Every year, around the fall season, a new version of NBA 2K comes out.  It is a gaming sports tradition, and many fans are wondering about NBA 2K17 and its release date.  The latest version of the game will be released at the usual time, and this year there will be a special Legend Edition that celebrates the Laker great Kobe Bryant. 

It is no surprise that Kobe Bryant will have a special edition of NBA 2K17. After playing the last game of his 20-year career and selling out the Staples Center for one last time, he managed to put in a season-high at 60 points and steering his team to a 101-96 comeback win over the Utah Jazz just last night. 

Naturally, 2K Sports felt it necessary to announced that the Lakers man and 18-time All Star will have a special version of NBA 2K17 known as the Legend Edition which will feature Bryant on the cover in three different poses.  According to Gamespot, Bryant has said that "it's a great honor to partner with 2K on the NBA 2K17 Legend Edition.  As I walk off the NBA court for the final time, it's exciting to know my fans can continue to celebrate my lifelong career as a Los Angeles Laker". 

This version is going to feature a lot of digital and physical content based on Kobe.  The physical items include a limited edition Kobe poster, two Kobe Panini trading cards, and a Black Mamba game controller skin.  As far as the digital content is concerned, it features 30,000 of Virtual Currency, a MyTEAM Bundle (with 3 packs of guaranteed Kobe limited use card), Nike Kobe 11 retirement shoes, Kobe #8 Mitchell and Ness Jersey, and a Kobe hoodie. 

Kobe has graced the cover of an NBA 2K game before with NBA 2K10, but keep in mind that Kobe is not the cover star of the standard edition of the game.  That will be announced during the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals professional gaming tournament in June. 

As for the release date of NBA 2K17, Gotta Be Mobile states that it should arrive in stores sometime in September, just ahead of the fall gaming season.  PlayStation Lifestyle confirms that release date, but it also does not have any specific day. 

It is possible to pre-order NBA 2K17 from the 2K Store right now here, at least for the Legend Edition for a price of $79.99.  The standard edition is about $59.99, and it is not only available for the PS4 and Xbox One, but for the older generation Xbox 360 and PS3 as well.