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| Michael Jordan For NBA 2K23: The Year Of Greatness (Image Source: PhilStar.com/2K Games) |
2K Games has officially revealed the full roster of cover athletes for NBA® 2K23, the latest iteration of the top-rated and top-selling NBA video game simulation series of the past 21 years. Phoenix Suns’ shooting guard, three-time NBA All-Star, and 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team selection Devin Booker is featured on this year’s Standard Edition and cross-gen Digital Deluxe Edition while the iconic Michael Jordan – a six-time NBA Champion and five-time Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time – appears on the NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition and the brand-new NBA 2K23 Championship Edition. On the other hand, Phoenix Mercury's two-time Kia WNBA Finals MVP, three-time WNBA Champion, WNBA all-time leading scorer, and five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi along with Seattle Storm’s four-time WNBA Champion, thirteen-time WNBA All-Star, WNBA all-time assists leader, and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird will grace the cover of the NBA® 2K23 WNBA Edition. Exclusively available at GameStop only in the U.S. and Canada, the NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition marks the second cover in NBA 2K franchise history to celebrate WNBA athletes.
The Year Of Greatness
Jordan’s career transformed the NBA into a global phenomenon, making him a household name and leaving an undeniable impact on the basketball world. For the 24th year of NBA 2K, Jordan is the perfect embodiment of this year’s campaign theme: Answer the Call. As an athlete who always rose to the occasion, Jordan returns to star on two NBA 2K23 covers, giving an opportunity for old and new fans alike to celebrate a talent who left the world in awe throughout his career. Michael Jordan is one of the most decorated athletes in the NBA and NBA 2K history, and the NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition and NBA 2K23 Championship Edition collectively mark his fourth time headlining an NBA 2K cover. He was previously on the cover for NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, and the NBA 2K16 Special Edition. “After making 23 the most recognizable number in sports, it was only fitting that for NBA 2K23 we introduce the Michael Jordan Edition. Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce a brand new premium edition of the game with the NBA 2K23 Championship Edition, as no other player embodies the word ‘champion’ like Jordan. This limited-edition version will also offer players the opportunity to catch on-court action throughout the season with a 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass included. We look forward to celebrating this game with the community when it’s released on September 9," said 2K Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy Alfie Brody.
Along with Michael Jordan returning to grace the covers of NBA 2K23 this year, the game will also reintroduce The Jordan Challenge which encourages players to recreate 15 iconic moments from Jordan’s illustrious career. All ten of the original Challenges from NBA 2K11 have been completely rebuilt from the ground up and will make their return this year - alongside five new iconic Jordan moments - for an entire new generation of players to experience. These Challenges take advantage of more than a decade of technological leaps to provide a completely new way to play through Jordan’s accomplishments - all housed within its own game mode. The Jordan Challenge also elevates an array of spellbinding performances across Jordan’s college, NBA, and Team USA Basketball careers that players can experience across all 15 Challenges and includes unique video vignettes that come with special commentary from an array of NBA luminaries: Jordan’s teammates, opponents, and other sports personalities, who saw him do it live and can bring to life his legacy to a younger generation of NBA fans. More details on The Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K23 will be released later this summer.
Ballers Who Break Barriers
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| Sue Bird And Diana Taurasi For NBA 2K23: Ballers Who Break Barriers (Image Source: The Loadout/2K Games) |
“It really is an incredible feeling to see your hard work memorialized on the cover of a game like NBA 2K23. There are so many kids that dream of pursuing a professional basketball career, and they can now also dream of being on the NBA 2K cover, whether they want to play in the NBA or WNBA," said Taurasi. “The response to NBA 2K’s first WNBA Edition last year was overwhelmingly positive and a testament to the W’s growing audience and prominence. Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have achieved greatness both individually and together, cementing their status as two of the best players in the WNBA’s history," Brody shared.
