While two consecutive sweeps have 76ers GC and T-Wolves Gaming into each franchise’s first NBA 2K League Finals, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the two franchises. Here’s a look at how far they’ve come, drawn from our blurbs on each in power rankings and more throughout the year.
76ers GC (B+): “They committed highway robbery by snagging Bread—the best player available at No. 19, a guy who’d been mocked in the top 10 in most mocks—at 19, and in a position of need at that.”
T-Wolves Gaming (B+): “The T-Wolves always manage to make a splash. Here, they seized on a trend-bucking move and snared the falling BearDaBeast outside of the top 10… I think Dr_JoJo_30 and Nacho are steals in the later round.”
76ers GC: “It’s going to be a good season for the 76ers. Expect them to be heavily in the conversation for a championship again in season two—something catastrophic would have to happen for this not to be the case… Philly is well-equipped to handle even the toughest challengers on their path towards a league title.”
T-Wolves Gaming: “If it comes together, the T-Wolves will be the dangerous team its talent suggests it to be, capable of winning multiple tournaments and potentially a championship. If not… well, it could be a long first year in Minnesota only to go home early.”
Week 1 Power Rankings: 76ers GC eliminates T-Wolves Gaming in the Tipoff quarterfinals
76ers GC (Rank: 1): “The undisputed Tipoff Champion. Is there anything else that needs to be said?”
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 5): “The T-Wolves carried a +44 point differential into the knockout rounds at the Tipoff. The Wolves offense looks to give opposing defenses fits on a weekly basis.”
Week 4 Power Rankings: T-Wolves Gaming sits at 1-3, with their head coach coach dismissed and Hood requesting a trade
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 18): “It has been an ugly, ugly last few days for T-Wolves Gaming, who are scrambling to find answers to rapidly arising questions. Their talent shouldn’t be minimized, but Minny-mization has been the order of the day with all that’s going on.”
76ers GC (Rank: 2): “The 76ers slide to No. 2 after their first loss of the year. They’re still the best team in the league and probably shouldn’t have fallen to No. 2, because #RadiantStillAnMVPCandidate”
In-Season Window Trade Grades: T-Wolves Gaming Acquires JMoney for Hood
“They’re 1-1 once more after making the move, which has shifted BearDaBeast to small forward and kept JMoney at point guard. Is that tenable long term? Bear is a better point guard, a flashier player, and a more vocal talker, and all of that seems, conversely, to make his transition easier. JMoney has played a number of positions outside of league, but I’ll believe in his versatility when it occurs on the league build, and, more importantly, on the league stage.”
Week 8 Power Rankings: 76ers GC sits just 5-4, while T-Wolves Gaming is coming off an all-time letdown against Cavs Legion GC
76ers GC (Rank: 4): “While they’ve looked a little shaky recently, no one knows how to score like 76ers GC when they get going. Full commitment and attention, as Jeff Terrell might say, and they can set their sights on a higher spot.”
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 17): “It’s not quite time to throw in the towel for the T-Wolves, but they’ll need a massive late-season surge (or a Ticket title) to make the playoffs. Playing until the clock hits 0:00 will help.”
Week 10 Power Rankings: Both teams on two-game win streaks
76ers GC (Rank: 3): “The 76ers are a rock-solid team, but their playoff spot isn’t rock solid quite yet. One of the league’s most consistent teams has a chance to solidify things with a two-win week.”
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 16): “The T-Wolves, spearheaded by BearDaBeast and JMoney, are an explosive team. Can they explode their way to a five-game win streak to close the year?”
Week 11 Power Rankings: 76ers GC splits two games, T-Wolves Gaming on a four-game win streak
76ers GC (Rank: 4): “A playoff berth is likely, not certain, but a league-high 17 wins throughout the year has the DIMER panel liking the 76ers’ chances with three games to go.”
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 12): “The T-Wolves’ impressive resilience has them 7-6, with an outside shot to make the playoffs, but a tough test against Blazer5 stands in the way. Can BearDaBeast lead a late charge and potentially throw his hat into the ROY ring?”
Week 12 Power Rankings: 76ers GC clinch a playoff berth, while T-Wolves Gaming is win-and-in against Blazer5 Gaming
76ers GC (Rank: 3): “When the going gets tough, the 76ers get going. Philly took home two massive wins in week 11 to cement themselves as the league’s second-best regular season team of all time.”
T-Wolves Gaming (Rank: 7): “A mammoth jump for the T-Wolves, who’ve taken care of business in six straight games. Can they finish the job against Blazer5 and become the first-ever expansion team to book a playoff berth?”
BearDaBeast profile, T-Wolves Gaming clinches playoff berth with dramatic week 12 win
“’I don’t have to score forty, I don’t care to score forty, I don’t care who takes the game-winning shot,’ Bear said. ‘I don’t care about any of that shine. If we win, I get to talk trash.'”
“Everyone, including Butler, expected a technical foul. Butler tried to pull him back, reminding him that the game wasn’t over. Bear held back for the final split seconds before letting out the emotion. With T-Wolves Gaming up three and just 0.2 seconds left on the clock, it probably wouldn’t have mattered. But the technical—for one reason or another—never came, and the T-Wolves sealed the win and with it the first-ever playoff berth in franchise history.”
76ers GC (No. 3 seed): “The 76ers are 21-9 all-time in the regular season for a reason. They’re disciplined. Jeff Terrell is one of the best coaches in the business and can be counted on to institute good between-games adjustments. His players need to execute to the best of their ability. Few teams can out-execute the 76ers when they’re on their game. If they come out sharp, even fewer teams can stand in their way.”
T-Wolves Gaming (No. 4 seed): “If the T-Wolves can replicate their play from the last seven games of the regular season, where Bear looked like a man on a mission and the team came together to play excellent all-around NBA 2K, then they can win this series and fight for a spot in the finals next round.”
Quarterfinals: T-Wolves Gaming sweeps Kings Guard, 76ers GC sweeps Pacers Gaming
Semifinals: T-Wolves Gaming upsets Warriors Gaming Squad in sweep, 76ers GC sweeps Celtics Crossover Gaming
