Who was the cover athlete for the next-gen version of NBA 2K21?

Zion Williamson was the cover athlete for the next-generation version of NBA 2K21.

2K announced Williamson on July 1, 2020, as the face of the standard edition for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. The choice followed a teaser shown during the PlayStation 5 reveal event, which highlighted Williamson's powerful athleticism and the game's upgraded visuals.

NBA 2K21 used different cover athletes across its editions and console generations. Damian Lillard appeared on the standard cover for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Stadia, while Kobe Bryant appeared on the special Mamba Forever editions. That split is the main reason this question can cause confusion: all three players were associated with NBA 2K21, but only Williamson represented the next-generation standard release.

Williamson, then a New Orleans Pelicans star, was one of basketball's biggest young talents. His selection also continued the series' practice of using prominent current players to signal a new technical era for the game.