KENNY’S KNOCKOUT WEEK: Raptors Uprising GC point guard Kenneth “Kenny Got Work” Hailey was named NBA 2K League Player of the Week for week 1 of the 2020 NBA 2K League season. Highlighted by a 51-point game against 2019 runner-up 76ers GC, the Memphis-native averaged 35 points and connected on 24 three-pointers over the two matches to lead his team to a 2-0 record. Hailey and Raptors Uprising GC will visit Grizz Gaming on Tuesday, May 12 and Hornets Venom GT on Thursday, May 14. Both series begin at 7 p.m. ET.
FINALS REMATCH: On Friday, May 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET, 76ers GC will host T-Wolves Gaming in a rematch of the 2019 NBA 2K League Finals. Led by Finals MVP Michael “BearDaBeast” Key, Minnesota won the 2019 NBA 2K League championship in a dramatic 5-game series. The team was presented official NBA 2K League championship rings from Jostens last Thursday before tipping off their Season 3 campaign.
G LEAGUE ROOTS: Week 2 will also feature the matchup of two head coaches with NBA G League roots. Austin Peterson, the head coach of Cavs Legion GC, is also an assistant coach for the Canton Charge, while Warriors Gaming Squad head coach Mike Newton spent last season on the basketball operations team with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Warriors Gaming Squad will host Cavs Legion GC on Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. ET.
DYNAMIC DEBUTS: Led by the dynamic duo of Nidal “Mama Im Dat Man” Nasser (2019 NBA 2K League MVP) and Dayne “OneWildWalnut” Downey (2018 NBA 2K League MVP), Blazer5 Gaming, the winningest team by regular-season record in NBA 2K League history, will make its 2020 season debut in Week 2. During the offseason, the team hired Andrew Maxie as its head coach and selected Brandon “Hood” Caicedo and Georgio “OOC Slim” Bonte in the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft delivered by Panera Bread. Caicedo led the NBA 2K League in scoring (29.2 PPG) in the 2018 season with Cavs Legion GC. Blazer5 Gaming will visit Pacers Gaming on Tuesday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET and host Lakers Gaming on Thursday, May 14 at 9 p.m. ET.
THIS IS NOT A GAME: Drafted in the first-ever NBA 2K League Draft, Jomar “Jomar” Varela-Escapa had a remarkable journey to the NBA 2K League. Varela-Escapa was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and when Hurricane Maria left his home without power, he used his family’s diesel generator to play during the qualification windows for the league. The power forward played seasons 1 and 2 with Blazer5 Gaming and is in his first season with Pacers Gaming. On Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. ET, Varela-Escapa will face fellow Puerto Rico native Michael “BP” Diaz-Cruz when Pacers Gaming visits Hawks Talon GC. Diaz-Cruz was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut at the age of one. BP was acquired by Hawks Talon GC from Kings Guard Gaming this past offseason in arguably the biggest trade in NBA 2K League history according to The Action Network’s Darren Rovell.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS:
*All games are simulcast on ESPN’s platforms, Twitch and YouTube*
Tuesday, May 12
Raptors Uprising GC vs. Grizz Gaming – 7 PM ET
Blazer5 Gaming vs. Pacers Gaming – 9 PM ET
Wednesday, May 13
Warriors Gaming Squad vs. 76ers GC – 9 PM ET
Mavs Gaming vs. Lakers Gaming – 9 PM ET
Thursday, May 14
Raptors Uprising GC vs. Hornets Venom GT – 7 PM ET
Kings Guard Gaming vs. Gen.G Tigers – 9 PM ET
Friday, May 15
Cavs Legion GC vs. Warriors Gaming Squad – 7 PM ET
76ers GC vs. T-Wolves Gaming – 9:30 PM ET