The New York Knicks have finally done it. They’ve at last gotten a former Knick to be on the cover of an NBA 2K game, as it was announced earlier today that former Knick, Carmelo Anthony, will grace the cover of NBA 2K26’s Superstar Edition. Now, technically, this isn’t the first time a former Knick has graced the cover of the popular video game franchise.
Anthony joins the one and only Danilo Gallinari, who was the cover athlete for NBA 2K17’s Italy edition. But he did so while wearing a Denver Nuggets jersey, making this the first time ever that a player wearing a Knicks jersey will headline the annually released game.
Current Knick Karl-Anthony Towns has also appeared on two spin-off games, while fellow New York star Sabrina Ionescu was on the cover of the WNBA version of NBA 2K24.
Stay ME7O. Stay legendary.
Carmelo Anthony is your #NBA2K26 Superstar Edition Cover Athlete!
Pre-order NBA 2K26 today! pic.twitter.com/eNeUJYZwLT
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 9, 2025
Anthony, who made multiple All-Stars during his seven-season tenure as a Knick, will be joined by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will be on the cover of the standard edition, and WNBA All-Star Angel Reese, who will be on the cover of the WNBA version. And on their new “Leave No Doubt” edition of the game, all three will be on the cover. The standard edition will be available in stores on September 5, while the Superstar and “Leave No Doubt” versions will be available as early as August 29.
2K26 is now the fourth video game cover he has appeared on, with NCAA March Madness 2004, NBA Live 2005, and NBA Street Homecourt, already on his resume.
This is just the latest in what has thus been a very successful year for the former star, who not only was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year, but will also be featured as one of the stars of NBC’s returning NBA coverage next season.