NBA 2K10 selects Kobe, NBA Live 10 settles for Howard

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jun 19th 2009 at 6:00AM }

Dwight Howard probably wasn't much consoled by his image on the recently revealed NBA Live 10 box cover after losing the NBA Finals to the Lakers on Sunday, but the honor must have meant a little something (if not just more pocket change) to the Magic's superman -- until now. Kobe Bryant, winner and MVP of the NBA Finals, has been selected as the boastful NBA 2K10 cover athlete, cementing another dominant victory over Howard. 2K Sports' b-ball franchise has long been superior to EA Sports' annual effort, after all. We're thinking Howard should demand a trade.

Source - 2K Sports Congratulates Four-Time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant
Source - Dwight Howard Named Cover Athlete of EA Sports NBA Live 10

Tags: 2k-sports, black-mamba, box-art, cover-athlete, dwight-howard, ea, ea-sports, kobe-byrant, nba-2k10, nba-live-10, superman, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Efren @ Jun 19th 2009 6:05AM

Could they have found a worse picture of Kobe? I'm no Lakers fan but that's gotta be the worst cover photo possible.

gib @ Jun 19th 2009 10:22AM

Agreed, horrible Kobe photo... My guess, Kobe wanted too much cash, so they hired a stunt-double that almost looks like him.

Vcize @ Jun 19th 2009 11:36AM

I suppose they could've used one from when he's making that ridiculous face with his bottom teeth that would have been worse.

Brazell @ Jun 19th 2009 11:49AM

You shoulda seen the "Kobe in the Knicks Uniform" cover that was one of the top 3 choices for it. That one was chosen by the fans over two others, surprisingly.

Brodo @ Jun 19th 2009 1:14PM

Lol I know. It looks like he has freaking man boobs

Dance Mofo @ Jun 19th 2009 6:08AM

Well Good for Howard

TheLionOfAzzalle @ Jun 19th 2009 6:32AM

Howard deserves it...

Thanks but no thanks to the would be Jordan....arrogant rapist.

offday @ Jun 19th 2009 10:07AM

I think that girl was just crazy, and saw a huge opportunity to get rich off kobe.

He still, however, cheated on his wife and then bought her back with a 10 million dollar ring, though. And that still makes him a douchebag.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 19th 2009 11:30AM

it was a 4 million dollar shut up ring i believe. i'm a huge kobe bryant and laker fan and yea cheating is wrong, but she was stupid for basically being bought back. and that chick he "raped" was a whore trying to cash in on his fame. they found semen from 7 different men in her underwear. SEVEN!

Gary @ Jun 19th 2009 6:39AM

Howard is Hydro-Man and Kobe's got boobs. Look, I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

Dannybuoy @ Jun 19th 2009 7:37AM

was gonna say.. what the hell is going on with his moobs (man boobs)? That just looks weird.. if not strangely arousing.. .

Storm Eagle @ Jun 19th 2009 9:47AM

As usual, I'm not quick enough to the post. Well played, sir.

offday @ Jun 19th 2009 10:08AM

Hydro man, huh? I was thinking he was made out of sand. The Mummy came to mind when I saw that picture.

Brendan H @ Jun 19th 2009 8:02PM

Howard's face looks like it belongs on a blow-up doll.

jaosming @ Jun 19th 2009 7:38AM

lmao, settled? they had Howard locked up before the playoffs even started

Efren, they could have gone with the same photo but with a Knicks jersey switch, it came in 2nd place in the cover vote

Prhime @ Jun 19th 2009 8:05AM

another win for 2K as well. from an "art" perspective - the howard cover is much better as it has him literallly jumping out of the arena (great detail) and playing up the whole superman thing.

that has been kobe's quasi-trademark thing to do all season. helps him show the "it is about the lakers' mantra. while not the best capture of it, it still works.

bluezy @ Jun 19th 2009 8:08AM

Am I the only one who thinks that EA cover looks like crap? Like they smeared the original.

754Boy @ Jun 19th 2009 9:59AM

Unfortunately it also look like he's disintegrating, which is ironically what happened to Orlando in the finals lol.

Vcize @ Jun 19th 2009 11:37AM

Wow, that hurt.

R.F.E.F. Red Fury (UltraS Sur) @ Jun 19th 2009 8:09AM

Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 The Orlando Magic.

LOL! @ The Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard. LOSERS!

gib @ Jun 19th 2009 10:30AM

Typical Lakers fan...

While I don't mind the team *per se*, the main reason I can't stand the Lakers is the fact that their fans are total pricks. You never saw Boston, Chicago, or any other real championship-level teams have fans with such disrespect for everyone else. It makes the games unbearable to watch when they start chanting "--insert team here-- Suck!" in the first quarter of the first game.

Grow up. You and the rest of the Lakers fans.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 19th 2009 11:57AM

and the "BEAT L.A!" chants from other teams are any better? and how can you say one team's fans are worse than another's? the only reason Boston fans aren't like that is because they have been terrible since the early 90's. no one says anything about Garnett's sideline antics and any lip reader know what i'm talking about. we have won 4 in the last decade and have played in 6 in that same time span (15 overall, 2nd to Boston's 17). i mean you can't be offended because we expect to win.

and this year, you can not tell me that the Magic did not choke. that series should have gone to 6 or 7 the way they played in parts of the series but poor personnel decisions and bad free throw shooting have L.A. holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy early.

gib @ Jun 19th 2009 12:17PM

@socoolcurt

Perhaps you weren't paying attention, or perhaps you just didn't get it because you're from LA. The Lakers fans think they deserve a championship. I don't mean that the players deserve it, I mean the fans. Back in the day with the Bulls or Celtics winning all their championships, did fans at like pricks? No. The fans were their to enjoy the game, not demand a championship.

