The coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to sports leagues around the world, including the NBA 2K League.
Regular season play of the 2K League has been suspended for just over a month now, but the League announced on Monday that the season will officially begin on May 5.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Due to this unprecedented time, all matchups will take place remotely, with each team playing from within their local markets for at least the first six weeks of the season. Players have been quarantining with their teammates as they prepare for the season, according to NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue.
“We are thrilled to officially tip off the 2020 NBA 2K League season remotely and hope the excitement of NBA 2K League competition provides both new and returning fans with a fun way to stay connected and engage with our league during these unprecedented times,” Donohue said.
Games will be held Tuesday through Friday, with four matchups on each day. All league play will be simulcast on NBA 2K League's Twitch and Youtube channels. The broadcasts will have the ability to switch coverage between games in real-time to ensure the viewer sees the most compelling action.
Here are the dates for the first six weeks of the regular season:
- May 5 – 8 Regular Season – Week 1
- May 12 – 15 Regular Season – Week 2
- May 19 – 22 Regular Season – Week 3
- May 26 – 29 Regular Season – Week 4
- June 2 – 5 Regular Season – Week 5
- June 9 – 12 Regular Season – Week 6
News
[RELATED: Go behind the scenes of Warriors' 2K League Draft]
Each matchup will be played in the familiar best-of-three format making the entire series count as one win or one loss.
The three in-season tournaments featured in previous years also will be back for the 2020 season. All 23 teams will compete in THE TIPOFF and THE TURN. The 14 teams that are not one of the top nine playoff seeds will compete in THE TICKET, which will see the winning team earn the 10th and final spot in the 2020 NBA 2K League Playoffs.
The remaining portion of the season, following the first six weeks of remote play, will be announced as this unprecedented time develops.