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Harry ‘HazzaUK’ Hurst, one of the UK’s top NBA 2K League esports players, has spoken out about the league’s effective closure in its current form.
Earlier this week, the NBA and game publisher Take-Two said they were ‘reimagining the NBA 2K League into a global digital entertainment business, to engage consumers who live and play where pop culture, gaming and basketball collide’.
The revamp will include a new ‘social-first, always-on’ digital media brand targeting young fans, live events ‘that bring to life the remixed world of basketball and pop culture in fun, playful environments’.
And a new-look NBA 2K League for later in 2025 will promise a ‘more dynamic and accessible competitive league, featuring NBA players and celebrities, that taps into the passions of tens of millions of 2K players and fans’.
Beyond this PR talk, Dexerto reported that the NBA 2K League has laid off broadcast staff, general managers and coaches for the league, as it was.
The league’s CEO Andrew Perlmutter held a ten-minute meeting with league staff and management on July 2nd 2024, announcing the layoffs and revamp.
It looks like the changes have been made to try and make the league more popular – and sustainable – in the future.
The league seeks to merge competitive gaming with entertainment, catering to a more extensive audience and opening new revenue streams. This shift aims to enhance the league’s viability and sustainability, making it more attractive to both fans and participants. An exciting addition to this transformation could be the integration of basketball fantasy picks, providing fans with interactive and engaging ways to stay connected with the league.
But nonetheless it’s been painful news for many in the community, especially those who have worked in the scene.
HazzaUK on NBA 2K League changes: ‘I hope they’re able to find a way to keep the competitive scene flowing’
Esports News UK reached out to NBA 2K League player HazzaUK for his response to the news.
He told us: “I heard the rumours that had been going around for a while, but it was still a surprise to see it come to an end. I understand they’re going for a rebrand, and from the sounds of it they removing the professional player aspect, which I think is a shame.
“Without having some kind of professional event/tournament/league within NBA 2K anymore, it feels like they’ve taken a big step back from the esports scene altogether.
“I also understand the manner in which the league ended was handled poorly. In my personal opinion I think not giving orgs and players a heads up, has put people in difficult situations in terms of their jobs, college and their future.
“It’s quite distasteful in my opinion, to the few that have been a part of this league from start to finish.
“I think people are owed a lot more than a ten-minute call to close out their eight-year journey. However, I also want to say the league was my first opportunity within the esports world so I will be forever thankful to have been a part of that journey.”
HazzaUK on NBA 2K League changes
“I met some great people along the way and it opened lots of windows for me in the years following.
“I hope they’re still able to find a way to keep the competitive scene and community in the future loop, or work closely together with eFIBA to keep it flowing.”
HazzaUK said he won’t be be actively involved with the new league format, as it’s ‘not something I think supports what esport is really all about’.
“It’s looking for a more social media interaction ‘league’ than a professional scene,” he added. “I think almost mimicking a speakeasy while playing games is what I’m taking from it.”
HazzaUK previously captained Great Britain in the NBA 2K24 eFIBA Season 2.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
