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The clippers Blake Griffin, okla City Kevin Durant (NBA 2K particular sports )

As if Kobe Bryant needed another reminder, It's becoming more apparent he's no longer at the forefront of the NBA's hype machine.

unique, Bryant boasts the popular jersey interntationally. His presence in China proves not bettered. Out here in are generally, Bryant still stays on king.

But there are many signs suggesting he's no longer commanding the spotlight. Last season aimed at the dunks the Clippers threw down and less on the aging Lakers. With the purple and gold bowing out in the Western convention semifinals, All eyes were on lebron and Kevin Durant battling for league supremacy. And only three years after Bryant appeared on the cover of the NBA 2K video game, It is now embracing becoming more popular albeit less accomplished NBA stars. "nba 2K13" Will component the Clippers' Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City's Durant and Chicago's Derrick Rose on the quilt Cheap NBA Jersey, changes has learned.

"Kobe fantastic, Great friend of the NBA 2K operation, But each year we continue to evolve and we want to do different things, 2K Sports vp of marketing Jason Argent told The Times in a phone interview. "the item year, It's focused more on the young guys. But Kobe is always part of our family. all of us very highly of him and what he's done,

Argent said his views mirror those of Lakers fans involved with Bryant, Who finished as the league's second highest scorer in the 2011 12 campaign after having an innovative procedure last off season on his surgically repaired right knee and left ankle. are you still, There's no escaping the particular that Bryant's willpower alone couldn't carry the Lakers deep into the postseason. He shot 43% from the flying field, His most affordable rates since his second season in the league.

It remains to be seen how all that will translate into the overall player rankings for "nba 2K13, Which Argent said will be announced at an undisclosed time until the game's release dates for XBox and Playstation consoles (march. 2) And nintendo Wii (at some point soon during the Christmas season). But anything is clear: Bryant will have less reason to gripe than lebron james, Who isn't on the game's cover after leading the Miami Heat to his first NBA champion.

"LeBron is no slob, naturally, Argent told me. "He's always a part of the conversation with this specific new dynasty. But the world thinks these new guys are the legends in the making. That takes nothing apart from LeBron Lebron James high school jersey. We're just aimed towards the new guys on the cover this year,

The NBA 2K video game took the exact opposite approach in last year's version. Cognizant of associated with a lockout affected season, "basketball 2K12" Paid homage toward the league's past greats. It featured jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on three due to their dirty covers. The game highlighted 15 NBA legends, including the Lakers' Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jerry western side and Wilt Chamberlain. It also allowed users to match up historic teams with current ones http://www.nbafanonlinestore.com/players_lebron_james_jerseys/C_8_22.html.

"Being crowned as the 'NBA 2K13' cover athletes is a huge honor and something I always dreamt about, Durant said in an announcement. "It's definitely humbling to grace the cover after the likes of michael jordan, Magic manley and Larry Bird,

Argent said the push to target this season on the next crop of "stories in the making" Reflected you're able to send desire to continuously evolve.

"We've always been fan of the sport and the problem, he was quoted saying. "Everyone would agree there's this new excitement around the league with some of the younger guys. We wanted to support that with what we're doing from a gaming standpoint,

to do this, 2K Sports formed a Twitter campaign, wanting information about users to tweet the hashtag UncoverNBA2K, Which would then unlock clues on who would appear on the cover. That included presenting roses to suggest Rose would appear. It featured atarantula in mention of the Thunder star's nickname, "Durantula, And a large bird atop the cover represented Griffin's high flying dunks.

"There's so much young talent towards the NBA, So it is extremely exciting to be chosen for NBA 2K's 'New Dynasty' alongside Kevin and Derrick, The Clippers forward said in an announcement. "The NBA 2K series continues to be my first choice when I want to get a game in,

Argent said oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook was "Part of the chatter" On who to feature on the coverage, But he called Griffin, Durant and Rose simply "Cream together with crop,

Each has won Rookie of the year honors and appeared in this year's All Star game. Griffin helped the Clippers to their first playoff look and feel since 2006 and won the 2011 NBA Dunk Contest. Durant notched his third sequential scoring title this season. And Rose won the 2010 11 customary season MVP Russell Westbrook All Star jersey.

"It's a dream come true to be among the cover athletes for 'NBA 2K13,or,--" Rose said in an announcement. "I've worked intently with 2K Sports since 'NBA 2K10,' and I'm honored to follow in the footsteps of michael jordan as the latest Chicago Bull to be featured on the cover,