Season 3 of the NBA 2K League is officially complete, and there’s no doubt that Jazz Gaming left its mark in the digital record books. The official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Utah Jazz posted a 14-2 (.875) regular season record in 2020, the franchise’s highest win total in a single season in its three-year history, and earned its first-ever postseason berth with the No. 2 seed in the NBA 2K League Playoffs.
Jazz Gaming Head Coach Jelani “Comp” Mitchell, who has been at the helm for two seasons, was named the 2020 NBA 2K League Coach of the Year in a vote by players, coaches, team managers and media. Under his leadership, the team earned a final four finish in the playoffs and placed in the top four in both of its in-season tournament appearances.
“Comp,” who hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., is a well-respected advocate for the NBA 2K community. He leads Jazz Gaming’s team program and strategy, including developing and executing game plans, scouting opponents, organizing practices and scrimmages, and developing roster talent.
In addition to the Coach of the Year hardware for “Comp,” Jazz Gaming players were fixtures at end-of-season awards time. Center Spencer “Ria” Wyman, the No. 1 selection in the 2019 NBA 2K League Draft, earned All-NBA 2K League First Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Guard Kimanni “Splashy” Ingram, who was one of the most dynamic first-year players in the entire league, collected All-NBA 2K League Rookie Team accolades.
The team flourished thanks to contributions from all six players, benefiting from the perspective and expertise of veteran swingman Shaka “Yeah I Compete” Browne, the franchise’s first-ever draft selection in 2018 (third overall). Guard Lytel “Lotty” Martin, who was acquired last season in a trade with Heat Check Gaming (Miami Heat affiliate), played a major role in the team’s growth and connected on a memorable series-winning layup against Grizz Gaming (Memphis Grizzlies affiliate) to clinch the team’s first-ever playoff berth. Forward Brent “Lord Beezus” Aasgaard was automatic from the corner three spot and brought steady leadership to the club, while guard Freddy “GetOnMyLevel” Whelan stayed engaged and ready throughout the season as the sixth man.
The NBA 2K League has enjoyed marked growth in audience and interest over its first three seasons, highlighted by games broadcast on ESPN2 for the first time in 2020. Crossover appeal makes sense, as it is ultimately the same product: NBA-affiliated teams play simulated 5-on-5 basketball. Rivalries exist on the court, coaches draw up plays, there’s a draft to select talent, a (digital) combine to evaluate players and teams can make trades.
Just like the NBA, player and team stats drive the narrative, and Jazz Gaming tallied some eye-popping numbers. The most notable include winning eight-straight regular season series, “Splashy” putting up 52 points against the Grizzlies’ affiliate in July, “Ria” averaging a double-double this season, and the team scoring 113 points in a single game, a mark that stood as a league scoring record until the Milwaukee Bucks’ affiliate surpassed it minutes later.
The coronavirus pandemic required all teams to pivot and play remotely from their home markets for the entire season. For Utah, home base was the familiar confines of Vivint Arena in the Jazz Gaming Lounge powered by Maverik on Level 5. In seasons past, all teams would travel to a centralized studio location, typically in New York City, to play in front of a live audience, but Jazz Gaming didn’t miss a beat, adjusting to remote gameplay by authoring its most successful season to date.
In the era of social distancing, the team’s community events turned virtual, too. “Lord Beezus” played NBA 2K online with patients from Primary Children’s Hospital throughout the season, and “Lotty” met remotely with teenagers from the Juvenile Justice System to share his experiences and provide mentorship. The team partnered with Maverik and STEM Utah to encourage students with prizes and videos during periods of remote learning.
For more information on Utah Jazz Gaming, visit www.jazzgaming.gg and follow @UtahJazzGaming on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.