The NBA and video game publisher 2K Sports announced an esports initiative back in February that will involve the league heavily in the competitive gaming space. NBA teams will have their own "NBA 2K" franchises, made up of five players using created characters, as they go through a league-like regular season and postseason structure.
Seventeen teams will be ready to go in the inaugural "NBA 2K" eLeague season when it begins in 2018.
— Boston Celtics
— Cleveland Cavaliers
— Dallas Mavericks
— Detroit Pistons
— Golden State Warriors
— Indiana Pacers
— Memphis Grizzlies
— Miami Heat
— Milwaukee Bucks
— New York Knicks
— Orlando Magic
— Philadelphia 76ers
— Portland Trail Blazers
— Sacramento Kings
— Toronto Raptors
— Utah Jazz
— Washington Wizards
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According to the original announcement, the expectation was to have a video game team tied to every NBA team. While the total ended up being just more than half for the debut season, certainly that remains the goal for the years ahead. There will be tryouts and a draft for players sometime later this year.
“This is the first step in what promises to be an extraordinary league, bringing together the world's best gamers and showcasing elite competition on an international stage,” Brendan Donohue, "NBA 2K" esports league managing director, said. “Our teams have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for esports, and we are looking forward to forming something truly unique for basketball and gaming fans around the globe.”
For the past two years 2K Sports has run a competitive event that utilizes the game's online Pro-Am mode. Participants control their single character, known as a MyPlayer, who has had their abilities and ratings built up by paying money for advantages and spending extensive time earning upgrades through playing. Teams of five then control all their own individual characters on the respective teams, with no fatigue or injuries playing a role, in games with five-minute quarters. It's unclear how the new eLeague will provide the necessary competitive balance between the teams and the players involved.
While esports is huge within some genres and specific games — think the likes of "DOTA 2," "League of Legends," "Counterstrike" — it has not taken off with games that represent actual sports. There has been a legitimate question about whether it ever will, given the competition from televised sporting broadcasts and the video games being played in an unrealistic manner that make them unappealing to spectators. The companies have also had to face controversies related to the actions of the competitors who are unaccustomed to being in the public eye, cheating scandals, and various online-related problems.
Those concerns and others remain with the "NBA 2K" eLeague, but there's no question that having the backing of the league and potential rooting interest that comes with team attachments gives it a better chance to succeed over time.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.