The year of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues

AdamStrattonKSR

the-year-of-gilgeous-alexander-continues-will-grace-nba2k-cover

With 14 former Kentucky players participating in the NBA 2K26 Summer League, it is only right for a former Wildcat to grace the cover of basketball’s most popular video game. And who better than the man who has accolades (and money) oozing out of his pores this year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

SGA won the season scoring title, MVP award, NBA Championship, Finals MVP, and then signed a record-breaking $285 million contract extension (until Devin Booker broke that record eight days later) for his efforts. He also debuted his first signature shoe in the middle of all that. Now, 2025’s most celebrated NBA superstar will be featured as the primary cover athlete for NBA 2K26.

The generational run continues ⚡️

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is your #NBA2K26 Standard Edition Cover Athlete!

Pre-order NBA 2K26 starting tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/1pQTtWOUh2
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 8, 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander will be on the game’s Standard Edition release, one of three versions that will be made available. Carmelo Anthony will be on the cover of the Superstar Edition, while female star Angel Reese will be on the WNBA Edition.

SGA becomes the third Kentucky player to become the NBA 2K cover athlete, and this year marks the fourth time a former ‘Cat player has earned that honor. Anthony Davis made two covers, one for 2K16 and again on the 2K20 version, while Devin Booker got the nod for 2K23.

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Earlier this summer, 2K and EA Sports announced the development of a college basketball game, but those aren’t anticipated to hit consoles until 2028, so until then, we’ll have to settle for playing with former Kentucky guys in the NBA.

If you aren’t a gamer, then check out Steven Peake’s 2K simulation of a team full of nothing but Kentucky players over on YouTube as he tries to answer the question: would an All-BBNBA team go undefeated?

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