The Unforgettable Legend Kobe Bryant Graces NBA 2K24 Cover

Kobe Bryant, the late legend, has been chosen as the official face of NBA 2K24, making it his second time serving as the cover athlete following NBA 2K21's Mamba Forever Edition.

Since 1999, NBA 2K has been transforming each NBA basketball season into an immersive video game. Now, the highly anticipated NBA 2K24 is currently in development and will be released shortly. While limited information has been disclosed about the game so far, fan speculation can finally give way to concrete details, as some official information has now been made public.

The latest release of NBA 2K, as announced on the official NBA 2K Twitter account, will have two editions: the Kobe Bryant Edition and the Black Mamba Edition. The box arts for both editions were also revealed, with the Kobe Bryant Edition showcasing Bryant performing a dunk against a kaleidoscopic background, and the Black Mamba Edition featuring a close-up of his determined and sweaty face. It's not uncommon for the NBA 2K series (or video games in general) to have multiple editions, so it comes as no surprise that the tradition will continue with this upcoming installment. According to the tweet, pre-orders for the game will be available on July 7th.

Fans in the comments section displayed their excitement for this packaging decision by flooding the replies with heart and snake emojis. The official Xbox account also expressed their approval and subtly hinted at a version of the game for their consoles. Speculation arose among fans regarding which players would appear on other editions, some users even requesting cross-play capabilities between versions. Additionally, a few fans mentioned that it would have been a missed opportunity to not feature Bryant wearing his iconic 24 jersey on the cover, instead of the number 8 seen in the artwork. This is worth noting, as previous game renderings of Bryant did include this detail.

Kobe Bryant, a true icon in the world of professional basketball, also had a notable presence in the realm of video games. His untimely demise greatly impacted people around the globe, regardless of their level of interest in basketball. Therefore, it was only natural for the NBA 2K series to pay homage to him, a gesture that has been made on multiple occasions already. It will be intriguing to witness the additional ways in which NBA 2K24 could continue to honor his legacy once it becomes available in stores and online platforms. NBA 2K24 is scheduled for release in September 2023.