Good news.

2K Sports will be announcing the cover athlete for NBA 2K9 during a 30 second TV spot prior to the start of the first game of the NBA Finals on Thursday June 5th. It should air within the half hour of the NBA Countdown show which starts at 830et/530pt.

Prior to that a contest is being held for a chance to win an autographed jersey of the cover athlete and a copy of 2K9. To enter go here and choose who you think will get the cover from a list of 16 players.

Previously it seemed there would be little doubt that 2K would re-up with Chris Paul. He had an incredible season and they have a history of having cover athletes stretch over consecutive years. He is actually within the list of players so that is still a strong possibility. However it would seem somewhat suspicious that they would go to these lengths only to end up with the news that the same player from last year would be returning.

The name on the list I would lean towards is Brandon Roy as he fits the mold that made Chris Paul their choice last year. Kevin Garnett might be the next most likely given the chance that he’ll be participating in the NBA Finals when the announcement is made as well as how 2K has gone with cover athletes that are established players with career resumes of success (Shaq, Jeter) in the past.

First news of NBA 2k9, seen on pastapadre.com.
Aside from the coverboy, this means that even if EA buys out Take Two, we will have an NBA 2k9.

It must be Kobe.

If its kobe, lebron or garnett then their good. They had paul this year which was definitly a good idea.

It's got to be Kobe, the league MVP and possible Final MVP.

ok so Kobe is not on their list for the contest their running. I chose KG but LeBron could be it too. It has to be a big name for them to wait until the Finals. They are the biggest star name on the list. KG get the nod for winning D player of the year and taking the Celts to the Finals.

Kobe is licensed to Sony with NBA 08 so it cant be him. I'm hoping for James or Iverson again

when i saw the player it looked Like Chris Bosh

it's KG yall

im surprised, I didnt think he could since he was on Live 2001.

Hell, I have no issue with it though, good for him.

Damn....i came on here as soon as the commercial ended and you still beat me to it. Did you have the page open already in anticipation?

man wow.... i guess this means that any other coverboy in the past that was in other series can be on any other cover. Im going for Pierce or Kobe in this Years Live.

ok so Kobe is not on their list for the contest their running. I chose KG but LeBron could be it too. It has to be a big name for them to wait until the Finals. They are the biggest star name on the list. KG get the nod for winning D player of the year and taking the Celts to the Finals.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if I can be in the chosen few to receive a free copy for guessing correctly!!

Damn....i came on here as soon as the commercial ended and you still beat me to it. Did you have the page open already in anticipation?

heh i was lucky enough to be on the site with my roommate watching the Finals in the background. I heard the commercial "he was 9 time defensive team blah blah" and i was trying to guess without knowing what kind of commercial it was. then i got up and saw it was a 2k9 commercial, sat down and posted.

im surprised, I didnt think he could since he was on Live 2001.

Probably not an issue after all this time, Shaq was on the NBA Live 96 cover but then later appeared on the covers of 2K6 (and I believe 2K7 as well). I'd say it rules him out of being on an NBA Live cover in the near future though.