Photo: Twitter/NBA2KLeague
No player made more of an impact on the opening day of the NBA 2K League season than Brandon Caicedo, aka Hood.
Now, he’s on ESPN.
ESPN Esports compared the budding Cavs star to established Cleveland superstar LeBron James after the former carried Cavs Legion GC to the elimination rounds of the NBA 2K League’s inaugural Tip-Off Tournament (to be played Saturday).
Hood scored 41 points in the team’s first game, a 76-73 win over highly touted Kings Guard Gaming, as teammate Sick x 973 hit a late three-pointer to give the Cavs their final lead. After an overtime loss to Bucks Gaming, Hood pushed his team through to the quarterfinals with a stellar 41-point outing in which he shot a remarkable 19/21 from the field.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to my team trusting me to put the ball in the basket,” Hood said. While Sick x 973 also scored in double-digits in all three games for the Cavs, Hood clearly ran the show and powered the offense all day long.
“I always considered myself the best scorer on this game,” the day-one star declared. “I think that’s why I was picked to come here to Cleveland. I was picked to put the ball in the basket.”
Hood is the very early favorite for MVP following his spectacular performance at the Tip-Off tournament. Cavs Legion GC appears to have gotten away with highway robbery by selecting Hood 16th overall. Caicedo was the tenth and final point guard selected in the first round of the NBA 2K League draft.
Having been selected so late, Hood entered the season with a chip on his shoulder.
“I’m taking it personal this tournament. If [the other teams] didn’t pass up on me, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now, surrounded by a great group of guys and a great group of teammates. I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
With the elimination rounds coming on Saturday, Cavs Legion GC looks as capable as any team of capturing the NBA 2K League’s first tournament banner. Hood will look to build on his near-perfect opening day and continue to draw comparisons to Lebron James.
