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Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard Joins Kobe on Cover of NBA 2K21

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 04: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers leans against the stanchion and looks at the video replay after giving a foul during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Moda Center on March 04, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers topped the Washington Wizards, 125-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 04: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers leans against the stanchion and looks at the video replay after giving a foul during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Moda Center on March 04, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Trail Blazers topped the Washington Wizards, 125-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

NBA 2K21 announced its cover athletes in mid-July, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard made the cover with NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

As a fan of NBA 2K, I get excited every year to see who makes the cover as the stars of the next game. This year covers for NBA 2K21 will feature Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans, and two tribute covers of the former Los Angeles Laker, the late, great Kobe Bryant.

The covers were released last week and have made social media explode with excitement as 2K fans get ready for the next chapter of gaming. The game will be released over XBOX, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, and other gaming consoles.

Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard will be on the standard copy of the game, which only adds to the legacy he has been creating in Portland. Many believe he made the cover due to the performances and amazing stats he had during the 2019-20 NBA season. This will be Lillard’s first appearance as the cover athlete on NBA 2K and he will join exclusive company with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Paul George, Allen Iverson, and Michael Jordan.

Lillard is joining rookie sensation out of Duke and forward with the New Orleans Pelicans, Zion Williamson, on the standard copy. Zion only played 19 games with the Pelicans but was putting up All-star numbers in those games. Zion is the first rookie to make the cover of NBA 2k and will become the youngest player to make it as a cover athlete of 2K since Chris Paul on NBA 2K8. However, fans are talking about the exclusive cover of the game, and for good reason.

The deluxe, or “Mamba Forever Edition,” pays tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. He passed away this year along with his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles. The two covers will feature throwback Kobe Bryant, wearing the number 8 jersey and throwback afro, to the Kobe we knew today, wearing the number 24 and standing with his arm in the air, waving goodbye to the fans during his final game with the Lakers.

The games release date is September 4th and is predicted to fly off the shelves just on the cover alone. So if you’re a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers or a fan of one of the greatest ever to play the game, make sure you pre-order your copies today.