Magic Gaming got an impressive performance from a NBA 2K League rookie as they reached the semifinals of the 3 For All Showdown.
Yes, the coronavirus pandemic has even hit the NBA 2K League.
Magic Gaming was supposed to start its third season in the NBA 2K League in late March. But concerns over the pandemic — especially traveling to New York — put the league on hold. Typically the league had all the teams travel to one site to compete in games in their television studio to stream on Twitch and YouTube.
Right now travel is not an option and the 2K League still appears to be figuring out how to map its way forward. They have not canceled their season, but they have taken down their original schedule to start the season.
If one thing has filled the sports void since the coronavirus essentially canceled all live sporting events, it has been live streams of video game competitions with competitors broadcasting in from their homes.
That is essentially what the league is doing in broadcasting its first-ever NBA 2K Players Tournament on ESPN2 — nothing makes you feel better than seeing Patrick Beverley shouting at his virtual players like he is a coach while routing Hassan Whiteside.
The NBA 2K League is testing out some of that remote playing too. They hosted the “Three for All” showdown featuring NBA 2K League teams, the top female players not otherwise in the NBA 2K League, celebrities and influencers and G-League players in three-on-three series.
This will likely serve as at least the public-facing preseason for the 2K League whenever it starts up. And Magic Gaming impressed, previewing a potential for the team to break through into the playoffs.
Magic Gaming bowed out in the semifinal after two impressive performances in the first round of the PS4 bracket, falling to 76ers GC in three games. Despite losing in the semifinal, the performance bodes well for the NBA 2K regular season, whenever it begins.
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Rookie Daniel “djbama” Burge scored 30 points total in the first round
and 16 points in the closeout game against
in the second round. That led to a strong first game against the 76ers, scoring 17 points in the game to 21.
The 60th overall pick in the last 2K League draft averaged 11.5 points per game for the tournament. That is especially impressive with the games played to 21.
Paired up with solid defender and 2K League veteran Brandon “Toxsik” Raudenbush and screen-setter Robert “may” May, the trio tore through the PS4 bracket to get to the semifinal, before ultimately coming short.
Magic Gaming’s XBOX team lost in the opening round despite a strong effort from reigning Rookie of the Year Brendan “Reizey” Hill. He scored all 16 points in the team’s opening-round loss.
Despite that disappointing performance, things bode well for the team when they get to 5-on-5 play. With now two potential high-volume scorers along with veteran players to fill in roles, Magic Gaming hopes to make the playoffs after falling just short in the league’s first two seasons.
Of course, the league has still yet to announce its plans for handling the season during the coronavirus pandemic.
Because of the nature of eSports, it is certainly possible the 2K League will pick up its season without much interruption. But that is still to be determined.