Fansided

Get a sneak peek at the NBA 2k League’s preseason promo video

By Derek Helling

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Andron Thomas of Blazer5 Gaming speaks to Jamie Ruiz and Ronnie 2K during the NBA2K Draft on April 4, 2018 in New York, New York at the Hulu Theater. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Andron Thomas of Blazer5 Gaming speaks to Jamie Ruiz and Ronnie 2K during the NBA2K Draft on April 4, 2018 in New York, New York at the Hulu Theater. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA 2k League is ready to open its inaugural season on May 1 so it’s ramping up its marketing efforts with a new video featuring players from across the league.

With the start of the NBA 2k League season mere days away, the league wants fans to be familiar with the avatars and faces of the some the league’s best talent. To achieve that end, a new video has been released.

In addition to introducing fans to players, the video gives fans a preview of what the game play of the league will look like. Players will use custom avatars as opposed to playing with the virtual replications of actual NBA teams. Nine of the league’s 102 players representing nine of the 17 league franchises are featured in the video which highlights the competitive nature of the league.

The league will need to build brand awareness with esports fans and fans of traditional sports if the first-ever esports league operated by a US professional sports league is to be a success. Though the league has already secured a broadcast partner in Twitch, which is the best destination for the content, there are questions about how successful the league’s broadcasts will be in terms of viewers.

In order to answer those questions and build value for its franchises, it’s a good strategy for the league to do all it can to raise the celebrity status of its players. That’s especially crucial at this stage, before the league has any actual game play content to tout. That will change after May 1, when the league’s Tip-Off Tournament will enable players to start working toward earning a share of a million dollars.

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The NBA 2k League is largely unproven as a product simply because it’s unprecedented. This video shows dedication toward building a strong brand, and hopefully its efforts don’t go unrewarded.