Which NBA 2K12 cover athlete represented the Boston Celtics?

Larry Bird was the NBA 2K12 cover athlete representing the Boston Celtics. The game was unusual because it launched with three different covers, each honoring an iconic NBA legend: Bird, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls.

NBA 2K12 was released in October 2011 and was developed by Visual Concepts. Its historical emphasis extended beyond the cover art: the game introduced the NBA's Greatest mode, which let players recreate important moments involving classic teams and stars.

A common mix-up is treating Jordan as the only NBA 2K12 cover athlete, because his edition received especially heavy promotion and followed his solo NBA 2K11 cover. Bird's cover was specifically tied to the Boston Celtics, while Johnson's represented the Lakers. NBA 2K12 was also the final series installment released for the PlayStation 2.