On a much-awaited announcement that has caused a buzz in the gaming and basketball fraternity, 2K unveiled Oklahoma City Thunder do-it-all guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the NBA 2K26 cover athlete. The choice follows a record-breaking campaign by Gilgeous-Alexander, whose powerhouse performances saw the Thunder clinch their first-ever NBA title. His ascension to cover fame is a sign of his growing standing in the league and his unquestionable contribution on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander, affectionately known by the acronym SGA, sped at warp speed into stardom to an unprecedented 2024-2025 campaign where he tallied a staggering 32.7 points per game average and was named NBA MVP. His sustained success and leadership turned the Thunder into dominant champions, and him the quasi-automatic selection for the most sought-after 2K cover. This record-breaking achievement is also another milestone in SGA’s long résumé of Canada’s greatest basketball legends, as he is the first Canadian hoops icon to appear on an NBA 2K game cover and enter the sport in the books.
There had been rampant speculation regarding SGA being chosen since June, thanks in part to a social media update by Ronnie Singh, Digital Marketing Director for 2K Games, who had him standing alongside the NBA phenomenon. Other favorite top player names such as Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were also among the fans’ favorites, but 2K Sports and Visual Concepts chose a player whose recent overall play and breathtaking achievements categorically deserved the privilege.
This choice is in keeping with the wish of the developers to feature players in their prime, the cream of the current NBA. This option allows the fans to now anticipate playing the game with one of the brightest stars of the game featuring its current best.
