NBA 2K27 Cover Athletes Explained: Wembanyama, Clark, Rose and What Each Edition Gets You
NBA 2K27's three editions each have their own cover athlete: Victor Wembanyama on Standard, Caitlin Clark (the first WNBA player to headline her own global 2K cover) on Deluxe, and Derrick Rose on the limited Ultra Edition. Here's why 2K picked each one and exactly what every edition includes.
NBA 2K27 shipped with three different cover athletes spread across three different editions, and each one was picked for a different reason. Victor Wembanyama fronts the Standard Edition, Caitlin Clark headlines the Deluxe Edition as the first WNBA player to get a global NBA 2K cover of her own, and Derrick Rose returns for the limited-run Ultra Edition more than a decade after his first 2K cover. Here's who's on each box, why 2K chose them, and exactly what buying each edition gets you.
1. Why NBA 2K27 Has Three Separate Cover Athletes
2K revealed all three cover athletes together on July 22, 2026, tying each one to a specific edition of the game rather than splitting them across regions or platforms the way some past entries did. According to the official announcement, Zak Armitage, SVP & General Manager of NBA 2K, said Wembanyama "has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it," and that all three athletes share an obsession with basketball that reflects the direction of the game itself.
The split is straightforward: Wembanyama is on the Standard Edition ($69.99), Clark is on the Deluxe Edition ($99.99), and Rose is on the Ultra Edition ($149.99), which was only sold through September 6, 2026. All three appear together on a single piece of triptych key art that visually lines up the three boxes side by side.
2. Victor Wembanyama Headlines the Standard Edition
Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs center, is the Standard Edition cover athlete. 2K's announcement cites his status as the NBA's first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year as the headline credential behind the pick. In 2K's own quote, Wembanyama said the game "fuels his hunger for basketball" and called being the cover athlete a dream come true.
Wembanyama's presence extends well past the box art. He also headlines NBA 2K27's Season 1, which launched with early access on August 26 at 9:00 AM PT and runs a 40-level rewards ladder across The City and MyTEAM, including the return of 2XREP Weekends. The official gameplay trailer, released July 28, opens on a Wembanyama dunk and was built around community-requested features like the dynamic Dunk Meter and the new Rucker Park environment.
3. Caitlin Clark Makes History on the Deluxe Edition
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever guard, is the Deluxe Edition cover athlete. 2K's release points to her 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year award and three WNBA All-Star starter selections as the basis for the honor, and frames her as the first WNBA player to headline her own global NBA 2K cover. In her quote from the reveal, Clark said being on the cover reaches fans around the world.
Clark's cover ties directly into NBA 2K27's broader push for WNBA representation this year, which also introduced female MyPLAYERs and the series' first co-ed City. If you want the full rundown of how MyWNBA and The W work as a franchise mode, our breakdown of The W and MyWNBA's front-office overhaul covers it separately from this cover story.
4. Derrick Rose Returns for the Limited Ultra Edition
Derrick Rose, the former Chicago Bulls guard, is the cover athlete for the Ultra Edition, which was sold only through September 6, 2026. 2K's announcement highlights his three NBA All-Star selections and his standing as the youngest MVP in NBA history. Rose previously appeared on the cover of NBA 2K13, and in his quote from the reveal he said getting this edition is a chance to inspire young athletes to stay dedicated to the game.
Inside the game, Rose shows up as a Season 1 MyTEAM reward too: a 94 OVR Dark Matter Derrick Rose card, wearing his Bulls No. 1, was the Level 40 prize on the Season 1 rewards ladder that Wembanyama headlined.
5. What Each Edition Actually Includes
The cover is the headline, but the editions differ a lot in substance too:
- Standard Edition ($69.99): The base game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
- Deluxe Edition ($99.99, PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC only): 100,000 VC, 25x Skill Boosts across six types, 25x Gatorade Boosts across three types, Wembanyama and Clark jerseys, a 2-hour 2XP Coin for MyCAREER, the full '27: Series 1 Team Selection, a Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, five '27: Series 1 Packs, and a 2-hour 2XP Coin for MyTEAM.
- Ultra Edition ($149.99, PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC, digital only): Everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus 35,000 additional VC, a Season 1 Pro Pass, a Summer Season Pass Pro Pass bundle covering Seasons 7 through 9 (releasing summer 2027), a Roses Oversize Hoodie for MyCAREER, and Premium SKU MyTEAM Player Cards, including a guaranteed 98 OVR card arriving in December 2026 and a guaranteed Invincible card arriving in May 2027.
Only the Standard Edition made it to Nintendo Switch 2; the Deluxe and Ultra Editions are PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC only. NBA 2K26 players who pre-ordered the Ultra Edition on the same platform also got a 10% loyalty discount. For a closer look at crossplay support and early access windows for each tier, see our full comparison of Standard, Deluxe and Ultra Edition contents.
6. Key Dates Worth Knowing
A few dates matter if you're deciding which edition to buy or when to jump in:
- July 22, 2026: Cover athletes revealed.
- July 28, 2026: Official gameplay trailer released worldwide.
- August 26, 2026, 9:00 AM PT: Early Access begins for Deluxe and Ultra Edition owners, alongside Season 1.
- September 4, 2026: Worldwide release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
- September 6, 2026: Last day the Ultra Edition was available to purchase.
Keep in mind that Early Access, online play and MyPLAYER progression all require an NBA 2K Account and an internet connection, and console online play needs a separate paid subscription on top of that. If you're building a MyPLAYER now, it's also worth understanding the token economy behind badges before you spend VC — our explainer on Badge Tokens and the new Synergy system breaks down how that side of MyPLAYER Builder actually works.
Quick Recap
- Victor Wembanyama (Standard, $69.99), Caitlin Clark (Deluxe, $99.99) and Derrick Rose (Ultra, $149.99, limited through Sept 6) each front a different NBA 2K27 edition.
- Clark is the first WNBA player to headline her own global NBA 2K cover.
- Rose previously appeared on the NBA 2K13 cover and returns as a Season 1 MyTEAM reward card too.
- Only the Standard Edition is available on Nintendo Switch 2; Deluxe and Ultra are PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC only.
- The Ultra Edition's extra Season Pass bundle covers Seasons 7-9, due summer 2027 — a long-term bet if you plan to keep playing.
For everything else NBA 2K27 has added since launch, from Season progression to MyNBA and MyTEAM overhauls, visit the full NBA 2K27 guide archive on Walkthroughs.net.