ESports

Andy Fahey

The Warriors Gaming Squad (WGS) is one of 17 teams set to compete in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League, it was announced today. Warriors Gaming Squad is the NBA 2K League affiliate team of the Golden State Warriors organization.

“It’s rare that any organization gets to be a part of something from its inception, and that’s what makes participating in the NBA 2K League so enticing,” said Kirk Lacob, vice president of GSW Sports Ventures. “Competing in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League presents the opportunity to engage with the passionate esports community while building on the global fan base for the game of basketball.”

The Warriors Gaming Squad logo, shown above, serves as a visual bridge between the NBA’s Golden State Warriors franchise and its NBA 2K League team. Whereas early video game designs relied on a square, flat graphic, the Warriors Gaming Squad logo pays homage to the old and celebrates the new as it appears flat and three-dimensional simultaneously. It is contained in a circle, which evokes a basketball and the rich history of the Warriors organization.

The NBA 2K League is the first esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. The NBA 2K League will host the first stage of player qualifying for the league from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 2018, open to anybody around the world who is at least 18 years old and has a copy of NBA 2K18 (PS4 or Xbox One). Players will need to win 50 games in NBA 2K18’s Pro-Am mode and complete an online application by Jan. 31 for the chance to be invited to the next round of tryouts in February. Each of the NBA 2K League’s 17 teams will select gamers from a draft pool in March, and the season will begin in May. The players will compete as unique basketball player characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. The NBA 2K series has sold more than 70 million units worldwide, and NBA 2K18 is poised to become its highest-selling sports title ever.

Warriors Gaming Squad has officially launched its social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on Warriors Gaming Squad and the NBA 2K League, visit www.NBA2KLeague.com.

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Warriors Gaming Squad to Participate in Inaugural Season of NBA 2K League

The Golden Guardians (GGS), an esports affiliate team of the Golden State Warriors, have completed their five-player roster for the 2018 season of the North American League of Legends Championship Series (NA LCS), which is listed below:

“We’re really excited about this young roster with a ton of upside,” said Hunter Leigh, head of esports for GSW Esports LLC. “Hai is the leader, the veteran bringing shotcalling and modeling behavior on the Rift, and we have one of the best young jungle talents in Contractz. Lourlo and Matt have already proven themselves at the pro level, and we’re eagerly looking forward to Deftly’s NA LCS debut with the Guardians.”

The Golden Guardians will be coached by esports veteran Choi “Locodoco” Yoonsup. Locodoco earned the Coach of the Split Award in spring 2015 after leading Team SoloMid (TSM) to a first place finish in the NA LCS. A seasoned professional player before he transitioned to coaching, Locodoco competed in the League of Legends Championship Series in both North America and Korea. Locodoco will be joined on the coaching staff by assistant coach Tyler “Akiri” Perron, who previously worked with esports organizations including Fnatic, Immortals and Phoenix1.

In addition to the NA LCS squad, the Golden Guardians will field a five-person Academy Team, which competes in the second-highest professional League of Legends series and provides the opportunity for players to develop their skills. The Golden Guardians’ Academy Team will be helmed by Tanner “Zeu” Deegan, a first-year coach with a competitive esports background, including stints with Tempo Storm and eUnited.

For more information on League of Legends and the Golden Guardians, including bios and clips of the coaching staff and players, CLICK HERE to view the Golden Guardians media guide.

Golden Guardians is the NA LCS affiliate team of the Golden State Warriors. League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena game where two teams of five players battle on Summoner’s Rift with the goal of destroying the heart of the opposing team’s base, known as the nexus, to achieve victory.

Golden Guardians merchandise, including shirts and hoodies, is now available for sale online.

