Former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving Lands Video Game Cover
By Chris Brown
NBA star and former Duke guard Kyrie Irving was recently named the newest cover athlete for the NBA 2K basketball video game franchise.
Former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving has earned numerous accomplishments since joining the NBA in 2011. These honors include Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Star, All-Star MVP, three-point champion, All-NBA, NBA champion, FIBA World Champion, and Olympic gold medalist to name a few. He recently received another honor, after being named the new cover athlete for the NBA 2K18 video game.
At Duke, Kyrie Irving was limited in his lone season with the Blue Devils after suffering a foot injury. Irving averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 11 games. He left Duke after his freshman season and was the top pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 Draft.
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Irving has thrived in the NBA since leaving Duke. The 6-3 PG averaged a career-high 25.2 points per game this season and earned his 4th straight All-Star selection. He helped Cleveland win the Eastern Conference and is currently competing with the Cavs in the NBA Finals. Irving has a “passion for playing video games at home” in his free time, and had this to say about landing the cover:
"“It is well known that I’m an avid player of this series and I am honored to be the cover athlete of ‘NBA 2K18,’ It’s surreal to be featured on the cover and I can’t wait to dominate on the virtual court with all of my fans this fall.”"
The video game cover will not only increase Irving’s popularity among basketball fans, but also help increase his own personal brand. Kyrie Irving is the first Blue Devil to be on an NBA 2K cover, but not the first cover athlete. Irving was previously the cover athlete for EA Sports’ NBA Live 14. Former Blue Devil JJ Redick was featured 2K Sports’ now discontinued NCAA series College Hoops 2K7. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski also once had his own video game in 1995 called “Coach K College Basketball”, which surprisingly you can actually play online here.
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NBA 2K is the top-rated and top-selling basketball video game in the world. Be sure to pick up your copy of the 2018 version with the former Blue Devil gracing the cover on September 19th or you can pre-order the game now.