DeMar DeRozan on cover of inaugural Canada-released NBA 2K18
DeMar DeRozan is the face of the Toronto Raptors and arguably the face of professional basketball in Canada, so it's only natural that he be the first to represent the country on the cover of the NBA 2K video game franchise.
DeRozan, a three-time All-Star shooting guard who has played his entire NBA career for the Raptors, will be the inaugural Canada-release cover athlete for NBA 2K18, which is scheduled to launch Sept. 19 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC platforms.
"Growing up as a kid I dreamed of being in a video game and now I'm on the cover," DeRozan told Paste BN Sports. "I didn't believe it. It took a while for me to really digest it. Looking at it now and seeing the pictures, I'm excited for it to come out. It's definitely an honor."
Although DeRozan, 27, was born and raised in Compton, Calif., he has turned into an adoptive Canadian since being selected No. 9 overall by the Raptors in the 2009 draft. He's played a crucial roll in helping the Raptors become a prominent Eastern Conference contender who have made four consecutive playoff appearances including three Atlantic Division crowns.
DeRozan is the franchise leader in games played (595), minutes played (20,275) and points scored (11,456). He is coming off his best season to date, ranking fifth in the NBA in points per game at 27.3. DeRozan has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows of the Raptors franchise during his tenure in Toronto, and despite not being a born Canadian, he said he's proud to represent the entire country on the NBA 2K18 cover.
"My whole professional career I've been in Toronto," DeRozan said. "Everything I've learned is from Toronto. I've seen the city grow, I've seen the organization grow. I've grown as a person. I came as a 19-year-old kid and now I'm a father. I definitely feel like I'm a part of Canadian culture. This is another representation for that, with me being on the Canadian cover."
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DeRozan said much of his free time during the regular season and on the road is used playing video games with friends, family and teammates. It's apparently a large component of team culture, and there will be even more incentive to play now that he's on the cover.
DeRozan joins Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (Standard Edition) and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal (Legend Edition) as announced cover athletes for the next version of the NBA 2K franchise, which debuted in 1999.
The Canadian cover spot is one of DeRozan's dreams come true, he said, but he's still not satisfied with his accomplishment. DeRozan said the honor only encourages him to strive further with his on-court play next season and prove why he was deserving of the cover spot.
"For me, it's all about just trying to come back better and better every single year," DeRozan said.
According to a release, Canadian fans who pre-order NBA 2K18 at participating retails and online vendors will be granted Early Tip-Off Access for the game, which ensures "they receive their copy and in-game bonuses four days early beginning on Sept. 15.”