NYSportsJournalism.com - Kobe Is Honored WIth Covers For NBA 2K21
Basketball legend and Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant has been honored posthumously by 2K with two “Mamba Forever” covers as part of the NBA 2K21 platform.
The current generation “Mamba Forever” cover version, this year replacing the Legend Edition of the game, is an action portrait of him in his No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers jersey, which he wore from his NBA rookie season in 1996-97 through the 2005-06 season.
In the next-generation cover art, he is shown wearing No. 24, which he wore from 2006-07, including his final 60-point performance game.
Both jersey numbers were retired by the Lakers.
Bryant was also the cover athlete for NBA 2K10 and the Legend Edition of NBA 2K17.
Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.
Bryant joins Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) and Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) as cover athletes for NBA 2K21.
“Each of our cover athletes represent different eras of the game of basketball – Damian Lillard dominates the court today, Zion Williamson is a standard bearer for the next generation of NBA superstar and what more could be said about Kobe?” Alfie Brody, vp-global marketing for NBA 2K, said via the company.
“Three athletes representing the current, future and storied history of the game. Today’s exciting announcement is just the first of many for NBA 2K21. It’s going to be a huge year for basketball fans and NBA 2K gamers.”
Marketing for the Bryant editions includes an anchor spot, “Celebrating Kobe Bryant In The Mamba Forever Edition.”
The spot shows both cover action shots being painted.
The spot offers, “Kobe Bryant holds a special place in the heart of every basketball fan — someone who truly left everything on the court, where his achievements range from legendary to seemingly impossible.
“The Mamba Forever Edition celebrates Kobe's lifelong pursuit of victory and legacy and immortalizes him with two unique custom covers honoring the span of his career.”
Lillard is cover athlete for 2K’s NBA 2K21 on all current-generation platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and Google Stadia.
Williamson will be the next-gen on the cover for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
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.
According to the NBA, wearing No. 8, Bryant won three NBA championship titles, appeared in eight All-Star games, won a scoring title and scored 16,777 points.
Wearing No. 24, he won two NBA titles, appeared in ten All-Star Games, won a scoring title and scored 16,866 points.
He was inducted posthumously into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
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