Video Game Cover Pumps PG’s Brand

The Pacers' Paul George was the cover athlete for the NBA 2K17 video game.

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This was a big week for Indiana Pacers star Paul George, with news he will be the cover athlete for NBA 2K17, which is the latest edition of the top-rated NBA video game simulation series. It’s his first solo appearance on the cover and Indiana University marketing professor Kim Donahue says it "speaks volumes" about the growth of his brand.

Donahue says, while many Pacer fans believe George is an elite player, being featured on the cover of the video game could cement him among that group in the eyes of fans throughout the United States. She says the game also puts George and the Pacers in front of an important demographic: younger fans who are future ticket buyers.

Paul George averaged a career-best 23.1 points per game during the 2015-2016 NBA regular season. Developers say he is also "long known as one of NBA 2K’s most passionate gamers." NBA 2K17 will be available September 20 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC platforms.