Legendary Kobe Bryant to Appear on the Cover of 'NBA 2K21 Mamba Edition'

Late NBA star Kobe Bryant is all set to be honored as the cover athlete for the 2021 edition of NBA's most popular video game "NBA 2K" following his tragic passing in January.

The upcoming edition of NBA's popular video game "NBA 2K" will be paying tribute to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant in a huge way.

For its latest installment, the video game series announced that Bryant will be the third and the final athlete to grace the cover of the upcoming release.

A HOMAGE TO THE LEGEND

Damian Lillard of Portland Trailblazers is all set to appear on the cover for current-generation consoles. The other athlete to grace the cover for the next-generation consoles is Zion William who was picked number one overall by New Orleans Pelicans in last year's draft.

The latest version of the game has been named the "Mamba Forever Edition." A special copy for current and the next-generation will be available for $100.

The company wanted to pay tribute to the late basketball legend after his tragic passing in a helicopter crash back in January.

For the current-generation consoles, Bryant will be featured in his No. 8 jersey while the next-generation consoles will feature the late NBA legend in his No. 24 jersey.

Several Kobe-centric perks have been included in the "Mamba Forever Edition" including a Mamba MyPlayer uniform, the Sapphire Kobe MyTeam card among other goodies.

IMMORTALIZING KOBE'S LEGACY

Additionally, the special Bryant version will also include NBA 2K's in-game currency 100,000 in VC, 40 MyTeam packs, and 10 MyTeam tokens.

MyTeam mode also enables the players to use the sapphire versions of Lillard and Williamson. A release dates have not been announced yet, but preorders of the titles are available.

"NBA 2K" released a statement to share that the company wanted to pay tribute to the late basketball legend after his tragic passing in a helicopter crash back in January.

According to the statement, the "Mamba Forever Edition" celebrates the life and legacy of the Lakers legend and immortalizes him in a way.

Bryant was on his way to a youth basketball tournament with seven other passengers including his daughter Gianna when the helicopter crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles in January.