Victor Wembanyama NBA 2K27 cover rumor fuels ‘2K curse’ fears ahead of Spurs vs Knicks Finals

Just before the NBA Finals, rumors linking Victor Wembanyama to the NBA 2K27 cover sparked buzz among fans and revived debate over the so-called 2K curse.

As the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks get underway on Wednesday, Victor Wembanyama is set to spearhead the San Antonio Spurs' championship push with expectations soaring around the French phenom.

Victor Wembanyama rumored to feature on the cover of NBA 2K27. (Getty Images via AFP)

Yet, just ahead of the series, a fresh rumor has generated buzz off the court, with Wembanyama reportedly in line to feature on the cover of NBA 2K27, a development that has sparked discussion among fans.

Wembanyama linked to NBA 2K27 cover

A popular Instagram account, Hoops Alerts, which has more than 170,000 followers and bills itself as a source for NBA news, rumors, and updates, shared a post on Tuesday afternoon claiming that Wembanyama is set to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K27.

Alongside a graphic showing the 7-foot-4 center in Spurs colors on a custom NBA 2K27 cover, the post caption read, “BREAKING: Victor Wembanyama will be the cover athlete of NBA 2K27.”

Another X account, @JABridgeforth, also fueled the speculation by claiming that Victor Wembanyama has been selected as the cover athlete for NBA 2K27.

The post further stated that early access to the game would begin on August 28, with a worldwide release scheduled for September 4.

“Victor Wembanyama is the cover athlete for NBA 2K27… Early access begins August 28th… Global Launch on September 4th,” the user wrote, alongside a screenshot that appeared to show an official announcement from NBA 2K’s website.

However, NBA 2K has not made any official statement yet on the upcoming edition’s cover. As a result, the claims remain speculative, and Wembanyama's reported cover appearance should be treated as a rumor until an official announcement is made.

NBA 2K curse talk returns

While being chosen as the cover athlete for the game is typically viewed as a prestigious honor, the history of several past cover stars has fueled talk of an "NBA 2K curse," which may explain why some fans are uneasy about the rumors involving Victor Wembanyama.

“2K curse. Raptors winning next year stay up,” a social media user wrote in the comments.

Another fan reacted,”Ik this better not be the cover.”

One more user asked, “Is there a 2k cover curse like there’s a madden curse?”

Just last week, a purportedly leaked cover featuring Caleb Williams as the face of Madden NFL 27 surfaced online, prompting similar concerns among fans about the long-discussed "Madden Curse" and whether it could impact the Chicago Bears quarterback.

Now, some fans fear that the same narrative could surround Victor Wembanyama if the NBA 2K27 cover rumors prove accurate.

The most commonly cited recent case is Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who featured on an NBA 2K cover before a devastating Achilles injury cut short his 2025 playoff run.