Electronic Arts announced today that Chicago Bulls forward, Luol Deng, will be the cover athlete and spokesman for NBA LIVE 09 in the UK. Deng, raised in the UK from 1993, has played in the NBA for three years and is a vital part of the Great Britain national team. This is the first time the UK has worked with a local athlete and highlights the continued growth of the NBA in Europe.

“I’m proud to be the first British athlete chosen to appear on the NBA Live cover in the UK” said Luol Deng. “It’s an honour to be recognized by EA SPORTS as a UK ambassador for NBA Live 09 and I’m looking forward to playing for the Great Britain National team.”

Deng is joined by some of the NBA’s biggest international stars on packaging around the world, including Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol (Spain) and Toronto Raptors Andrea Bargnani (Italy).

Additionally San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker will be the cover athlete and spokesman for NBA LIVE 09 globally. In his seven NBA seasons, the 26 year old is a two-time NBA All-Star, has three NBA championships and was named the 2007 NBA Finals MVP. Parker will be the first European born (France) global cover athlete of NBA LIVE. Off the court, Parker is an avid gamer and won an NBA LIVE 08 tournament against fellow NBA stars at the EA SPORTS All-Star Challenge last February in New Orleans.

NBA LIVE 09 will sport a host of new features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers that will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 also includes a training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.

NBA Live 09 will also feature 24 authentic FIBA teams with realistic team play styles and rosters, along with a FIBA World Championship Mode using FIBA tournament structure, rules and court dimensions. Online the game will offer 5 vs.5 team play, where 10 people can play together on 10 different consoles around the world.