New Zealand Esports and Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) are excited to announce a new partnership today, 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.
In preparation for the first step of this qualification process – the online Regional Qualifiers – NZ Esports and BBNZ will run two eFIBA NBA2K 2024 Qualifier Combines, which offer a unique opportunity for Aotearoa’s passionate NBA2K basketball gaming community to showcase their skills and qualify to represent New Zealand on the world stage.
The Combines will take place on 19 and 26 August, with the final draft held on 27 August and the E Blacks squad officially announced on 30 August. The top six players will go on to represent New Zealand at the eFIBA NBA2K 2024 Tournament.
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.”
Qualifier Combines – Format & Details:
The eFIBA NBA2K 2024 combines will be conducted through online play, using Discord as a communication platform. Participants will go through a series of competitive matches to determine the final six players. The combine game version used will be PS5 only and next-gen version of NBA2K23.
The event consists of two Open Combines on the 19 and 26 August, followed by an Invite-Only Combine on the 27 August.
Both pre-formed teams and individual talents are encouraged to register and compete – interested participants can find more details and register at www.nzesports.org.nz/efiba-s2-qualifier/.
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/