You are right. The "Beat LA" chants are annoying, too. Everyone else in the league has sunk down to the level of Lakers fans, and it is wrong. There is little justification for it, but don't get upset. It is a taste of your own medicine...

The Lakers team is not the issue. I can accept the fact that they won. The beef I have with Kobe always getting calls his way can be the same for all superstars, like KG or Lebron. Overall, they were the best team this year.

But the reason I hate LA is the fans. The we-are-better-than-everyone, we-deserve-this, attitude of the fans. I don't know, maybe it is something in the air...

Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Jun 19th 2009 7:07PM

@gib

I don't think Laker fans have a sense of entitlement. We lost to Boston last year and we took it. We admitted losing to a better and more prepared team last year. We do expect to contend every year though, and the "Beat L.A. chant has been around since the 80's so there is no way in hell all the fans of the NBA have recently "stooped to the Lakers' fans level".

Face it all fans of winning teams are annoying its the reason why fans are fans. You lose you weep like a girl and whine like a bitch and if you win you gloat like there is no tomorrow. That is why its fun and a lot more fun when your favorite team is the Lakers.

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 19th 2009 8:32AM

i dont want my favorite nba game covered with a ballhoggin crybaby.

mirage @ Jun 19th 2009 8:54AM

You must hate every NBA cover than...

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 19th 2009 8:55AM

than what?

offday @ Jun 19th 2009 10:09AM

I'm assuming he meant THEN.

Jim Halpert DM (XBL) @ Jun 19th 2009 8:55AM

Both covers were chosen before the end of the finals (and before the finals even started I believe). Also, the 2K10 cover was voted on by fans on 2K Sports' website (with all of the covers featuring Kobe Bryant.)

phunkxl @ Jun 19th 2009 9:25AM

Kobe Bryant Courtside 2010? =O

WRYYYYYY @ Jun 19th 2009 9:54AM

Yeah, I was gonna say... anyone remember this?
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/gamecube-games/174-1.jpg

WINterfang @ Jun 19th 2009 10:00AM

LOL the beginning of an era.

weirdestchild @ Jun 19th 2009 9:30AM

I like how the number 12 is a perfect factor of 24.
(Their Jersey Numbers)

Storm Eagle @ Jun 19th 2009 9:48AM

I gotta say, I like the Live cover better than the Madden cover. I really wish they hadn't ripped Street Fighter off though.

uncle jesse @ Jun 19th 2009 9:58AM

Not that the EA cover is amazing or anything, but what's with the 2K covers? First the NHL one with Alex and now this one with Kobe. They look like some sort of weird hybrid of a realistic photo and a cartoon/art or something.

WINterfang @ Jun 19th 2009 10:02AM

Yeah looks unnecessarily creepy.

Vidikron @ Jun 19th 2009 10:31AM

Yeah, it's weird. His head looks like it was taken straight out of a photo with few changes while the body and uniform almost looks like they were computer generated. And the line between the two looks easily noticable. I'm with WINterfang, it looks creepy.

edzy @ Jun 19th 2009 9:59AM

So..... in the commercial with Wade ,Barkley and Howard , what game are they playing?

Jim Halpert DM (XBL) @ Jun 19th 2009 10:17AM

lol. NBA 2K9...funny

M @ Jun 19th 2009 9:59AM

What no MVP? (kidding kidding... LBJ will have his own game franchise before long I'd wager) I'd take Kobe and Howard 100 more times before I want to see a boring ol' San Antonio Spur on the cover again.

bongoes @ Jun 19th 2009 10:35AM

Hey the Spurs aren't boring, they're just old. I want to see another Spur on the cover again, preferably Ginobli. WOO!!!!!!!GO SPURS!!!!!
Obviously I'm a Spurs fan.

M @ Jun 19th 2009 1:40PM

Unless Parker has the ball they seem to move soooo sloooowww. The Spurs are the Steelers of the NBA in my opinion... they've won so much the past 5 years that I don't want to see them succeed any more for a long while.

Dethgar @ Jun 20th 2009 1:01AM

M is right. The Spurs are a slow, methodical team. They're old school, back to the basket, guards cutting, slow down transition, smash mouth type of team. On TV to average fans they are boring, to hardcore fans they are interesting but do tend to leave something to be desired.

TheCoats @ Jun 19th 2009 11:19AM

I assume they both play online?

If they do, Which one is better online or a better game in general?

I would like to play one of these, Just for online mainly. So fellow commenters: Which One?

Vcize @ Jun 19th 2009 11:40AM

Not sure for the 2010 versions, but for the 2009 versions it was kind of pick your poison. 2k9 had better gameplay but the online was unstable and had less features. Live 2009 had better online features and was more stable online, but the gameplay wasn't as fun.

Brazell @ Jun 19th 2009 11:52AM

Pretty much like the other guy said. NBA 2K9 was almost unplayable online, but it's a much better game. NBA Live '09 was untuned and sloppy, but played better online.

I'm going to go out on a limb, though, and say that NBA Live '2010 is going to be the turnaround for the series.

Finess @ Jun 19th 2009 4:42PM

Brazell...watch that limb it might break.

Every year someone says Live is gonna turn it around and the gameplay always sucks. For them to turn it around they need to scrap the whole gameplay and try again...n stop tryna sucka people into features.

2k9 was close to perfection being a b-ball player/fan...can't wait for 2k10.