College basketball transfer portal rankings 2024: Illinois star Coleman Hawkins commits to Kansas State

Exclusive: Ronnie 2K Picks Favorite NBA 2K Cover, And It's Not Special Kobe Bryant One

Ronnie 2K — AKA Ronnie Singh — has been seen as the face of the NBA 2K video game series for a number of years. While he's commonly associated with the player ratings for the series, his role is actually much larger than that, serving as a community liaison, head of social media and the "glue" that supports everything that they do at 2K Sports.

Singh has been a part of the 2K team since 2008 and has been on hand to witness some of the greatest athletes don the cover of the popular video game series. He explains what goes into the decision-making process as far as deciding who earns the right to be the cover athlete each year.

"There's three things that we really think about," says Singh in a one-on-one interview on behalf of his new Lids commercial. "For us, it starts with authenticity. Is 2K important to the player? Did they dream of being a cover athlete? It really starts with the authenticity of it.

"The second thing I'd say is do they have the trajectories? Are they going to be relevant in terms of this year, is their team good, are they going to be there in June? That's another big one," Singh continues to explain. "I'd say finally it's about aligning with what we're trying to tell from a gameplay perspective or marketing. Do they align with the story that we're trying to tell that year?"

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Singh singles out the Kobe Bryant 2K24 covers as the perfect example of what 2K is trying to accomplish from a marketing and development perspective.

"I'm looking at the 2K24 cover right now and it was about celebrating Kobe and his legacy in his Hall of Fame year," says Singh. "Some of the things that we did around such as saving his mural, getting to work with that team was great. Every year that's what we're trying to do, we're trying to align with what we're trying to do from a marketing and development perspective."

Related NewsArticle continues below

10 moments that fuel Kobe Bryant's GOAT argument59m

Limited Edition Kobe Bryant Nike Air Force 1 on the way4h

Ranking the 10 NBA stars with the best bags in history4d

Knicks' Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns taking same Kobe-Shaq path6d

While Singh mentions the Bryant version as the perfect example of what 2K looks for in a cover on an annual basis, he singles out three specific cover arts as his favorites since he joined the company in 2008: Michael Jordan's NBA 2K11 cover, LeBron James' NBA 2K19 cover and Dwyane Wade's Miami Vice cover of NBA 2K20.

"2K11, putting Jordan on the cover for the first time was something that I think we never thought was going to happen," says Singh. "And we go back now and Jordan has been in every game since then, but back then, it was like we were making a statement, we're putting the G.O.A.T. On the cover. That totally changed our franchise. My favorite looking cover is probably the Miami Vice Dwyane Wade cover of 2K20 and also the 2K19 cover with LeBron was super sick too. Those two stick out in my head from a visual perspective."

Considering 2K is the only major video game basketball franchise on the market today, it'll be interesting to see who emerges as the cover athlete for next year's game and if the artwork will be up there with the likes of Jordan, Bryant, James and Wade.

New For 2025: Kimber 2K11

Images courtesy of Kimber America.

Ahead of the 2025 SHOT Show, Kimber America has expanded its M1911-style lineup of handguns yet again with its new 2K11 design, available in standard and target configurations. Like the company's KDS9c, the new Kimber 2K11 takes the M1911 design into new territory with a double-stack magazine configuration and several upgraded features.

Kimber's 2K11 Target, seen above, is offered in a two-tone coyote and black configuration and includes upgraded features like a magazine well funnel and a ported slide.

"We were determined to produce the very best high-capacity 1911 and deliver a superior value," said Everett Deger, Kimber's director of marketing and communications. "The 2K11 has several unique features that come standard that you have to have customized in the aftermarket to achieve what you get out of the box with Kimber."

Both the standard and target configuration of the Kimber 2K11 are available in 9 mm Luger and .45 ACP, with a 20-round magazine capacity and a 13-round magazine capacity, respectively. Each version is also equipped with a C&H Precision optic mounting plate that accommodates all red-dot optics with a Trijicon RMR footprint. The design incorporates an external extractor for improved reliability, as well as a hard-anodized aluminum grip module. Kimber's flat-faced, skeletonized GT Trigger, which is found on all models of the 2K11, is designed to break consistently at 3.5 lbs.

Kimber's standard 2K11 model, available in 9 mm Luger and .45 ACP, features an all-black PVD finish, along with a coyote-colored, PVD-finished bull barrel.

Kimber's 2K11 Target incorporates a few notable upgrades, such as the Stan Chen Customs magazine well that's exclusive to Kimber. There's also a 5R-rifled bull barrel compled with a high-polish DLC coating that sits inside of a coyote-tan-colored slide with a polished PVD finish. The slide also features a dovetailed Tag precision FiberLok 2 front sight, which sits just ahead of six lightening cuts incorporated into the front slide serrations.

One of the design elements hidden away inside the Kimber 2K11 is the gun's subframe, which features a tapered magazine well that's designed to stabilize the magazine and also protect the slide stop and ejector. Kimber claims that this improved geometry increases reliability and improves feeding. Other features found on all models of the 2K11 include ambidextrous thumb safetires, a skeletonized hammer, beavertail grip safety and three-slot Picatinny accessory rail.

Suggested retail pricing on the new Kimber 2K11 starts at $1,995 for the standard model and $2,495 for the target model. Optic-included models are also available. For more details on Kimber's new-for-2025 offerings, visit the company's website here.

NBA 2K11

Kush Games • 2K Sports •

---