Oklahoma City Thunder`s talented point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, takes center stage as the cover athlete for the NBA 2K26 Standard Edition. He is joined by two other prominent figures from the basketball world: Angel Reese and Carmelo Anthony, who will grace the covers of the game`s WNBA and Superstar Editions, respectively. Notably, all three athletes are featured together on the cover of the special Leave No Doubt Edition.
2K Games has also officially announced that NBA 2K26 is set to launch on September 5, 2025. The Standard Edition will be broadly available across multiple platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The other special editions, however, will be exclusive to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players who opt for either the Superstar or Leave No Doubt Edition will benefit from early access, allowing them to start playing from August 29.
Continuing the tradition, the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition will be released as a physical-only copy, sold exclusively through GameStop stores in the United States. Chicago Sky power forward Angel Reese steps onto this special cover, succeeding two-time WNBA MVP A`ja Wilson. This is another significant milestone for Reese, following an impressive rookie season where she earned All-Rookie and All-Star honors and led the league in rebounding, despite her season being cut short by injury.
Reese commented on her cover appearance, calling it “a statement.” She elaborated, stating it “is about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically.” She added that “To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole.”
Carmelo Anthony enjoyed a storied 19-season career in the NBA. During this time, he was selected as an All-Star 10 times and made the All-NBA Team six times. In 2025, his illustrious career and significant contributions, including being a key part of the gold medal-winning 2008 U.S. Olympic team, were recognized with his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Anthony represented the U.S. in a total of four Olympic Games, securing three gold medals and one bronze.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander described his selection for the cover as “iconic.” He also expressed particular excitement about collaborating with developer Visual Concepts and 2K “to set the tone in-game from curating the tunnel fits to the playlist that players will ball to.”
NBA 2K26 promises several enhancements, including improvements to its immersive ProPLAY features specifically for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms, alongside a completely revamped MyCAREER mode. Popular game modes like MyPLAYER, MyTEAM, and The City are set to return, as will MyNBA, the series` comprehensive franchise simulation mode.