You Can Watch NBA Players Compete In A Video Game Tournament For Coronavirus Relief

The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation of major sports events, preventing NBA players from practicing and playing — instead, they’ll be facing off virtually in a video game tournament.

The NBA 2K Players Tournament will feature the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant and other NBA athletes playing popular basketball video game franchise “NBA 2K.” It starts on April 3 and will air on ESPN and ESPN 2.

Along with being an outlet for players to safely compete and NBA fans to get some court content, the tournament will also benefit coronavirus relief efforts. The winner will be awarded $100,000 to donate to a charity of choice that’s helping people amid the pandemic.  

“This tournament offers a unique opportunity for our players to compete with one another while also supporting their philanthropic efforts and engaging with their fans,” said Josh Goodstadt, an EVP at THINK450 which is the commercial arm of the NBPA. “We are excited to work with 2K and the NBA to bring this experience to life for the entire NBA community.”

Among the 15 other entrants is Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell, who was one of the first public players to test positive for the virus in March. In an April 2 tweet, he continued to urge Utah residents to “Crush This Curve” by practicing social distancing measures to slow the spread of the virus.

The NBA suspended its 2020 season on March 11 amid the outbreak. The league has since faced ongoing criticism that players were able to get tested for the virus more easily than members of the general public who were experiencing symptoms.