NBA Adds Esports Among Its Players
(This article was published on April 9th.)
NBA players are back at it on the court. Well, the virtual court. Playing through the “NBA 2K Players Tournament”, we’re looking at an exciting way to hear the players trash-talk each other and play as themselves (if they’d like) against other players. Here’s the 16-player lineup we had starting this tournament ( UPDATE: the first round played out on April 3 and 5, and we are moving on to tonight’s quarterfinals (players in ):
(1) Kevin Durant vs. (16) Derrick Jones Jr.
(2) Trae Young vs. (15) Harrison Barnes
(3) Hassan Whiteside vs. (14) Patrick Beverley
(4) Donovan Mitchell vs. (13) Rui Hachimura
(5) Devin Booker vs. (12) Michael Porter Jr.
(6) Andre Drummond vs. (11) DeMarcus Cousins
(7) Zach LaVine vs. (10) Deandre Ayton
(8) Montrezl Harrell vs. (9) Domantas Sabonis
This NBA 2K20 bracket is loaded with All-Stars, rookies, and young basketball players building their name, brand, and player rating all in the comfort of their home. What is interesting about having a tournament like this is showcasing what other NBA players are capable of in esports and gaming in general. Here are several players who can — and have built — themselves as gaming gurus: De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves are great Call of Duty players; Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers loves playing FIFA, Madden, and NBA 2K; Grayson Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies plays Apex Legends and Call of Duty; and Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks plays Overwatch and set up a Twitch stream (as with many of the players here).
However, let’s look at what the virtual tournament should aim for in future opportunities:
1. Interacting with the audience is key.
Yes, we heard basketball players chat with each other and say how they’re better than other players. However, the same way we (the audience) would like our voice heard, they should read live comments or tweets coming from us so that it makes the conversation that much more interesting. For instance, during a timeout, fans get to throw in questions, dares, and polls (all of which are moderated), and it would make the game that much more interesting. This would also be am asset for companies looking to play in. If you know that show , imagine getting the players to eat a hot wing while they play the rest of the game like that. A “Hot Wing Takeout Timeout” has a catchy twist to it.
2. Bring back the summer camp attitude.
Going to summer camp means there would be many activities and places in front of you and not knowing where to start. There’s the swimming pool to the left, the cafeteria in the middle, the zipline to the right that ends at a foam pit, and a lake where watersports are at the ready. Alright, I’ll stop dreaming.
This “summer camp sizzle” needs to carry on in tournaments like these. It needs an extra hour or two where players can showcase their skills they haven’t had the time to share. How exciting would it be if in between tournaments, players were to play a 3-point contest (either in the game or physically on their court)? What if one of the players were to share how they work on their shooting form and analyze it through their virtual version of themselves? What if they were to share anecdotes on team chemistry and mentor the audience on the importance of teamwork? This mentality re-emphasizes that players are more than just athletes. They are teachers, jugglers, researchers, analysts, data scientists, singers, broadcasters… you name it. Summer camp is where you find out what you like to do and what you’re good at. It’s like Michael Jordan basketball summer camp but on television.
3. Get the basketball organizations involved.
This tournament is not the only virtual basketball tournament going on. We have the NBA 2K League and their NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown, which has been impressive to see how it is currently producing it from home and with one-week to launch. However, there are over 70 basketball teams (NBA, G League, and WNBA) that could incorporate a larger broadcasted event. ESPN has been getting crafty with ideas to continue the summer camp mentality of what you can do with basketball from home, such as Trae Young and Chris Paul playing a game of HORSE. Basketball organizations have plenty to do with this opportunity. They can have a live-streamed mascot dance-off; halftime shows turn out to be larger shows; basketball players play simple games like Uno; players (both current and retired) have wine tastings; players have a Harlem Globetrotter-esque contest such as spinning the ball on their finger the longest; and more to this creative madness. It’s a way for players to take the spotlight once again, share it, and promote the brands they represent.
Sports bring people together, but basketball has its own unique way of showing why they are compatible with any viewer. The way we can see, hear, and talk (almost) to the players while they play in this virtual tournament brings out the community feel that is basketball. It doesn’t matter whether or not you are good at playing the game. It’s about the communication, the team chemistry, and the behind-the-scenes music playlist that runs through your head when getting ready for your name to be called out in the starting lineup. The NBA has more to show and that esports is its favorite player to pass to for the game-winning shot. Encore to the esports entourage.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
