In a recent announcement, NBA 2K revealed the covers for the 2K22 edition of the video game, which feature six players who will serve as the game's face this season: Luka Doncic, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki (as well as Kevin Durant), Candace Parker, and Rui Hachimura. In addition to Parker becoming the first female NBA player to appear on the cover of an NBA 2K game, Hachimura becomes the first Japanese NBA player to be featured on the cover of a NBA 2K game with the release of the game. Nevertheless, the historical inclusion is problematic and insincere when those cover stars are only available to a select group of users at that point in time. NBA 2K22 Pre-order bonuses also will release. After accepting the invitation to develop the game. There was a chance for the futureer to make it big.
This year's special edition of the WNBA will be available exclusively at GameStop in the United States and EB Games in Canada. Parker, a forward and center for the Chicago Sky, will be featured on the special edition. Also exclusive to the Japanese market will be Hachimura, a forward for the Washington Wizards and the first Japanese player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft. Hachimura will appear only on a special edition of the game that will be sold only in Japan. Likewise, Doni of the Dallas Mavericks is featured on the covers of both the Standard Edition and Cross-Gen Digital Bundles, which are done in a cap style. When the mode launches in January, it will be flooded with NBA 2K22 MT Pink Diamond and Galaxy Opal cards, which will enhance the overall gaming experience. If we're talking about Parker, it's important to remember how rare it is for a woman to appear on the cover of an NBA 2K video game. Parker has won two WNBA MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2008. She was also named to the All-Star team in 2008. She has also been named to six WNBA All-Star teams and five WNBA All-Star teams during her professional career. Parker is well aware of the impact that seeing a female basketball player on the cover of a magazine can have on young girls who are interested in the sport.
The Black Wall Street Times quoted Parker as saying, "I wanted future WNBA stars to know that they, too, can be cover athletes. " Although Parker has been included, his inclusion does not come without its shortcomings. Problematic is the fact that she is only featured in a version of the game that is available at GameStop and EB Games. That is, only certain markets and users will be able to see the diversity and inclusion that NBA 2K is attempting to achieve. This defeats the purpose of featuring diverse cover athletes in the first place. By restricting access to her cover to a small number of users, the historical significance of the cover is diminished. Likewise, Hachimura, who was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020 and is the first Japanese player to reach the NBA Playoffs, has a bright future ahead of her. To promote an image of inclusivity and diversity by using the names and faces of players, but not allowing everyone who wants to see them can do so, appears to be disingenuous. That doesn't imply that Doni or the others are unworthy of being featured on the cover. Although Doni is a talented player, he is still only 22 years old and has already made significant contributions to the game of basketball. Doni will be honored with a Hall of Fame induction in the coming months.
Three of Doni's triple-doubles have come while he was still a teenager, making him one of the most prolific triple-double producers in NBA history. Among his many other accomplishments, he is the youngest player in NBA history to record three triple-doubles, to hit a playoff buzzer-beater, and to record a 40-point triple-double in a playoff game. It's difficult to appreciate the sentiment behind including Parker and Hachimura on a lower stage than their counterparts, despite the deserving recognition of Doni's abilities. NBA 2K should make it a priority in the future to ensure that all covered athletes are equally prominent and accessible to all players.
It is expected to be released later this year. NBA 2K22 is the next entry in the long-running basketball video game franchise. As a result of the cover athlete reveal and live pre-orders, it has now been revealed which NBA 2K22 pre-order bonuses will be included in NBA 2K22 editions released.