FILE – The 2018 NBA 2K League Draft class pose for a photo at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 2018 in New York City. Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — The NBA 2K League has announced that its regular season will tip off on May 5 with at least six weeks of “remote gameplay” in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
All 23 NBA 2K League teams are slated to play at least eight matches
Games, which will be simulcast live on the league’s Twitch and YouTube channels, will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with four different matchups each night.
“We are thrilled to officially tip off the 2020 NBA 2K League season remotely and hope the excitement of NBA 2K League competition provides both new and returning fans with a fun way to stay connected and engage with our league during these unprecedented times,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue.
“Our players have been quarantining with their teammates as they prepare for the season and will now have the opportunity to compete against one another and show they are the best players in the world.”
Each game will feature a best-of-three format, allowing the NBA 2K League broadcast to switch between games in real-time.
A win in a best-of-three series corresponds to just one regular season victory while a loss amounts the same.
The 2020 season will continue to include three in-season tournaments: The Tipoff, The Turn and The Ticket.
In-season tournaments, teams will compete for banners that link together to form The Banner Chain.
All 23 teams will participate in The Tipoff and The Turn where the top nine teams earn outright spots in the 2K League Playoffs. The bottom 14 teams, meanwhile, will get one last crack at a spot in the next round in The Ticket where the 10th and final playoff slot is at stake.
Select NBA 2K League teams will also host rivalry matches and round-robin events.
The NBA 2K League, an esports league joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, was launched in February 2017.
The league held its inaugural season on May 1, 2018 with Knicks Gaming crowned as the first ever champion.