If you were around the NBA circle in 2014, you remember the video. It’s the one we all wish we could unsee—the Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas where Paul George’s leg basically snapped in half against the stanchion. It was gruesome. Honestly, most people thought his career as an elite, Tier-1 superstar was over right then and there.
Fast forward just two years. Paul George isn't just back; he’s leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs and averaging a career-high 23.1 points per game. Then, the ultimate "you’ve made it" moment happens. 2K Sports calls. They don't want him for a side project or a mobile app anymore. They want him for the big one.
The paul george 2k cover for NBA 2K17 became way more than just a piece of marketing. It was a formal declaration that PG-13 was back to being a "bad man" on the court. For a guy who grew up playing the game until his thumbs were sore, it was the peak.
The moment NBA 2K17 changed everything for PG
Let’s talk about the reveal. It wasn’t some quiet press release dropped at 3 AM. 2K announced George as the cover athlete during the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals championship event in June 2016. The atmosphere was electric. You had the best gamers in the world competing for a quarter-million dollars, and then boom—the Pacers' superstar walks out.
It felt right.
See, 2K16 had three different cover stars: Steph Curry, James Harden, and Anthony Davis. It was a bit crowded. But for 2K17, they went back to that singular, iconic focus for the standard edition.
What made the cover art stand out?
If you look closely at the paul george 2k cover, it’s actually pretty unique. It features George in his home white Pacers jersey, but there’s a layered effect. You can see him in his Team USA gear in the background.
🔗 Read more: First Name in Country Crossword: Why These Clues Trip You Up
This wasn’t accidental.
2K wanted to highlight his journey. The Team USA jersey represented the site of his greatest struggle—that horrific injury—and the Pacers jersey represented his rebirth. It’s a subtle nod to the fact that he didn't just return; he evolved. He was no longer just a "promising" player; he was a franchise pillar.
Being the "bridge" to Kobe Bryant
One of the coolest, and maybe most overlooked, parts of this era was who shared the spotlight with him. While PG handled the standard edition, Kobe Bryant was the face of the Legend Edition.
Think about that for a second.
Kobe had just retired after that 60-point finale against the Jazz. George, a SoCal kid who grew up idolizing the Mamba, was sharing the marquee with his hero. PG has gone on record saying how "fulfilling" it was to be on the cover alongside Kobe. It felt like a passing of the torch, or at least a sign of respect from the industry.
Why 2K chose Paul George (It wasn't just stats)
Sure, 23 points and 7 rebounds a game helps. But 2K usually looks for "the vibe."
💡 You might also like: The Dawn of the Brave Story Most Players Miss
At the time, George was the "everyman" superstar. He wasn't playing in a massive market like New York or LA (yet). He was in Indiana, grinding. He was also a legitimate gamer. Unlike some athletes who just sign the check and never touch a controller, PG actually played.
He had already done work for them as the cover star of the MyNBA2K16 companion app. He’d been a guest commentator. He was part of the family. Choosing him for the paul george 2k cover was a "thank you" for his loyalty to the brand and a recognition of his insane work ethic during rehab.
The "Free Agent" card perk
If you pre-ordered the game back then, you didn't just get a box. You got a "Paul George Free Agent" card for MyTEAM. Back in 2K17, these cards were a big deal. They were high-rated but had a limited "contract" life. It gave players a taste of what it was like to have an elite small forward on their squad right from day one.
I remember using that card. He was a cheat code. 6'9", could shoot the lights out, and played lockdown defense. It was a perfect reflection of his real-life game at the time.
The "Curse" and the trade that followed
You can't talk about a 2K cover without mentioning the "curse."
Usually, the curse involves a player leaving their team shortly after appearing on the cover. For George, it took about a year. By the time NBA 2K18 was rolling around, the Pacers realized they might lose him for nothing in free agency.
📖 Related: Why the Clash of Clans Archer Queen is Still the Most Important Hero in the Game
They pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. At the time, people thought the Pacers got fleeced. Looking back, both sides actually did alright, but it did cement the idea that being on the 2K cover usually precedes a major life change.
How the Paul George 2K cover holds up today
If you go to a used game store or browse eBay, you’ll see stacks of 2K17. It’s often cited by fans as one of the last "great" 2K games before the microtransactions really started to take over the experience.
The gameplay was smooth. The "Orange Juice" dynamic in MyCareer (shoutout to Michael B. Jordan as Justice Young) was weird but memorable. And right there in the center of it all was PG-13.
For Pacers fans, that cover is a bittersweet relic. It represents the height of the Paul George era in Indy—a time when they felt they could go toe-to-toe with LeBron’s Cavs.
Actionable insights for 2K fans and collectors:
- Check your collection: If you still have a physical copy of 2K17, keep it. The "Standard Edition" covers with single athletes are becoming more nostalgic as the game moves toward multi-athlete and special "WNBA" or "Era" editions.
- Look at the ratings: In 2K17, George started with an 89 overall. If you play 2K26 today, his "All-Time Pacers" card is usually a 92-93. It’s fun to see how the developers' perception of his peak has shifted over a decade.
- Appreciate the resilience: Next time you see that cover, remember it wasn't just a marketing win. It was a recovery win.
The paul george 2k cover remains a snapshot of a specific time in basketball history when a kid from Palmdale proved that a "career-ending" injury was actually just a commercial break.
If you’re looking to relive those 2K17 vibes, you can still find the soundtrack on Spotify—it was curated by Imagine Dragons, Noah "40" Shebib, and Grimes. It’s a trip down memory lane that hits just as hard as a PG-13 dunk in traffic.