2K has announced that the cover athlete forNBA 2K26is none other than Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder had an incredible season, finally securing a long-awaited championship thanks to the superb performances of Shai and his teammates. Many fans had already predicted Shai would grace the nextNBA 2Kcover, given his undeniable impact on the team’s recent success.
For those curious,last year’sNBA 2Kcover athleteswere Jayson Tatum, A’ja Wilson, and Vince Carter, each featured on separate editions. Before that,NBA 2K24honored the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant as its cover athlete, a decision that was appreciated by the community. WithNBA 2K26, however, the spotlight now shifts to one of the league’s rising stars.
Also known as SGA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the newest cover athlete of theNBA 2Kfranchise. He wrapped up last season with several major accomplishments, including leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first championship in the NBA. Averaging 32.7 points per game, he also earned the NBA MVP title for the 2024-2025 season. Shai is clearly one of the leading stars in the NBA and is also known as one of thehighest-rated players inNBA 2K25. Given his recent accomplishments, it’s no surprise that SGA is now the face of the upcoming game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is NBA 2K26’s First Canadian Cover Athlete
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Canadian basketball star to be featured on the cover of anNBA 2Kgame. Rumors about his appearance as the next cover athlete began circulating in June, when Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie2K, shared a photo on social media standing next to the NBA superstar, which sparked speculations. For those unfamiliar, Ronnie2K is the Digital Marketing Director at 2K Games, known for teasing fans with cryptic posts and being at the center of severalNBA 2Kcontroversiesover the years.
Of course, SGA wasn’t the only superstar fans had in mind for the cover. Many believed Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were strong contenders as well. In particular, Luka’s departure from the Dallas Mavericks was seen by some as amarketing opportunity for 2K Sports to capitalize on. Many have pointed to his blockbuster trade as a compelling reason for his selection as theNBA 2K26cover athlete. Ultimately, though, it seems Visual Concepts and 2K Sports chose to prioritize overall performance when selecting the face of the upcoming game.
