Shaquille O’Neal heading up eSports for Sacramento Kings

Shaquille O’Neal at a preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets, October 2014, in Beijing, China. Image: AFP via AFP Relaxnews

With the NBA 2K League beginning May and running through to August 2018, the Sacramento Kings has got its GM in place.

Fifteen-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, part owner of old rivals the Sacramento Kings since 2013, will oversee the King’s eSports team.

The King’s Guard is one of 17 teams joining the NBA 2K League for its inaugural 16-week long season, with each player competing as a single digital athlete in 5v5 games.

The NBA 2K League takes its name from 2K Sports, the publisher of the licensed NBA 2K video game franchise and, like the National Basketball Season’s own league structure, the constituent eSports teams are operated on a franchise basis too.

Also taking part in the NBA 2K League are teams from the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors, all of whom are through to the NBA’s 2018 Playoffs.

Like the Kings, the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Mephis Grizzlies are out of contention for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, but nevertheless are involved in the 2K League, as are the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons and Portlant Trail Blazers, a little over half the total number of NBA teams.

As a result, the Kings’ charges will find themselves facing off against three of Shaq’s old teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, and his three-time title-winning team, the Miami Heat. JB

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