NBA 2K18's Cover Star Kyrie Irving Traded, 2K Responds

[UPDATE] 2K has now released a full statement on the matter and also confirmed that there will be a cover of NBA 2K18 featuring Kyrie Irving in a Celtics jersey. You can read the full statement here.

The original story is below.

The writing had been on the wall, and now it's official. According to an ESPN report, the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics have agreed to a blockbuster trade that will send NBA 2K18 cover star Kyrie Irving to the Celtics. An earlier report stated that Irving asked to be traded, supposedly dissatisfied with playing alongside the NBA's biggest star, LeBron James.

This puts NBA 2K18 in an interesting and awkward position. Assuming no last-minute change is made, we'll see Irving in a jersey for his former team. The marketing team at 2K Sports may not be terribly happy with this development.

Whoops https://t.co/dwja1rN0dL
— NBA 2K 2K18 (@NBA2K) August 22, 2017

We've followed up with 2K in an attempt to get more details and will update this post with anything we might hear back. On Twitter, 2K appears to be taking it in stride, jokingly writing, "Whoops" on a tweet announcing Irving--as a member of the Cavs--as the cover star for NBA 2K18.

Whatever happens, Irving is one of the biggest names in professional basketball and is among the league's standouts. And no matter who Irving plays for, NBA 2K18's dominance in the NBA video game market is not likely to be materially affected by this.

Also worth noting that is DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors is on the cover of NBA 2K18 in Canada, so the Irving trade doesn't affect everyone everywhere. Also, you can pick up one the special editions that feature Shaquille O'Neal on the cover.

As part of the Cavs-Celtics trade deal, the Cavs receive Isaiah Thomas, as well as Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn's 2018 first-round pick.

Below is a mock-up of what Irving might look like in a Celtics jersey, made by ESPN. Another element to this story is that the Celtics open the upcoming season on the road against the Cavs. It's going to be a good one.