We’re moving right along with Part 2 of each NBA 2K League team’s franchise outlook. Last time around we covered the first five teams to select players in the inaugural NBA 2K League draft; now, we cover the next six. As a reminder: I’ve rated each team on a 1-3 scale (1 being the best, 3 the worst) in a few different metrics: the fabled “marketability,” player performance, and team support. These ratings are meant to indicate tiers, not placement values. A few caveat admissions: not enough is known about all 17 teams to make these ratings perfect. Also, every team is invested in the success of its NBA 2K League team — but with different intensities, as I’ll point out.
Blazer5Gaming
Marketability: 2
Player performance: 2
Team support: 1
Blazer5Gaming’s first pick, OneWildWalnut, is a terrific guy, and he’s not yet 19 (nothing wrong with that). I think the front office was wisely judicious with their positional selections. Furthermore, that front office has a great esports background, and that will work well in Blazer5Gaming’s favor to offset any marketing struggles outside of Portland. Long flights to New York won’t help, and so Blazer5Gaming will have to rely on their front office’s esports experience and on OneWildWalnut, the first center taken in the draft.
Heat Check Gaming
Marketability: 2
Player Performance: 2
Team support: 1
Everyone who’s anyone is raving about Heat Check Gaming’s hire of Famous Enough, including the Undefeated — and for good reason, as Famous knows more about the Pro Am community than probably everyone else involved with it. Not to be disregarded is Ben Spoont, a traditional esports pro. Heat Check Gaming hasn’t displayed the sexiest panache so far, and their draft picks are of a similar mold, but we’re trusting in one of the league’s best front offices to do their job.
Magic Gaming
Marketability: 2
Player Performance: 3
Team support: 2
Well, they’ve got a sweet pool and pad. It remains to be seen how Magic Gaming’s six players will play on the court, and a lot of responsibility hangs on the shoulders of first-round pick, KontruL. One thing the Magic have going for them is their NBA counterpart’s fans have a desire for a winner. But if Magic Gaming can’t provide those fans with wins, the situation will end up much like the parent Magic squad by ending the year with lots of pool time during the playoffs.
Knicks Gaming
Marketability: 1
Player Performance: 2
Team support: 2
It’s good to be in New York. Knicks Gaming snagged some good players in the draft, but the fact that league games will be played on their home turf heightens their potential even further. The marketing opportunities are bountiful due to being in the biggest market in the league and not having a competitor (this season) in Brooklyn. We haven’t seen so much out of the team, but the focus — like all teams in New York — will be coming.
BucksGG
Marketability: 2
Player Performance: 2
Team support: 1
I’m a big fan of what BucksGG has done so far. First and foremost is the hiring of some of the most knowledgeable heads in the community, MPBA leaders Ivan Curtiss and Toijuin Fairley. BucksGG has a great all-around support system and a good group of guys on the court, but they’ll need to make everything come together to maximize their marketability. Having Aaron Rookwood, alias DrakeGriffin, play like Giannis would certainly help.
Raptors Uprising GC
Marketability: 1
Player Performance: 1
Team support: 2
The appeal of being Canada’s NBA 2K League team is indelible, and with great power comes great responsibility. Raptors Uprising grabbed two RTTASG winners with their first two picks and added hometown boy Yusuf_Scarbz in the third round. They’ll have the esupport of an entire nation behind them, which the organization has done well to fuel with several Toronto NBA 2K events. It remains to be seen, however, if everything will come together up North.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m a raving lunatic? Let me know in the comments below.
