NBA 2K25 is set to drop on September 6, 2024, and you can pre-order it now. Over the years, 2K has showcased various NBA players on their covers, and this year’s star is Jayson Tatum. The Boston Celtics superstar certainly deserves the cover, especially after becoming an NBA champion in the 2023-24 season. Tatum played a significant role in winning the championship, including his crucial layup in the dying minutes of Game 5, which sealed the victory for the Celtics.

The Celtics star got the news in a super special way. His son and biggest fan, Deuce Tatum, dropped the big news on his birthday, and it made Jayson Tatum emotional. Tatum was chilling at his mom’s place when Deuce ran up with a little bag. Inside, JT found out he’d made it onto the 2K cover, something he’d dreamed about since he was a kid.

We all know the strong father-son bond between Tatum and his son, Deuce. JT’s little man has even stolen the spotlight with his on-court appearances during his father’s games. So, having his little dude, who’s been with him through it all, deliver the news on his birthday made the moment even more special and had the former Duke star saying, “I got emotional.”

With the new 2K game coming out soon, Ronnie 2K also shared some insight into how they chose Jayson Tatum as their cover athlete for NBA 2K25.

Why did 2K choose Jayson Tatum as their cover athlete for NBA 2K25?

According to Ronnie 2k, they picked Tatum for the cover a while ago because they had to plan ahead for shipping and product deadlines. They wanted to build a story around the guy, and it’s been ages since they had a champ on the cover (since 2K16). They look for three things: if the player’s on the rise (Tatum just won a chip and is still hot), if there’s a good story to hype up (Tatum’s been all over the news this offseason), and if the player’s real and actually into the game.

On top of that, Tatum’s been super into the game and knows it inside and out. Recently, they worked together in St. Louis, where Tatum talked about how he used to play 2K as a kid and how he’s been directly involved in shaping 2K25, according to Ronnie 2K.

“It’s a real authentic story and what a year to give him that honor and to have him win his first championship and a second gold medal. All things are coming up Jayson. He had a bunch going on this summer. I’m sure he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder, and maybe it will lead to an MVP.” Ronnie 2k said.

Though Tatum had a rough time in the Olympics, being the cover athlete for 2K should give him a boost and motivate him to showcase his game in the upcoming NBA season. Will Tatum win MVP next year? What are your thoughts on him?

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.