The Miami Heat centre will be the cover athlete and official spokesperson for NBA 2K6.

2K Sports (a publishing label of Take-Two) has announced that Shaquille O'Neal will be the cover athlete and official spokesperson for NBA 2K6.

"Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant, skilled and exciting players in the NBA," stated Erik Whiteford, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. "His name is synonymous with basketball and winning. His great passion for the game and drive for excellence has made him a force on the court and a leader on every team he is a part of, including 2K Sports. We're thrilled to be working with Shaq on NBA 2K6."

"NBA 2K6 will be the best basketball game on the virtual court, and it's no secret I like to play with the best - and that's 2K Sports," stated Miami Heat Center Shaquille O'Neal.

NBA 2K6 is due for release this autumn in the US, on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360. Europe usually has to wait a few months for the 2K Sports series of games to arrive, so don't expect to see the game on store shelves until 2006.