Chicago basketball legend Derrick Rose is officially back on the cover of NBA 2K.
The former Chicago Bulls star and NBA Most Valuable Player has been revealed as the cover athlete for the limited-edition NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition. Rose joins San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and WNBA standout Caitlin Clark as part of this year’s cover lineup.
THE WORD
- Derrick Rose is the solo cover athlete for the NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition.
- This is Rose’s second NBA 2K cover appearance after sharing the NBA 2K13 cover.
- The Ultra Edition costs $149.99 and will only be available through September 6, 2026.
- Early access begins August 28, with the worldwide launch scheduled for September 4.
- Rose finished his NBA career averaging 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.
According to the official announcement from 2K, Wembanyama will appear on the Standard Edition, Clark will headline the Deluxe Edition and Rose will receive his own premium Ultra Edition.
For Rose, the honor brings his journey with the video game franchise full circle. He previously shared the cover of NBA 2K13 with Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin, but NBA 2K27 marks the first time the Englewood native has received a solo edition.
“It’s crazy looking back at being on the NBA 2K13 cover to now having my own edition for NBA 2K27,” Rose said.
Rose added that the cover represents an opportunity to inspire young athletes to remain committed to the game and understand how countless hours of hard work can eventually be rewarded.
FROM ENGLEWOOD TO NBA MVP
Rose’s basketball story remains one of the most celebrated in Chicago sports history.
Before becoming the face of the Bulls, Rose starred at Simeon Career Academy and helped the Wolverines win back-to-back Illinois state championships. He later played one season at the University of Memphis, leading the Tigers to the 2008 national championship game before declaring for the NBA Draft.
The Bulls selected their hometown star with the No. 1 overall pick in 2008. Rose immediately made an impact, winning Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists during the 2008-09 season.
His biggest season came in 2010-11. Rose averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds while leading Chicago to a league-best 62-20 record and its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the Michael Jordan era.
At 22 years old, Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history.
Injuries changed the direction of his career, but Rose continued playing across 16 NBA seasons with the Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies.
One of his most memorable post-Chicago moments came on October 31, 2018, when he scored a career-high 50 points for Minnesota. The emotional performance became a defining chapter in his comeback story.
According to Rose’s official NBA career statistics, he finished his playing career averaging 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds. Across 723 regular-season games, he recorded 12,573 points and 3,770 assists.
His résumé also includes three NBA All-Star selections, an All-NBA First Team honor, Rookie of the Year and the 2011 NBA MVP award.
WHAT COMES WITH THE ULTRA EDITION?
The Derrick Rose Ultra Edition will retail for $149.99 and will be available digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC for a limited time.
The package includes everything offered with the Deluxe Edition, plus an additional 35,000 VC, a Season 1 Pro Pass, a Summer Season Pass bundle covering Seasons 7 through 9, an exclusive “Roses” oversized hoodie for MyCAREER and premium MyTEAM player cards.
Players who purchase the Deluxe or Ultra Edition will receive early access beginning August 28. The worldwide release follows on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
For Chicago fans, Rose’s cover is bigger than another video game release. It is another reminder of how far the kid from Englewood traveled while carrying the city with him.
What’s The Word — will you be purchasing the Derrick Rose Ultra Edition?
