The NBA’s esports league is adding four teams to the 2019 season, including one owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, the top-tier NBA franchise that recently signed LeBron James.
The 2019 NBA 2K League will also include teams from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks. The addition brings the total count of NBA franchises involved in the esports league to 21 out of the basketball league’s 30 total.
The NBA 2K’s inaugural season launched in May with 17 teams, including several from top markets, such as Golden State’s Warriors Gaming Squad, New York’s Knicks Gaming, Philadelphia’s 76ers GC, Cleveland’ Cavs Legion GC and Boston’ Celtics Crossover Gaming.
“Welcoming these four world-class organizations and their passionate fanbases to the NBA 2K League is an exciting moment not only for the league, but for the entire 2K community,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue, in a statement. “From their innovative spirit to their global reach, we know each of these teams will be a tremendous addition, and we are thrilled that this growth offers the opportunity for new players, coaches and support staff to join the league.”
This year, 102 NBA 2K players were drafted to the 17 participating teams. Another 24 players will earn contracts with the league next season, bringing the total number of NBA 2K drafted players to 126. The 17-week inaugural season begins playoffs this Friday, with finals scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 25.
Terms of the deals between the NBA 2K League and the Lakers, Hawks, Nets, and Timberwolves were not disclosed. Last year, member teams paid $750,000 to play and committed to a three-year term.
SportTechie Takeaway
The NBA became the first professional sports team to launch an esports league earlier this year. It attempted to mimic its professional basketball leagues as closely as possible, even hosting a highly-publicized live-streamed draft at Madison Square Garden. The league also announced a multi-year streaming deal with Twitch.
Just ahead of the launch of the inaugural season, NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said the league had hoped to have all 30 NBA teams in the esports league within a few years and was eyeing international expansion a few years after that.
“We’re going to have teams eventually from Team Beijing play Team Delhi play Team London against the Celtics and create truly global competition,” Tatum said at a SXSW panel in March.