Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo unveiled as NBA 2K19 video game cover star

Matt Velazquez | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Show Caption Hide Caption NBA 2K19 A Boy With A Name Featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo Giannis Antetokounmpo was officially unveiled as the NBA 2K19 cover athlete on Monday morning.

Last week, a leak suggested Giannis Antetokounmpo would become the cover star of NBA 2K19. On Monday, the video-game franchise made it official with an announcement featuring Antetokounmpo in Athens.

The Milwaukee Bucks star and native of Greece is the first international player on the cover of the game's standard edition, which has had yearly iterations since 1999.

RELATED: Bucks' Thon Maker involved in brawl during game between Australia and Philippines in FIBA World Cup

“I am honored to be the first international player featured on the cover of NBA 2K19,” Antetokounmpo said in a statement. “I love playing NBA 2K so this means a lot to me. I have worked hard to earn recognition in the NBA and being on the cover of NBA 2K19 is a dream come true.”

The cover features key words and phrases that hold significance to Antetokounmpo, including, "Father's Legacy," "Fear the Deer," "Athens," "Family," and, of course, "Greek Freek." Monday's event also included the premiere of a video narrated by Giannis' mother, Veronica, titled, "A Boy With A Name."

“Giannis is the future of the NBA and his drive and athleticism have made him an undeniable force in the league,” said Alfie Brody, vice president of marketing for NBA 2K. “He’s the perfect cover athlete and we’re excited to feature him as our very first international cover star, as NBA 2K has a strong following with fans all over the world.”

The NBA 2K19 Standard Edition will be available on Sept. 11 for $59.99 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC platforms.