Celebrating Sue Bird’s and Diana Taurasi’s career-long commitments to securing equal opportunities for women athletes, NBA 2K is also partnering with the WNBA stars to donate US$100,000 to Every Kid Sports, giving young people the opportunity to join youth basketball programs across the country. The donation will increase access to youth basketball by covering the registration fees for over 550 girls from income-restricted families. Every Kid Sports is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping children play recreational youth sports. “It’s amazing to see myself on the cover of a video game that has such a cultural impact. And by partnering with NBA 2K and Every Kid Sports, Diana and I have the opportunity to open doors to hundreds of young girls in this country who want to express themselves on the court. I’m honored to be on the cover, and even more honored to use my legacy to provide these opportunities for the next generation," Bird said.
“This partnership with 2K and the phenomenal athletes involved is an exciting opportunity for our organization. We are truly humbled by their support and commitment to our mission to close the gap in access to recreational youth sports. I look forward to working together towards our goal of increased equity in sports by providing a pathway for underserved girls to reap the benefits of play,” said Every Kid Sports Co-Founder and Executive Director Natalie Hummel. The NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition will include Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi’s WNBA jerseys as in-game bonus content.
Answer The Call
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| Devin Booker For NBA 2K23: Answer The Call (Image Source: Arizona Sports/2K Games) |
“It’s a dream come true to see myself on the cover of NBA 2K. I’ve been a huge NBA 2K fan since I was a kid, and it’s surreal to finally join the exclusive club of basketball greats who’ve been cover athletes. I’m also honored to share this year’s covers with the iconic Michael Jordan, who changed the game for all players who came after him, as well as two of the all-time WNBA GOAT’s, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who continue to make a huge impact on the game," Booker said. “It was only fitting for Michael Jordan and Devin Booker to be the NBA 2K23 global cover stars. Michael established himself as one of the greatest athletes in history, and his generational impact on the game is remarkable. MJ’s accomplishments, along with Devin Booker’s young, yet already outstanding career, will continue to inspire basketball fans around the world for years to come. It also goes without saying that this year’s WNBA cover celebrates two of the most outstanding players in the league, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who continue to make their mark on basketball history," Brody shared.
All editions of NBA 2K23 – Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Michael Jordan Edition, Championship Edition – are available for pre-order and will be released worldwide for PlayStation® 4 (PS4™), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation® 5 (PS5™) and Xbox Series X|S on September 9. A special version of the Standard Edition, recognizing the cross-section of music and basketball culture, is planned for later this Fall. More information will be shared in the coming months. The Digital Deluxe Edition grants players access to the Standard Edition across both generations of gaming within the same PlayStation and Xbox consoles along with MyTEAM content including 10K MyTEAM Points; 10 MyTEAM Tokens; 23 MyTEAM Promo Packs; Cover Star Players: Sapphire Devin Booker, Ruby Michael Jordan; Free Agent Option Pack; 1 Diamond Jordan Shoe (non-auctionable); and 1 Ruby Coach Card Pack; as well as MyCAREER content, including 10x 6 types of MyCAREER Skill Boosts; 10x 3 types of Gatorade Boosts; 2-hour Double XP Coin; 4x MyCAREER T-Shirts; Backpack; Custom Design Cover Star Skateboard; and Arm Sleeves. The Michael Jordan Edition features 100K Virtual Currency in addition to the MyTEAM and MyCAREER content included in the Digital Deluxe Edition while the brand new Championship Edition includes a 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass; 10% XP Boost on MyTEAM Season Progression; 10% XP Boost on MyCAREER Season Progression; and exclusive Michael Jordan-themed Go-Kart available at launch, in addition to the 100K Virtual Currency, MyTEAM, and MyCAREER content included in the Michael Jordan Edition. This edition will have limited availability and the digital version will only be available for pre-order. Physical versions will be available in select regions and select retailers while stocks last. Dual-gen access is included for the Digital Deluxe Edition, the Michael Jordan Edition, and the Championship Edition for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S platforms and provides a version of the game on each console generation within the same console family.
Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K23 is rated 3+ by PEGI. For more information on NBA 2K23, please visit https://nba.2k.com/2k23/. Follow NBA 2K on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook for the latest NBA 2K23 news.
