NBA 2K League and NBPA announce new partnership
Warriors Gaming Squad took down NBL Oz Gaming in the NBA 2K League 5v5 Championship to wrap up the 2023 season. And then, in the 2024 draft lottery, Mavs Gaming, Lakers Gaming, and Raptors Uprising GC locked up the top three picks.
Next is a transition to NBA 2K24, as the game hits shelves on September 8. And pros have plenty of time to acclimate to the new title as the season doesn't usually start until around March. Even though fans and players still have a long time to wait until competitive action resumes, it's never too early to start building up anticipation.
In an effort to bolster league awareness, the 2K League and NBA Players Association announced a partnership to improve marketing efforts. Here is everything you need to know about the exciting deal.
NBA 2K League and Players Association partnership explained
On September 6, the NBA 2K League announced a new deal that creates an opportunity for NBA players to be featured in 2K League team promotions, broadcasts, and other team activities.
NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue spoke about what the partnership means for the esports scene. Donohue claimed: “This partnership will give NBA players a platform to promote the NBA 2K League in new and innovative ways, and we can’t wait to see them bring their passion for NBA 2K to the NBA 2K League.”
Josh Goodstadt, Chief Commercial Officer of THINK450, the innovation and partnership engine of the NBPA, added: “This first-of-its-kind partnership between a players’ association and an esports league reflects our players' passion for gaming, and we are excited to begin to bring it all to life this coming season.”
It remains to be seen what type of 2K League promotions, broadcasts, and other team activities NBA players will be involved in, but it's a great time to be an NBA 2K League fan.
Ryan graduated from Ithaca College in 2021 with a sports media degree and a journalism minor. He gained experience as a writer for the Morning Times newspaper before joining Dexerto and Esports Illustrated as a games writer. He mainly writes about first-person shooters, including Call of Duty and Battlefield, but he is also a big FIFA fan.