The NBA 2K League today announced the EU Invitational, a London tournament for 20 European NBA 2K League draft prospects to be held December 13-14.
The EU Invitational mimics last year’s Asia-Pacific Invitational Tournament, which brought top players from APAC countries to Hong Kong for a tournament. Six players were selected to the draft pool from the APAC tournament, with Jack “Jaacko” Stevenson being selected by Pistons GT in the third round (50th overall) of the 2019 Entry Draft.
Several NBA 2K League managers and coaches will attend the event for the purpose of evaluating all 20 players. At the end of the event, a committee comprising league representatives and team managers will add several select players to the 2020 NBA 2K League Entry Draft pool. Pacers Gaming’s Cody Parrent and Pistons GT’s Adam Rubin, both of whom attended last year’s APAC Invitational in Hong Kong, will be in attendance, while 76ers GC head coach Jeff Terrell will make his first overseas trip on behalf of the league.
“We are excited to bring together the best NBA 2K players from across Europe for our first-ever European qualifying event,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue. “Building on the success of last season’s APAC Invitational, which identified several draft-eligible players from the Asia‑Pacific region, it is important for us to further strengthen our player pool by providing more opportunities for top international players to qualify for the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft.”
In season one, the league featured three European players: Harry “Hazzaa” Hurst and Jamie “vGooner” Bull from England, and Jannis “JLB_2K” Neumann from Germany. Hazzaa and JLB played together for Mavs Gaming in season one, while Gooner played for Pacers Gaming. After all players went unretained following the 2018 season, Knicks Gaming selected Hazzaa in the 2019 Entry draft and retained him after the 2019 season. Gooner and JLB will participate in the EU Invitational.
Here is the unconfirmed list of 20 players, representing 7 countries, acquired by DIMER:
- Mastour (PG)
- Jannis (PF)
- Badjian (Lock)
- Marcel (PG)
- Edu (PG)
- Lele (Sharp)
- Bigboy (Lock)
- Guardia (C)
- Rafa (Lock)
- Dario (Lock)
- Mario (PF)
- Jordy (Sharp)
- Tansu (Lock)
- Gooner (PG)
- Nash (C)
- Doval (PF)
- GC (C)
- Tizzle (SF)
- Chambix (C)
- Prohamzu (Sharp)
