Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Crowned NBA 2K26 Cover Athlete After Historic MVP and Championship Season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been officially unveiled as the NBA 2K26 standard edition cover athlete, a moment he described as a "dream come true," capping off an extraordinary summer that saw him win league MVP, the NBA scoring title, his first NBA championship, and Finals MVP. He recently cemented his long-term future with the Oklahoma City Thunder by agreeing to a four-year, $285 million supermax contract extension, solidifying the core of a team that achieved a league-best 68-14 record and the highest point differential in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game on 52% shooting, joined an elite group of players (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal) to win the scoring title, MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season, and will also share the "Leave No Doubt" Edition cover with Angel Reese and Carmelo Anthony.