‘NBA 2K21’ Pays Tribute To Kobe Bryant As One Of Its Cover Athletes
The legacy of the late Los Angeles Lakers personage, Kobe Bryant, will finesse the NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition.
As per HollywoodReporter, the five-time NBA champion joins two other NBA stars, namely the Portland Trails Blazers guard Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
"Each of our cover athletes represent different eras of the game of basketball,” said Alfie Brody, NBA 2K Vice President for Global Marketing. As per Brody, the trio was chosen as they best represent the contemporary, future, and rich history of the game: Damian Lillard as one of the brightest NBA star of today, Zion Williamson as the game’s promise of tomorrow, and Kobe Bryant as NBA’s history light the will never stop shining, inspiring the lives of many.
The five-time NBA champion for the Los Angeles Lakers was formerly the cover athlete for NBA 2K’s NBA 2K10 and NBA 2K17 editions. For the newest Mamba Forever Edition of NBA 2K21 that he will be gracing as a cover will have is NBA journey and legacy to be celebrated. The said edition will give the late NBA star prominence that features two custom made covers which will be made available on the current generation and next generation consoles.
"We’re combining all of our experience and development expertise to craft the best game possible,” said Greg Thomas, 2K President of Visual Concepts. The new Mamba Forever Edition will be a product of the franchise’s expert development for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
Bryant being the cover of the game’s edition was the last to be announced on July 2, saving the best for last for sure. On the other hand, Lillard’s cover was made known on Tuesday June 30, following the day after Williamson’s cover announcement.
Bryant’s cover will serve as the game’s tribute to the NBA star’s span of career, starting from him wearing the No. 8 Lakers jersey until his last NBA game on 2016 at the Staples Center, where he scored 60 points, per SilverScreenandRoll.
The world was rocked by the passing of the former Los Angeles Laker on January 26 in a tragic helicopter crash, alongside eight other individuals including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant.
Bryant’s entire ball career lasted for twenty years, which made Bryant take home a bragging five-time champion titles, two Finals MVP, fourth NBA player in the Score Charts with 33,643 points, and 18 All Star Game appearances.
Further details about the new NBA 2K21 game edition will be announced in the coming months, including a sneak peak of the game’s new features. The NBA 2K21 is due September 4, 2020 on XboxOne, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. For Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, the game will be made available on their holidays season launch.