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Golden Guardians Announce North American League of Legends Championship Series Roster

OAKLAND, Calif. – GSW esports LLC has named Hunter Leigh as its head of esports, it was announced today. In this role, Leigh will oversee all esports activities related to the Golden State Warriors, including Golden Guardians, its North American League of Legends Championship Series (NA LCS) affiliate team, and the Warriors’ team in the NBA 2K League. Leigh will report directly to Kirk Lacob, vice president of GSW Sports Ventures and assistant general manager of the Golden State Warriors. 

Leigh, an esports industry veteran, previously served as head of esports operations for Yahoo Esports, where he helped create rivalry events for University League of Legends (uLoL) and Super Smash Bros. He also worked at Riot Games, the developer and publisher of League of Legends, as the NA LCS product lead, where he helped transition the league to a best-of-three schedule, improved player contract protections and helped pave the way for the partnership system. Leigh’s résumé also includes a stint as product and operations manager for ongamers.com, CBS Interactive’s esports site.

“The Warriors are such a well-respected sports franchise and organization, and I am fortunate that they selected me to help steward their entrance into esports,” said Leigh. “I’m eager to hit the ground running as it relates to player acquisitions and building competitive teams for both League of Legends and the NBA 2K League. The Warriors have a proven model for championship success, and I am looking to bring their player development and analytical approach to the esports space.”

Golden Guardians is one of 10 affiliate teams competing in the NA LCS, with play beginning in January 2018. The Golden State Warriors will also participate in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League, which is the first esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. The NBA 2K League will begin with player tryouts in early 2018 and a draft in March before tipping off the season in May.

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Hunter Leigh Named Head of Esports

OAKLAND, Calif. – Golden Guardians is one of 10 teams competing in the North American League of Legends Championship Series (NA LCS), it was announced today by Riot Games. Golden Guardians is the NA LCS affiliate team of the Golden State Warriors.

“As we take our first steps onto the Rift as the Golden Guardians, we’re excited to join the NA LCS and the League of Legends esports family,” said Kirk Lacob, vice president of GSW Sports Ventures. “We are approaching our membership in this elite esports community with respect and admiration. It’s our hope to bring our championship sports roots to our new playing field and contribute to growing the league on a global level.”

Golden Guardians joins 100 Thieves, Cloud9, Clutch Gaming, Counter Logic Gaming, Echo Fox, FlyQuest, OpTic Gaming, Team Liquid and TSM as permanent members of the NA LCS, which begins its new season in January 2018. The NA LCS is the professional league of League of Legends (LoL), which was released by Riot Games in 2009. The league is based in Los Angeles, where teams battle it out weekly in front of a live audience during the regular season for a shot at the North American championship and the chance to compete on behalf of the region on the international stage. LoL is a multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA) where two teams of five champions battle on Summoner’s Rift with the goal of destroying the opposing team’s nexus to achieve victory.

Golden Guardians has officially launched its social media handles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Golden Guardians can also be followed on Snapchat at goldenguardians.

For more information on the NA LCS and Golden Guardians, visit lolesports.com.

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Golden Guardians to Compete in North American League of Legends Championship Series

The NBA 2K esports league announced today that 17 National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, including the Golden State Warriors, will participate in its inaugural season, set to debut in 2018.  Participating organizations include:

“This is the first step in what promises to be an extraordinary league, bringing together the world's best gamers and showcasing elite competition on an international stage,” said NBA 2K esports league Managing Director Brendan Donohue.  “Our teams have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for esports, and we are looking forward to forming something truly unique for basketball and gaming fans around the globe.”

In February 2017, the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) announced plans to launch a new, professional competitive gaming league that will bring together the best basketball gamers in the world.  In the coming months, the league and its teams will make a variety of announcements related to participating players, team branding, league structure and business updates.

ESports

Warriors Gaming Squad to Participate in Inaugural Season of NBA 2K League

Golden Guardians Announce North American League of Legends Championship Series Roster

Hunter Leigh Named Head of Esports

Golden Guardians to Compete in North American League of Legends Championship Series

NBA 2K ESports League Announces 17 NBA Teams to Participate in Inaugural Season