The NBA 2K12 Covers

There was nowhere for the 2K franchise to go but down after putting Michael Jordan on the cover for 2K11. Sure it was a pipe dream come true for the GOAT to finally be on the cover but you basically just screw your future covers because nothing could top the Jordan cover.


So who does 2K place on the cover? The most marketable player in the game today Dirk Nowitzki with his tongue sticking out going for a layup? Too predictable. D-Rose driving hard to the hoop? You can't put back-to-back Bulls players on covers if that Bull's name isn't Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant playing soccer? Why not! The Miami Heat Big Three or just LeBron crying  dunking? You can't put losers Finals runner ups on the cover. (Allen Iverson is the exception.)


If no cover is going to be better, then why not put the same guy on the cover and then some. 2K retains MJ as the cover and add the 2nd and 3rd (in any order) most influential players in the history of the game: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (is this the first time in video game history someone with HIV has graced a video game's box art? Not sure what kind of STDs Duke Nukem has.) as alternative covers to complete the Holy Trinity of basketball. This is genius because you know that crazy fan boys like me will cop up at least two of these games just to collect the cover. It's just like how SLAM Magazine releases multiple covers for one and you're forced to buy them. Or how Eevee has multiple evolutions and you're forced to catch multiple Eevees just to catch them all.

Which cover will you be getting? I suggest ALL THREE. (via Playstation blog)

I really don't care what's inside the CD case of NBA 2K12. It could be a Blu-Ray CD, it could be peanuts, used tissue paper or it could be NBA Elite for all I care. It doesn't matter anymore, I'm sold on NBA 2K12. With or without a PS3 I'm buying these games just because the covers are awesome.

Now for the burning questions:

Does this mean MJ will be on the cover forever and 2K just adds alternate covers?

Will there be a Bird vs. Magic Mode to replace Jordan Mode?

How low will LeBron's clutch rating be?

Find out on Oct. 5, 2011! In the meantime check out Kobe's hands-on preview of 2K12 at E3: