On Wednesday morning, NBA 2K announced the two champions who would grace the cover of this year's game.
Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, fresh off his first title, was revealed as the standard cover athlete for the 2K25 editions. Las Vegas Aces two-time MVP A'ja Wilson, working on defending her own championship, was named as the WNBA's cover athlete. The All-Star edition of the game will feature both Tatum and Wilson.
Two stars at the top of their games⭐️
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2024
Jayson Tatum and A’ja Wilson are your #NBA2K25 All-Star Edition cover stars!
Follow @NBA2K and pre-order today! #BallOverEverything pic.twitter.com/oER0A13C99
In tandem with the announcement, the pair appeared on Old Man & the Three (with Sue Bird replacing JJ Redick as guest host) to share their initial reactions to learning they had received the honor. Tatum said he teared up, while Wilson thought it was about time.
"I had a unique experience," Tatum said. "It was on my birthday. I was at my mom's house and Deuce ran downstairs. He had like, a bag. He was like, 'Daddy, happy birthday.' And I opened it and it was, 'Congrats, you're on the cover of 2K, blah blah blah.' I actually got teary-eyed. I kind of cried a little bit. Just because I feel like I'm very blessed and fortunate that when I was younger I had so many dreams and goals, things I wanted to check off. And it's like, I'm experiencing those things in real time. And I grew up at my mom's house playing 2K with my best friends and my cousin, dreaming about being in the game one day. Then being on the cover. For that moment to come true, I kind of cried a little bit. I was just so overwhelmed and happy that, you know, something I dreamed about came true."
"For me, my agent called," Wilson said. "And she was like, 'Hey, you're going to be on the cover.' And I was like, 'Oh, wait, no, about time Ronnie (2K). Damn it.' But no, it was a big moment. You see yourself, you dream of, like JT was saying, you just dream yourself seeing your face in these spaces. Then for it to actually be real and happen. I see my face on a potato chip bag and it's like, 'Oh my gosh!' Now I'm on a video game and now I'm on the cover. Granted, I don't play video games and I might start now because my face is on the cover. But, like, it's just one of those moments where you're like, 'Wow, this is something I would dream of doing.' Like having a shoe. All those different things. And now you're starting to check off your goal list, it's been huge. So I'm blessed."
This is how @jaytatum0 and @_ajawilson22 found out they were the next @NBA2K cover athletes.
— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) July 10, 2024
Watch their full conversation with guest host @S10Bird on YouTube: https://t.co/TAly1pdbQN pic.twitter.com/kH1PrgJ4B7
A very cool accomplishment for both players and one that obviously means a lot. It's also well-earned.
Tatum averaged 26.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the 64-win Celtics in the 2023-24 season before going on to lead his team in points, assists, and rebounds en route to his first NBA championship.
Wilson averaged 22.8 points per contest for the Aces in 2023, winning Defensive Player of the Year before helping Vegas to its second consecutive WNBA title. She picked up where she left off in 2024, as the two-time MVP is currently leading the league with 27 points per game and has the Aces in playoff position.
A big moment for both superstars as they continue on their dominant trajectories.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Jayson Tatum, A'ja Wilson Share Reactions to Being Named 2K Cover Athletes .
