About The E Blacks

New Zealand Esports and Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) are excited to announce a new partnership in 2023, which sees the New Zealand Tall Blacks entering the Esports realm by placing a team in the upcoming eFIBA Season 2 competition – under the ‘E Blacks’ moniker.

Run by FIBA and ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Season 2 of eFIBA is regarded as the home of international 2K basketball, with the competition offering National Federations a clear Esports circuit and the opportunity to prove themselves as the best nation on NBA 2K; a highly successful sports simulation video game.

Commencing in October 2023, Season 2 of eFIBA will consist of online Regional Qualifiers and Regional Finals across the four FIBA Regions of Africa, Americas, Asia (including Oceania) and Europe. The top two nations of each of the Regional Finals will proceed to the first in-person eFIBA World Finals 2023, which will take place later this year to crown the world’s best national eFIBA team.

BBNZ CEO, Dillon Boucher says that this collaboration between traditional sport and esports is a significant step forward in engaging with youth and expanding the horizons of basketball in New Zealand.

“Esports is massive around the world across all sporting codes, particularly in basketball where the recent explosion in popularity has been noticeable; so it’s an opportune time for us to get involved in this space,” says Boucher.

“It’s important for us to look at basketball in New Zealand – and how Kiwis engage in it – under a wider lens too; not just on the court or as spectators, but in the online gaming space as well.

“Our partnership with NZ Esports is invaluable, as they hold a huge amount of knowledge and experience in this area and can help us to navigate the Esports arena in our first season. And being part of a tournament like eFIBA Season 2 – with the backing of FIBA – means the quality of the competition will be high.”

NZ Esports CEO, Jonathan Jansen echoes Boucher’s beliefs that this collaboration represents a fusion of traditional sport and esports – for the greater benefit of Kiwis.

“This partnership helps to bridge the gap between physical and virtual play and aims to foster a new era of participation, inclusivity, and innovation for Kiwi youth,” says Jansen.

“It reflects a shared commitment to enriching the sporting landscape, offering new pathways for talent development, and engaging with a broader audience.”

 

About New Zealand Esports:

New Zealand Esports is the national sporting organisation for Esports, committed to fostering the growth of esports in the country, providing platforms for competition, collaboration, and community engagement.

Find out more at www.nzesports.org.nz/