Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA 2K26 cover athlete after MVP …
Yes, that’s absolutely correct! Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander has been revealed as the standard edition cover athlete for NBA 2K26—a fitting honor following his historic 2024‑25 NBA season.
2024–25 NBA MVP & Finals MVP: Achieved the rare triple crown—regular-season MVP, finals MVP, and scoring leader in the same season—joining the elite company of Kareem, Shaq, and MJ .
Scoring Title: Led the NBA with 32.7 points per game .
NBA Champion: Guided the Thunder to their first championship (68–14 regular-season record) .
Clearly, his dominance made him a natural choice for the 2K26 cover.
Superstar Edition features Carmelo Anthony, coinciding with his Hall of Fame induction .
WNBA Edition spotlight is on Angel Reese, marking her first appearance on a game cover .
**“Leave No Doubt” Edition** includes all three athletes together .
Release Date: September 5, 2025, with pricing around $69.99 for PS5, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch .
️ Fan Reactions (Reddit Highlights)
Community response has been mixed, with some questioning the art style:
> “This looks like AI generated… the defenders look ridiculous.”
“I can make this cover… I can make a better cover. This isn’t real right?”
Still, many agree SGA’s inclusion was a no-brainer after such a dominant season.
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander is officially the cover star of NBA 2K26’s Standard Edition, celebrating his MVP, scoring title, and NBA championship. Additional editions feature Carmelo Anthony (Superstar), Angel Reese (WNBA), and all three in the Leave No Doubt version. The game launches on September 5, 2025.
