The “NBA 2K eLeague” as it will be formally known, is set to launch in 2018 after the NBA released a statement on Thursday.
The interactive gaming league will reportedly be designed to mirror the realism of the NBA. It will follow a full 82 game schedule, the post-season and even a player draft. The five player eTeams will also be run by current franchises, initially around ten. There is the expectation of all thirty eventually being represented in the digital environment.
Take-Two Interactive, who produce the multi-award winning NBA 2K gaming franchise said via the company Facebook page: “This partnership provides an excellent opportunity to further engage the eSports community, leveraging the NBA’s team ecosystem and the worldwide success of the NBA 2K simulation basketball platform,”
The 2K eLeague is the first of its kind in the US.