exercise show, a Jeopardy-type quiz game as both host and contestant (“He is a 5x All-Star, averages over 24 mpg, owns Crunch Time, released 3 studio albums, lives in Portland, Or: Who is Damian Lillard"), a weather station where it’s always raining buckets and selling such goods as men’s cologne named Dame, pizza from Dolla Dame’s Pizzeria and actual buckets for the faux Dame Bucket Co.
Williamson gets his own creative, “Zion Next-Gen Coming,” which offers, “He is one-of-one. The size of a mountain with a heart to match. Greatness will walk among us. As one of the best up-and-coming talents in the next generation of NBA stars, Zion Williamson represents the future as the cover athlete for the next-generation version of NBA 2K21”
This follows an earlier teaser for NBA 2K21 starring Williamson.
“There are a lot of great players in the NBA today, but Damian Lillard has done a particularly standout job of representing the current generation of NBA superstar," Alfie Brody, vp-marketing for NBA 2K, said via the brand.
“From his cultural influence, musical success, off the court leadership, and on court domination, he's the perfect fit for our cover of NBA 2K21 on current-generation platforms; we're honored to have him."
“For the cover of the next-generation version of NBA 2K21, we wanted to find someone who could represent the next-generation of NBA superstar," said Brody.
"Zion is one of the few young players who has met the hype and can be considered a standard bearer for the next generation. We’re thrilled that he is representing the 2K21."
“Being on the cover of NBA 2K has been a dream since I was a kid and to be the first NBA 2K21 cover athlete for the next-generation of gaming is really special,” Williamson said via 2K.
“Since the day I joined Team 2K, I’ve wanted to make an impact on basketball culture both on and off the court, and being the cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on next-gen consoles lets me do that. I can’t wait to be part of this global phenomenon and hoop with all the ballers out there on NBA 2K21.”
NBA 2K, Lillard and Williamson will also partner through 2K Foundations, 2K's program to support underserved communities by revitalizing basketball courts and community centers across the nation, with Lillard to renovate a site in his hometown of Oakland, Calif,; and Williamson working with 2K on a site in New Orleans.
Lillard previously was the cover athlete for NBA 2K Online 2.
2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, recently signed a deal with the NFL for non-simulation football games.
