'We could look towards that': Ronnie 2K teases potential follow-up to Ben Simmons NBA 2K19 Australian cover

'We could look towards that': Ronnie 2K teases potential follow-up to Ben Simmons NBA 2K19 Australian cover originally appeared on The Sporting News

Ben Simmons made history in 2018, when it was announced that the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year would grace the cover of NBA 2K19 for a special Australian edition. 

Simmons joined main cover star Giannis Antetokounmpo and anniversary cover star LeBron James for the 2018-19 edition of the video game sensation, with a cover featuring a list of his accomplishments and influences, as well as some typical Aussie imagery such as kangaroos and the Australian flag. 

Seven years on, with NBA 2K26 days away from release, the face of the NBA 2K franchise Ronnie 2K hasn't ruled out crafting a follow-up to Simmons' All-Aussie cover. 

Ronnie 2K teases potential follow-up to Ben Simmons NBA 2K19 Australian cover 

Could one of Australia's current NBA stars make their way onto an Aussie edition of NBA 2K?

Ronnie 2K has said it's something that could happen, following former All-Star Ben Simmons setting the precedent in 2018. 

"We're always looking at growing the game internationally," Ronnie told Sporting News Australia.

"We always kick around whether regional covers make sense, I think it would depend.

"There's so many more international stars that I think that it's less necessary than before, but you never know, we could look towards that in the future." 

The viral face of the franchise also weighed in on what he thinks Ben Simmons needs to do in order to return to his dominant self, after being awarded a 77 rating in the upcoming NBA 2K26, the third-best Aussie behind Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey. 

"In Ben's case, it's sample size," he said.

"I mean, he set the world on fire in his rookie year. I remember I ran into him, it's well-documented, at some dinner or something, and he was saying three names over and over again: 'Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Ben Simmons.'

"I was like, 'That's a trio,' he's like, 'Yeah, that's the most triple doubles in their rookie year,' nuts it hasn't evolved, the league figured him out, and he still hasn't really adjusted.

"I think our ratings are based more on sample size than people think, he's going to have to play well for an extended period of time for that to go up from a 77.

"We had him, I think in his second year, we started it at 87. At the time, it was tied for the highest second-year rating of all time.

"Then he just hasn't ever really recovered that form and the league adjusted to him. It's going to be interesting to see if he could finally adjust and finally find a home to reemerge his game."

Simmons is yet to sign with an NBA team for the 2025-26 season, after ending last season as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets around the trade deadline.