Hank Baskett buys eSports team, helping to fulfill his own prophecy

Ex-NFL player and reality television personality Hank Baskett has been named a co-owner of Denial eSports, and in doing so has taken action to make a prediction that he made almost three years ago accurate.

When the news of former NFL player Hank Baskett buying an eSports team broke, it was hard to ignore the fact that two and a half years ago, he predicted that within five years eSports would become a global sport entertainment power. While eSports haven’t reached the level that Baskett predicted yet, his investment will help.

Baskett’s brand power has diminished since he hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2010-11 season and the reality television show “Kendra on Top” in which he starred alongside his ex-wife Kendra Wilkinson hasn’t aired since 2012. Denial eSports, the team that Baskett is now a co-owner of, is still touting the partnership to take advantage of what star power remains for Baskett, though.

The fact that Baskett is an ex-NFL wide receiver is perhaps what makes him most marketable. The involvement of the National Football League in eSports so far has involved nothing more than exploratory studies. The Dallas Cowboys have kicked the tires on investment in eSports, as have the San Francisco 49ers. Eight of the league’s teams have hosted Madden tournaments this spring as well. That remains far short of the level of investment that eSports teams would like to see the NFL engage in, and getting Baskett on board is a step in that direction.

The hope for Baskett’s prophecy to be fulfilled is that other current and former NFL players like Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold will follow his example. The further hope is that will lead to NFL franchises buying eSports teams. Bringing the brand power and financial clout of the NFL to eSports would help to make the sport global, proving Baskett correct.