NBA 2K19 Names LeBron James As 20th Anniversary Edition Cover Star

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James face will be dominating the cover of NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition. James is no stranger to appearing on the cover of these games, having been featured as the cover athlete of NBA 2K14 when he was still playing for the Miami Heat.

It comes as no surprise that the image of James is a cropped, close-up of his face. The man can choose to opt out of his contract this summer, and plenty of people believe he'll utilize the opportunity. Considering NBA 2K's recent history of dealing with cover athletes changing teams right before game shipment, it was smart to use a picture of James that doesn't advertise what team he's playing for. NBA 2K18's cover athlete, Kyrie Irving, was initially photographed in his Cavs' jersey just prior to his off-season trade to the Boston Celtics. He had to be photoshopped into his Celtics jersey.

This anniversary edition will also feature a variety of LeBron James-themed extras. Most of these goodies will be digital, such as a special LeBron James MyTeam card, LeBron James MyCourt customizations, and 25 pairs of LeBron James-themed Nike shoes. However, buying NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition will also let players nab some physical merch, including a LeBron James poster, sticker sheet, and wristband.

NBA 2K19 launches September 11, but players who pre-order the 20th Anniversary Edition will be able to play the game four days earlier on September 7. Both versions will come to PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. Anyone who decides to play the game on PS4 or Xbox One can download NBA 2K19: The Prelude on August 31 if they want to get a head start on their MyCareer modes.