Pacers among 17 NBA teams participating in NBA 2K esports league
The Indiana Pacers will be one of 17 NBA teams to participate in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K esports league, which will begin in 2018. The NBA is partnering with Take-Two Interactive Software to help start the league.
According to a press release available on Pacers.com, the NBA is partnering with the makers of the video game NBA 2K to create the NBA 2K esports league. The Pacers will be one of 17 NBA teams participating. Each NBA team will create their own team of gamers to compete in the inaugural season, which will begin sometime in 2018.
Rick Fuson, the president and COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, had this to say about the new venture:
"More from Pacers News2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte HornetsHanding out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketballShould Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?“We’re excited that once again the NBA has stepped forward and taken the lead as it relates to the world of esports. We are thrilled to be part of this league that is going to take Indiana’s game – one that most of us grew up with shooting hoops in the driveway, on the side of a barn or at the playgrounds – to a whole new level. We’ll be able to build a new fan base that without esports, might never have become real fans of basketball.”"
League Details
Information about the new league is sparse, but according to Nate Taylor of the Indy Star, the first season will kick off some time in early 2018 and will mirror the real NBA season. Teams will consist of five gamers that will each control a single virtual player of their own creation. There will also be a regular season, a post-season and championship. The goal is to attract new fans that might not have watched much basketball before now.
Among the other 16 NBA teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers. NBA commissioner Adam Silver presented the idea to NBA owners this past year, and Pacers owner Herb Simon was reportedly interested in the financial potential that the new league could bring.
Next: Morning Roundup: May 4, 2017
That dream of playing point guard for the Indiana Pacers may have seemed dead, but never fear. It’s time to dust off that controller, strengthen those thumb muscles and show the world what you can do.