Historic Contract on the Line

History will be made on Saturday, November 5, when the inaugural NBL Oz Gaming player will earn a contract for the 2023 NBA 2K League season.

The best players from across the country will compete at the NBA 2K League Australia Invitational in Melbourne, with their skills tested in a high stakes event.

Not only will the winner of the tournament be the inaugural NBL Oz Gaming player, they will make history as the first player on Australia’s first ever professional team in a global esports league.

In addition to a base salary, players on NBL Oz Gaming will receive paid housing and have the opportunity to win prize money during the NBA 2K League in-season tournaments and postseason competitions. The NBA 2K League awarded $2.5 million in cash prizes during the 2022 season. Additional benefits will include medical insurance and a retirement plan.

Additional high-performing players across the Australian Invitational will be eligible for the 2023 NBA 2K League Draft as determined by league and team officials.

The tournament will see teams participate in a retail NBA 2K23 5v5 Pro-Am format across a single day, with fans able to attend free of charge.

Pro-Am is a game mode designed for players online who compete against each other using their MyPLAYER, with games played under NBA rules.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said he was excited to see what the local NBA 2K talent looked like.

“We’ve seen some amazing players come out of this region in the past and we believe that the introduction of NBL Oz Gaming into the professional landscape will add great momentum to the growth of the NBA2K community here, and the identification of the next wave of Australian talent, including our inaugural player,” Loeliger said.

With the hunt for the team’s inaugural head coach underway, Loeliger added the strong foundations of NBL Oz Gaming are being laid.

“By the time the tournament takes place we will have appointed our head coach. We have been inundated with impressive candidates showcasing detailed knowledge not only of the local talent but also those players from Season 5 who are going to be available to us in the Expansion Draft,” he said.

Competition Overview:

• Retail NBA 2K23 5v5 Pro-Am invitational event featuring Australia’s best 2K players
• Date: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022
  PRIZING:
  • One player participating in the event will be selected as the event MVP and first-ever NBL OZ Gaming player, joining the team for the 2023 season*
  • High-performing players across the tournament will receive 2023 NBA 2K League Draft eligibility*
  • A prize pool of $5,000 USD will be distributed at the completion of the event

*Participation in the NBA 2K League and NBA 2K League Draft eligibility subject to satisfaction of all applicable NBA 2K League requirements