KEY POINTS

  • The third season of the NBA 2K League will start on May 5
  • The League's 23 teams will play at least eight games throughout the six-week period
  • Matches will be played in a best-of-three format Tuesdays through Fridays of each week, with four scheduled games each night.

After the NBA's esports arm was sidelined shortly after some of the Association's players tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA 2K League has announced that it will kick start its 2020 regular season on May 5.

The news of its return also came in consonance with some teams allowing its players to use practice facilities after completely shutting down its doors since March 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Miami Herald reported that NBA players can start working out “no earlier” than May 8 in cities where local governments have loosened their stay-at-home orders.

Despite lockdowns and other preventive measures issued by health agencies and the government, other professional sports athletes continued their promise to its fans by taking part in various digital competitions. Engadget made NBA as an example after it organized an NBA 2K20 Players Tournament that featured prominent All-Stars like Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns hotshot Devin Booker.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is the top seed in the 'NBA 2K Players Only' tournament that will air on ESPN as the real-world NBA remains on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is the top seed in the 'NBA 2K Players Only' tournament that will air on ESPN as the real-world NBA remains on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Mike LAWRIE

The NBA also started a “Three For All” Showdown that mixes NBA, WNBA and G-League stalwarts on a 3-on-3 tournament on March 27. This only goes to show that passion runs deep, even if it is being played on a virtual basketball court with little or no sweat and physicality the game is known for.

As for esports professionals, the NBA 2K League is their main stage to showcase their talents to a wide array of fans. The League is planning to play its the first six weeks of its third season remotely following global quarantine rules.

In addition, the League's 23 teams will play at least eight games throughout the six-week period. Matches will be played in a best-of-three format Tuesdays through Fridays of each week, with four scheduled games each night.

The new season will likewise adopt the three in-season tournaments. All 23 teams will take part in The Tipoff and The Turn, while the 14 non-Playoffs qualifiers will vie in The Ticket with the final spot awarded to the winner, said Reuters.

The Hornets Venom GT and the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai will make its debut as the League's newest expansion clubs that will try to topple T-Wolves Gaming, the reigning League champions.

All games of NBA 2K League will be streamed live via Twitch and YouTube.

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