Paul George set to Adorn NBA 2K17 Cover

2K have announced their cover athlete for the next iteration of their popular basketball franchise. Indiana Pacers All-Star shooting guard Paul George will be on the box of NBA 2K17.  The selection of George marks his first solo appearance on the cover of NBA 2K, paralleling his explosive return to the court, during which he averaged a career-best 23.1 points per game during the 2015-16 NBA regular season. But he's not just earned the appearance based on his astounding stats last season, it turns out that George is a huge fan of the series itself and has been playing it for a long time already. 

"I have been playing NBA 2K as long as I can remember, and to be honored as cover athlete of NBA 2K17 is a blessing and vote of confidence that my hard work on and off the court has paid off,” said Paul George, who also led his team to a 2015-2016 NBA playoff berth. “I’m excited to partner with 2K and hope to help take the franchise to the next level".

The player has already served as the cover star of MyNBA2K16’s Companion app, and as guest commentator at the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals $250,000 championship back in June. As part of his global partnership with 2K, George will also serve as the cover athlete for NBA 2K Online in China, so we can expect to see the star an awful lot over the coming year. 

“Each year the NBA 2K franchise continues to grow, but our focus has always been about creating an experience that resonates with our most passionate fans,” said Alfie Brody, vice president of marketing for NBA 2K. “Paul is a natural fit for the cover and a true embodiment of what we represent and bring to the table for gamers and basketball fans alike.”

To celebrate, 2K also revealed the "Early Tip-Off" date for NBA 2K17. Fans can pre-order NBA 2K17 at participating UK retail and online vendors, to receive their copy beginning on Friday, September 16. Players pre-ordering will receive exclusive  in-game digital content, including: 5,000 Virtual Currency and a MyTEAM Bundle which includes 3 packs including a guaranteed Paul George Free Agent card.