Isles GT to Participate in NBA2K League Community Tournaments

The New York Islanders are making headway in the world of esports as the first NHL team to participate in the NBA2KLeague Community 3v3 tournament, as Isles GT was invited to participate in tournaments set to kick off this spring.

"We're thrilled to be participating in the NBA2K League," said Islanders VP of Marketing, Simone Perrin. "This tournament reaches a global audience of passionate and engaged gamers, and we are excited to connect with this audience and build the connection with the New York Islanders brand."

Isles GT signed some high-profile players, inking two-time NBA2K League Champion Jack “JBM” Mascone to give the team a competitive edge. JBM retired from NBA 2K after the 2021 season, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity with Isles GT.

"The Islanders have such a rich history and a winning culture, so when this opportunity came about, I thought it was a pretty cool alignment," JBM said. "I'm really excited to compete again."

Mascone is a guard with a decorated resume in the esports world. Drafted first overall in the 2020 2KLeague Draft, JBM made an impact immediately upon entering the professional realm, leading Wizards District Gaming to back-to-back championships in his two seasons in the NBA 2K League. He was named Finals MVP in 2021 prior to his retirement.

JBM will be teaming up with Dario "Dario" Pileggi, Brandon "Cruxify" Robertson and Deontie “Draco” Wromley to represent Isles GT this year.

“We filled out our roster attracting some of the top talent from the 3v3 community," said Jordan Zelniker, Islanders Esports Strategy Lead. "Our team is anchored by the experience of two-time league champion, JBM, while Cruxify, Dario and Draco each bring their own unique talent to the team. These players bring the exceptional skill and hunger to win that we look for in all Isles GT players.”

Already familiar with their backgrounds, JBM is excited to develop chemistry with his new teammates in game action.

"Knowing their reputations beforehand, they're super competitive players and they have a winning history," JBM said. "It was really cool to meet the guys at the Islanders practice arena and I'm excited to compete with them. If you have a shared understanding that you're playing for one another, it's a lot easier to focus."

Teams will compete three-on-three in two tournaments with the goal of racking up points to qualify for the playoffs. The top amateur team from each of the NBA2KL SLAM & SWITCH OPEN will advance to compete in the NBA2KL 3v3 Playoffs and the top two teams from the NBA2KL 3v3 STEAL OPEN will also advance to the NBA2KL 3v3 Playoffs. Games will be streamed live on Twitch.

The SLAM tournament begins on Feb. 26 and JBM is gearing up for a competitive stretch.

“The preparation is all about making sure you're comfortable with your own skill set, but more importantly establishing strategies within your team,” JBM said. “It’s important to get on the same page, building habits so you're able to execute easily as a team.”

Isles GT’s participation in the NBA 2K league is a prime opportunity to expand two already established fanbases. Islanders fans will get a taste of the competitiveness in NBA2K while a new audience of basketball and gaming fans will be exposed to hockey and the Islanders for the first time.

"The opportunity to bring the Islanders logo and branding into the league build of NBA 2K will also allow us to connect with fans that maybe haven’t ever watched a hockey game," Zelniker said. "This NBA2KLeague collaboration allows us to engage with that new audience and introduce them to the sport of hockey while connecting with them at their own interests. It'll put us on their radar so that if they do take an interest in hockey, the team they'll think of first is the Islanders."

As the Islanders and Isles GT embark on a new initiative with NBA 2K, JBM is excited to jump right in and use his skillset to lead his team deep in the playoffs.

“To be at the forefront of an Islanders initiative, it’s meaningful to me and something I won’t take for granted,” JBM said. “I’m thrilled to be a part of that.”