• Damian Lillard is the NBA LIVE 15 Cover Athlete

    Following yesterday's cover reveal tease on EA SPORTS NBA LIVE's social media channels, Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard has announced via Instagram and Twitter that he will be the NBA LIVE 15 cover athlete.

    We will update this article with any press releases, media, etc. from EA SPORTS and other media outlets as available.

    Here is the official cover reveal video from EA SPORTS;


    Check out behind the scenes photos here.


    Bleacher Report's Brian Manzique has posted an interview with Lillard:

    Comments 16 Comments
    1. SmoothPancakes's Avatar
      SmoothPancakes -
      Damian Lillard is your cover athlete.

      http://instagram.com/p/sH3F_gv4sD/

      Sent from my Droid Maxx using Tapatalk because I'm a lazy ass
    1. cdj's Avatar
      cdj -
    1. gschwendt's Avatar
      gschwendt -
      It was pretty much assured when he made an appearance in the Madden 15 commercial riding off with Franco's wife/girlfriend.
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      Quote Originally Posted by gschwendt View Post
      It was pretty much assured when he made an appearance in the Madden 15 commercial riding off with Franco's wife/girlfriend.
      Though, rather telling, I had no clue who that was.
    1. cdj's Avatar
      cdj -
      Article updated with cover reveal video from EA SPORTS and link to behind the scenes photos.

      Quote Originally Posted by gschwendt View Post
      It was pretty much assured when he made an appearance in the Madden 15 commercial riding off with Franco's wife/girlfriend.
      I think they missed the payoff there by not announcing Lillard as LIVE 15 cover athlete before that Madden Season commercial was released.

      Now, is EA SPORTS marketing savvy enough to put together a LIVE 15 commercial featuring Lillard and Franco's GF?
    1. steelerfan's Avatar
      steelerfan -
      I have no idea who that is. I don't think I've ever even heard that name before.

      Of course, I quit following the NBA in 1997. But it brings up a good question.

      Does the cover really impact sales? If so, isn't it bad to not put your best, most-recognizable star on the cover every year?

      Every year I hear complaints that Lionel Messi is on the cover of FIFA again. Do they have our right though? Isn't that better than having a casual have no idea who that guy on the cover is?

      Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      I don't think I've ever cared who was on the cover, not in terms of whether or not the game interests me. I have cared in the "anybody but Michigan" way though
    1. jaymo76's Avatar
      jaymo76 -
      Don't really care either way but it's nice to see EA not milking a cover vote for two months.
    1. gschwendt's Avatar
      gschwendt -
      Quote Originally Posted by JeffHCross View Post
      Though, rather telling, I had no clue who that was.
      I honestly didn't either except for the fact that his name was rumored before that commercial so when Franco said "Damien?", I put 2+2 together.
    1. CLW's Avatar
      CLW -
      Solid player but its not like he's Durant/Lebron so he isn't going to move units (other than maybe in the Pacific Northwest)
    1. skipwondah33's Avatar
      skipwondah33 -
      Houston Rockets and fans know who he is...



      Probably the 1st or 2nd best player in his class easily. Went to Weber State so wasn't highly looked at as say an Austin Rivers but still went #6.

      One of best PG's in the West as well
    1. steelerfan's Avatar
      steelerfan -
      Quote Originally Posted by skipwondah33 View Post
      Houston Rockets and fans know who he is...



      Probably the 1st or 2nd best player in his class easily. Went to Weber State so wasn't highly looked at as say an Austin Rivers but still went #6.

      One of best PG's in the West as well
      Very casually, I'm a Rockets fan. Still never heard of him. Hitting a buzzer beater in the first round of the playoffs doesn't make you a household name.

      It just seems that it would behoove them to put a player on the cover that is more widely recognizable.

      Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A
    1. skipwondah33's Avatar
      skipwondah33 -
      Quote Originally Posted by steelerfan View Post
      Very casually, I'm a Rockets fan. Still never heard of him. Hitting a buzzer beater in the first round of the playoffs doesn't make you a household name.

      It just seems that it would behoove them to put a player on the cover that is more widely recognizable.
      Eh, depends

      Given that was their first playoff series win in some time, the atmosphere, given it's only his 2nd year in the league and a pretty big shot.

      To people who don't follow the NBA sure I guess, just as I have no clue about any Soccer players other than Renaldo and Messi..nor do I watch Soccer.

      I still knew who he was prior to that shot and apparently 1,915,637 more people do as well

      Sadly though you are probably right...more people likely know of Doug McDermott than Lillard
    1. steelerfan's Avatar
      steelerfan -
      Quote Originally Posted by skipwondah33 View Post
      Eh, depends

      Given that was their first playoff series win in some time, the atmosphere, given it's only his 2nd year in the league and a pretty big shot.

      To people who don't follow the NBA sure I guess, just as I have no clue about any Soccer players other than Renaldo and Messi..nor do I watch Soccer.

      I still knew who he was prior to that shot and apparently 1,915,637 more people do as well

      Sadly though you are probably right...more people likely know of Doug McDermott than Lillard
      And Messi is under contract to be on the FIFA cover for several years. That is exactly my point. You don't follow the sport but you know who he is.

      Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A
    1. skipwondah33's Avatar
      skipwondah33 -
      Quote Originally Posted by steelerfan View Post
      And Messi is under contract to be on the FIFA cover for several years. That is exactly my point. You don't follow the sport but you know who he is.
      ..because the only television I really watch our sports channels (ESPN, NFL Network, Golf Channel, etc)

      I haven't watched but 4-5 Portland games since he's been in the NBA and I still knew who he was...because of the Draft and Sportscenter. Same reason I know of Messi..and seen a Renaldo Nike commercial. He is mentioned quite a bit when the Soccer highlights are mixed in between the other things I'm interested in hearing about.

      Not too long ago Richard Sherman was unheard of as well..

      I won't say it's impossible to not know certain players, but given the media age we live in it's difficult not to. I have no interest in Soccer, Hockey or Baseball yet I could name some of the random players I believe simply just because I watch so much ESPN.
    1. cdj's Avatar
      cdj -
      Another new screen of Lillard: