The NBA 2K League is widening its esports talent net with a series of pro-am tournaments and a combine ahead of its fourth season in 2021.
The league plans more than 35 Pro-Am tournaments hosted by NBA 2K League teams as part of the “NBA 2K League Draft Prospect Series,” with the tournament winners advancing to a league-hosted event.
The December league tournament and February combine will feature players eligible for the 2021 NBA 2K League draft.
"As we continue to grow and evolve the NBA 2K League, we’re excited to implement a new tryout process for our fourth season that will give draft hopefuls more ways than ever to make the league,” NBA 2K League managing director Brendan Donohue said in a statement.
Beginning this month through early December, each of the 23 league teams is eligible to host up to two NBA 2K21 Pro-Am tournaments, one on Sony PlayStation 4 and one on Microsoft Xbox One.
In January, following the release of Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles, the NBA 2K League Draft Prospect Series will continue with up to eight NBA 2K League teams hosting NBA 2K21 Pro-Am tournaments on Sony PlayStation 5 or Microsoft Xbox Series X.
All players on the winning side from each team-hosted tournament — on both current generation consoles and next generation consoles — will be eligible for the 2021 NBA 2K League draft.
NBA 2K League franchises will also be able to select one player not on the winning team of each tournament they host to receive a “prospect badge” and become draft-eligible.
In an effort to continue developing and showcasing female talent, the NBA 2K League is collaborating with several all-woman 2K teams as they participate in non-NBA 2K League sponsored Pro-Am tournaments taking place this fall.
The top-performing players from these teams as well as other elite players in the 2K community will be invited to compete in the NBA 2K League’s second Women in Gaming Development Camp in February.
The NBA 2K League will award additional draft eligibility to a select number of players, including international players, participants in the Women in Gaming Development Camp, and high-performing players in the 2K community, as determined by league and team officials.
All players must be 18 years or older by Oct. 1, 2020, in order to participate in the Season 4 tryout process.
Additional details about the Season 4 tryout process and 2021 NBA 2K League draft will be announced at a later date.
Raptors Uprising GC recorded a perfect regular season in 2020 and won two in-season tournaments before falling to eventual champion Wizards District Gaming in the playoff semifinals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6. 2020
The Canadian Press
