The Milwaukee Bucks might be gearing up for a playoff push, but their gaming affiliate is just getting started.
After drafting its roster last month, the Bucks Gaming team is also hoping to capture some of the excitement surrounding Milwaukee basketball this year.
“We think this will only grow globally,” said Cayle Drabinsky, the Co-Managing Director of Bucks Gaming. “We think the amount of viewers on Twitch will grow this year as well. We expect to see a rise for sure heading into season two.
The NBA 2K League begins its second season with THE TIPOFF tournament in New York April 2 – April 6. With a majority of newcomers from last year’s roster, it’s important the players are taken care of.
“[The players] live the good life,” Drabinsky said. “They live in The Moderne, which is one of the nicest buildings in Milwaukee. We really want to provide that incredible lifestyle for our players. They have top-line equipment, top-line computers and we think this is one of the best facilities in the 2K League.”
The opportunity is a dream come true for Stephen Lay, known by his tag “SlayIsland.”
“I’m extremely excited to play for the Bucks,” said Lay, a native of Brown Deer. “This is the team I wanted to play for all along. Growing up a Bucks fan, it was unbelievable to get drafted.”
Since relocating to Milwaukee after the draft in March, the players went on a bonding spa retreat in Kohler. They’ve also dedicated at least eight hours a day practicing for the season ahead.
“Seeing the skills that it takes to be successful, knowing these guys are competitng for tons of money, makes it an exciting and really enthralling experience,” Drabinsky said.
Bucks Gaming will compete for $120,000 in the TIPOFF tournament starting Friday, April 5. There will be $1.2 million on the line for the 2019 season.
“This is everything I imagined,” Lay said of his experience so far. “Playing video games and getting paid for it. It’s amazing.”
