NBA Starts a New Pro League Based on Video-Game Basketball

League mimics NBA with player combine, draft, regular season
Players will compete in Take Two Interactive’s NBA 2K series

Gamers play the NBA 2K17 video game.
Photographer: Chesnot/Getty Images

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By Eben Novy-Williams

February 9, 2017 at 5:01 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

To go along with its actual, professional basketball league, the NBA is creating a new division for players who excel at video-game basketball.

Based on Take Two Interactive’s NBA 2K series, the new esports league will mimic the structures and conventions of the NBA. Five-person teams will be supported and operated by actual NBA franchises. A first for U.S. professional sports, the NBA 2K eLeague will begin with a player combine, then a draft, with regular-season games and playoffs coming in 2018.