NBA 2K has officially unveiled the cover athletes for NBA 2K27, and this year’s lineup makes history. Victor Wembanyama headlines the Standard Edition, Caitlin Clark becomes the first WNBA player to front a global flagship NBA 2K cover on the Deluxe Edition, and Derrick Rose returns for a special Ultra Edition celebrating one of basketball’s most beloved careers. The game launches worldwide on September 4, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Victor Wembanyama is the Standard Edition cover athlete ($69.99) and the first San Antonio Spurs player ever to appear on an NBA 2K cover
- Caitlin Clark is the Deluxe Edition cover athlete ($99.99) and the first WNBA player to headline a global flagship NBA 2K cover
- Derrick Rose is the Ultra Edition cover athlete ($149.99) in his second NBA 2K cover appearance, 14 years after NBA 2K13
- NBA 2K27 launches worldwide on September 4, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2
- Early Access begins August 28 for Deluxe and Ultra Edition owners
- The first gameplay trailer drops Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- Pre-orders are live now at the official NBA 2K27 website
- Clark appears on the cover wearing an unreleased colorway of her Nike Caitlin 1 signature shoe
Wembanyama: Standard Edition Cover
Victor Wembanyama’s selection as the face of NBA 2K27’s Standard Edition is both expected and historic.
The 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs center had one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory. According to NBA.com, he won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously, receiving all 100 first-place votes to become the first player in NBA history to win the award without a single dissenting vote. NBA.com also confirmed he averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 3.1 assists per game during the regular season, all career highs.
Wembanyama is the first San Antonio Spurs player in franchise history to appear on an NBA 2K cover. According to theScore, he is also the first Frenchman on the global Standard Edition cover. Tony Parker previously appeared on the French regional edition of NBA 2K16, but that was a market-specific cover, not the worldwide Standard Edition.
Zak Armitage, SVP and GM of NBA 2K, said in the official 2K announcement: “Wembanyama has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it.”
Previous Standard Edition cover athletes include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2K26), Jayson Tatum (2K25), Kobe Bryant (2K24) and Devin Booker (2K23).
Caitlin Clark: First WNBA Player on a Global 2K Cover
Caitlin Clark’s selection as the Deluxe Edition cover athlete is the most historically significant announcement of the three.
Previous WNBA stars including Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson appeared on NBA 2K covers in regional or WNBA-specific editions. Clark is the first WNBA player to headline a global flagship edition of the NBA 2K franchise. That distinction reflects how dramatically her commercial profile has grown since entering the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.
According to the WNBA and multiple media reports from the time of the 2026 All-Star selections, Clark is averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game alongside 8.2 assists per game for the Indiana Fever. The Fever enter All-Star Weekend among the league’s top teams. Clark is a three-time WNBA All-Star starter (2024, 2025, 2026), the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, and the NCAA all-time scoring record holder.
Armitage described her as “pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but the women’s game entirely.”
The Nike Caitlin 1 on the NBA 2K27 Cover
Clark is the only athlete among this year’s three cover stars whose footwear is visible on the cover art. She appears wearing an unreleased colorway of her debut Nike signature shoe, the Nike Caitlin 1, in the “Yellow Zest” colorway.
The Yellow Zest features a bold yellow upper with blue and green detailing, including Clark’s double-C logo on the tongue. She first debuted the colorway on-court ahead of a Fever matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 8, 2026.
Nike Caitlin 1 release details:
- Racer Blue (debut colorway): October 1, 2026, $140, Nike SNKRS and major retailers
- Yellow Zest: Holiday 2026, $140, Nike.com and select Nike Basketball retailers
- Youth sizes: $115, Preschool sizes: $105
Clark’s Nike deal is reported to be worth up to $28 million over eight years, signed following the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Derrick Rose: Ultra Edition Cover
Derrick Rose on the Ultra Edition cover is the announcement that carries the most emotional weight.
Rose was the NBA’s youngest MVP when he won the award with the Chicago Bulls in 2011 at just 22 years old. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, a three-time All-Star, and one of the most electrifying point guards the league had ever seen before his career was impacted by serious knee injuries.
The Chicago Bulls retired his No. 1 jersey on January 24, 2026, in a postgame ceremony at the United Center following a game against the Boston Celtics, making him the fifth player in franchise history to receive the honour.
This is Rose’s second NBA 2K cover. His first was NBA 2K13 in 2012, a 14-year gap between his two appearances.
Rose said in the official 2K announcement: “It is crazy looking back at being on the NBA 2K13 cover to now having my own edition for NBA 2K27. During my journey there have been coaches who believed in me, teammates who made me better, and fans who showed up louder than I ever expected. So, this is a chance to inspire young athletes to stay obsessed with the game.”
All Editions and Pricing
According to the official 2K newsroom announcement dated July 22, 2026:
Standard Edition: $69.99 Cover athlete: Victor Wembanyama. Base game. Available on all platforms from September 4.
Deluxe Edition: $99.99 Cover athlete: Caitlin Clark. Includes Early Access from August 28, additional VC, and Season 1 Pro Pass.
Ultra Edition: $149.99 Cover athlete: Derrick Rose. Limited availability through September 6, 2026. Includes Early Access from August 28, everything in the Deluxe Edition plus an additional 35,000 VC, Season 1 Pro Pass, Summer Season Pass Pro Pass Bundle (Seasons 7 to 9, Summer 2027), a guaranteed 98 OVR MyTEAM card (December 2026), and a guaranteed Invincible MyTEAM card (May 2027).
Pre-orders for all three editions are live now at the official NBA 2K27 website.
Release Date, Platforms and Early Access
NBA 2K27 launches worldwide on September 4, 2026 across:
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X/S
- PC via Steam
- Nintendo Switch 2
Early Access begins August 28 for Deluxe and Ultra Edition owners, giving players one week of early access before the worldwide release. NBA 2K27 is a current-generation exclusive with no confirmed PS4 or Xbox One version.
Gameplay Trailer: July 28
No gameplay footage has been released alongside today’s cover reveal. The first official NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer drops on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 and will be the first look at how the game plays on current-generation hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the NBA 2K27 cover athletes?
Victor Wembanyama (Standard Edition), Caitlin Clark (Deluxe Edition) and Derrick Rose (Ultra Edition), as announced by 2K on July 22, 2026.
When does NBA 2K27 come out?
NBA 2K27 launches worldwide on September 4, 2026. Early Access for Deluxe and Ultra Edition owners begins August 28, 2026.
How much does NBA 2K27 cost?
Standard Edition is $69.99. Deluxe Edition is $99.99. Ultra Edition is $149.99 with limited availability through September 6, 2026.
What platforms is NBA 2K27 on?
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. No last-generation version has been confirmed.
Is Caitlin Clark the first WNBA player on an NBA 2K cover?
She is the first WNBA player to headline a global flagship edition of the NBA 2K franchise. Previous WNBA players appeared only on regional or league-specific editions.
When is the NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer?
The first official gameplay trailer drops Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Conclusion
Three cover athletes, three editions, and three very different stories. Wembanyama represents the future of the NBA. Clark represents the global rise of the women’s game. Rose represents the kind of legacy that basketball never forgets.
NBA 2K27 drops September 4, 2026. Pre-orders are open now.
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