Which NBA player was the cover athlete for the original NBA 2K?

Allen Iverson was the cover athlete for the original NBA 2K.

The first NBA 2K was released for the Sega Dreamcast in November 1999, with Iverson pictured as the Philadelphia 76ers star on its cover. His selection connected the new basketball simulation series to one of the NBA’s most recognizable and influential players of the era.

Iverson remained closely associated with the early franchise: he appeared on the covers of the first several main NBA 2K games, including NBA 2K1, NBA 2K2, NBA 2K3, and ESPN NBA Basketball. Ben Wallace replaced him for ESPN NBA 2K5.

A common mistake is choosing Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant because both later became major NBA 2K cover stars. Jordan headlined NBA 2K11, while Bryant appeared on NBA 2K10 and later editions. Shaquille O’Neal, another frequent mix-up, first appeared as the cover athlete for NBA 2K6.