NBA 2K10 will feature a champion as the cover athlete – Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers man who was recently awarded the NBA Finals MVP after winning, together with his team, the NBA 2009 finals against Orlando Magic. 2K Sports, the publishers of the upcoming game, have revealed the image that will be featured on the game’s cover – the one you can admire in the image to the left.

“We want to congratulate Kobe on the phenomenal accomplishment of winning his fourth career NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, along with being named NBA Finals MVP,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. “He’s undoubtedly solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history, and we couldn’t have chosen to partner with a more fitting player to be on the cover of NBA 2K10 this season, our 10th anniversary of the NBA 2K franchise.”

Fans had the opportunity to select from four different NBA 2K10 box covers, and the winning selection is the image of a passionate Bryant emphatically popping his Los Angeles Lakers jersey. Other box covers included a classic image of Bryant driving the lane and another of Kobe hanging in the air grasping a basketball. I personally loved the last one, but that doesn’t matter too much now. What matter is that NBA 2K10 hits stores this fall and I can hardly wait to get my hands on it and play it!