It is That Time of Year Again. New NBA 2K27 Cover Athletes Have Been Announced
There are few things in life more certain than the arrival of NBA 2K news in July. Like clockwork, the PR machine spins up, and we get reveal upon reveal. From player ratings, new modes, looks at how the game’s “City” has changed and more. Frankly, as an NBA 2K tragic, I am a sucker for it, but there is one bit of news that is more important than any of the other things that I mentioned. That is the announcement of the cover athletes, and this year, we have some well-deserving superstars.
As has been tradition for the past few years, there are three different cover athletes, one each for the three different versions of the game. On the standard edition, the absolute beast that is Wemby is the star. For those who don’t know, in just his second year of NBA basketball, Victor Wembanyama dominated the competition like few players ever have, with a mix of size and pure skill that is almost too good to be true. Next on the Deluxe Edition is perhaps the best player in the WNBA and the captain of my favourite team, Caitlin Clark. Caitlin has been a breakout star in the WNBA and is an absolute beast on the court. Finally, Chicago Bulls legend, 3-time NBA All-Star and the youngest MVP in NBA history, Derrick Rose. Let’s face it, his achievements speak for themselves.
Perhaps the biggest news is that Caitlin becomes the first-ever WNBA player to have her own cover globally. In a recent press release, she highlighted just how much it means to her. “Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is special because this game reaches fans all over the world,” said Deluxe Edition cover athlete Caitlin Clark. “To be the first WNBA player on her own global cover means women’s basketball gets to show up on that stage too, and I am proud to be part of that.”
NBA 2K27 releases on September 4 across all major current platforms (with no PS4 or Xbox One version in sight) and will be available 7 days earlier for those who lash out on the flash editions. Speaking of, check out all the details on the editions below as well as the Cover Athelete reveal trailer and stay tuned for more on NBA 2K27 as we approach launch.
Editions & Pricing**
- Standard Edition – $99.95 AUD: Featuring Victor Wembanyama, the Standard Edition launches September 4, 2026, and will be available on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
- Deluxe Edition – $119.95 AUD: Headlined by Caitlin Clark and available on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC. This edition includes 100,000 VC****; MyCAREER content (25x 6 Types of Skill Boosts, 25x 3 Types of Gatorade Boosts, Victor Wembanyama Jersey, Caitlin Clark Jersey, and a 2HR 2XP Coin (MyCAREER)); and MyTEAM content (Full ’27: Series 1 Team Selection, Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, 5x ’27: Series 1 Packs, and a 2HR 2XP Coin (MyTEAM)). Includes Early Access starting on August 29, 2026, up to one week before worldwide release.*
- Ultra Edition – $239.95 AUD (Limited availability through September 6, 2026): Celebrating Derrick Rose, the Ultra Edition is available on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC. Includes everything in the Deluxe Edition plus an additional 35,000 VC, a Season 1 Pro Pass*****, and the Summer Season Pass Pro Pass Bundle (Seasons 7–9 Pro Pass, releasing in Summer 2027); the Roses Oversize Hoodie in MyCAREER; Premium SKU MyTEAM Player Cards, which includes a guaranteed 98 OVR card (December 2026) and a guaranteed Invincible card (May 2027). NBA 2K26 players who pre-order NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition on the same platform will receive a 10% discount******. Includes Early Access beginning August 29, 2026.
