Giannis Anteokounmpo, thankfully also known as the ‘Greek Freak’, will be donning the cover of NBA 2K19 when the game launches this September. Leaks and speculation about the box art spread across the community in recent weeks, but 2K has now officially announced the decision.

　　Although Anteokounmpo is a name a lot of journalists and fans may struggle to spell, his record speaks for itself. On top of being the first international star to feature as the center athlete on the cover art, he is also the first star in NBA history to complete a regular season in the top twenty for total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. This is extremely impressive.

　　As a Greek-born athlete, Anteokounmpo grew up on the sweltering streets of Athens, surrounded by the ancient remains of a culture that first celebrated athletics. When asked about his appointment as box art star, Anteokounmpo said he was “honored to be the first international star on the cover of NBA 2K19” adding that he “worked hard to earn recognition in the NBA and being on the cover of NBA 2K19 is a dream come true.”

　　Alfie Brody, Vice President of Marketing for NBA 2K, added:

　　Giannis is the future of the NBA and his drive and athleticism have made him an undeniable force in the league. He’s the perfect cover athlete and we’re excited to feature him as our very first international cover star, as NBA 2K has a strong following with fans all over the world.

　　Anteokoummpo being on the cover might help the basketball game gain more traction in the European market. NBA 2K18 broke records for the series with around eight million sales, but 2K are obviously hoping to see that increase again this year.

　　Developed by Visual Concepts, the NBA 2K19 Standard Edition will be available on September 11th, 2018 for $59.99 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 system, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC platforms.

　　The 20th Anniversary Edition, on the other hand, will feature LeBron James on the box art and be available on September 7th, 2018 for $99.99. NBA 2K19: The Prelude will be available for download on August 31st, 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, for those interested in getting a headstart on the MyCAREER mode.