NBA 2K Announces Massive Victor Wembanyama News Before 2026 Finals

In just his first NBA playoffs, Victor Wembanyama has taken the world by storm. He led the San Antonio Spurs to the Finals for the first time since 2014, defeating the Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, and defending champions OKC along the way. He also became the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and won the Western Conference Finals MVP. It signaled the beginning of the Wemby era, at least as far as 2K Sports is concerned.

The company that makes the NBA's official video game is reportedly set to make Wembanyama its cover athlete for NBA 2K27.

"2K revealed that the two-time All-Star San Antonio Spurs Center Victor Wembanyama will be this year's cover athlete for the NBA 2K27 Standard Edition," a statement released by 2K read.

The early access to this game will begin on August 28th, and it will be released for everyone to play on September 4th, ahead of the 26/27 NBA season.

Oddly enough, 2K's announcement of the cover athlete came in early this year. Last year, they unveiled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the cover athlete on July 8. Keep in mind that the finals had already concluded at that point. SGA was last year's reigning MVP, and he led the Thunder to an NBA title while winning the finals MVP.

The fact that 2K decided to just go for Wembanyama, even though there's a good chance that the Knicks and Jalen Brunson get the better of him in the Finals, shows the belief they have in Wemby's stock. He's been a phenom to watch out for ever since he was drafted in 2023, and this year, he's shown that he's hands down one of the very best in the league.

At 7'5", Wembanyama has a unique profile. His rebounding and shot-blocking are godly, with the Frenchman swatting away 12 shots in a single game against the Timberwolves last month. He's also averaged around 11 rebounds per game this season. But for a man of his size, his ball-handling and shooting are equally incredible. He's a threat both in the paint and on the perimeter, making him a huge draw for fans. It's also what makes him one of the most popular players in the league, even among neutrals. The 22-year-old finished the regular season with the fourth-best-selling jersey in the NBA.

That said, Brunson's fame and the power of the Knicks fanbase shouldn't be ignored. Many supporters of the iconic Blue and Orange would argue that he deserves the spot more than Wembanyama. And if Brunson and Co. do get the better of the Spurs, 2K could always release another edition of the game to honor the Finals champions.

Victor Wembanyama Gets Candid on Knicks Ahead of NBA Finals

The last time the Spurs were in the finals was 12 years ago, when they beat LeBron James' Miami Heat to secure their fifth championship. The wait for the Knicks, however, to get here has been longer.

It's been 27 years since NY made it to the Final round, where they lost... well, to the Spurs.

This increases the stakes in what already promises to be an incredibly well-matched matchup. For Jalen Brunson, it's about etching his name alongside New York legends like Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, and Willis Reed.

Brunson would be ending a 53-year drought for the Knicks if he does manage to take them over the line. It won't be easy, but as he admitted, he's been waiting for this opportunity since the day he signed for the franchise four years ago.

Wembanyama is aware of the Knicks' hunger to win and has nothing but respect for his finals opponents.

"It's a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years," Wembanyama said in the NBA Finals press conference interview. "They're right where they're supposed to be, and all of them are going to be super hungry in their own way."

The Knicks have a 2-1 record against the Spurs this season. Their first meeting came in the NBA Cup Final, where tournament MVP Jalen Brunson's 25 points and OG Anunoby's 28 helped New York secure the win. The Spurs responded with a 134-132 victory on New Year's Eve, but the Knicks won again in March, cruising to a 114-89 win.

Who gets the last laugh now will finally be decided in this upcoming blockbuster series.