Magic Gaming Buzzing with Excitement During Media Day for 2023 NBA 2K League Season

ORLANDO – Coming off their most successful campaign in franchise history, Magic Gaming enters their sixth season in the NBA 2K League with high expectations.

After reaching the playoffs in both 3v3 and 5v5 game modes last season for the first time in Magic Gaming history, the team arrived at their 2023 Media Day buzzing with excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead.

During the offseason, Orlando was able to retain its core of point guard Joshua “unguardable” Hunter, lockdown defender Matthew “Matty” Grant, and center Robert “May” May, who were all instrumental in helping Magic Gaming reach the postseason in both game modes.

Instead of resting on their laurels, Orlando was aggressive in rounding out its roster acquiring shooting guard Jarvis “Simptoms” Thompson from Mavs Gaming and center Devin “Scoreo” Lawrence from Cavs Legion GC.

With a blend of high-end talent, willing defenders, veteran pieces, and hard workers up and down their roster, Magic Gaming believes it has all the ingredients necessary to make deep postseason runs in both game modes.

“I’m super excited,” said Magic General Manager and Head Coach Jonah Edwards, who enters his fifth season with the organization. “I think we have a group that certainly gels well and is very cohesive. The path we’re on is very sustainable. I anticipate this group to get along all year and if we have the same focus level that we’ve had over (training camp), we’ll be where we want to be come (the postseason).”

Here’s a closer look at Orlando’s roster:

PG – UNGUARDABLE: 

After being acquired from Blazer5 Gaming as part of a massive four-team midseason trade last year, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 2KL Draft instantly turned the tide of Magic Gaming’s 2022 season. Orlando went from the bottom of the standings in both 3v3 and 5v5 to winning the STEAL OPEN and reaching THE TICKET finals, which secured Magic Gaming’s playoff spots in both game modes.

As a result of his sensational showings in Orlando, unguardable was named to the 2022 NBA 2KL All-Rookie Team and was a runner up in the Rookie of the Year race.

Magic Gaming’s floor general grinded out hours upon hours of game play this offseason and could very likely be in the mix for league MVP by the time this upcoming season comes to a close.

“I’m very excited about this upcoming season,” said unguardable. “I feel like we have a great chance at being very good this year. We have pieces that fit the team overall. I feel like this is going to be the year that we (have a lot of success).”

SG – SIMPTOMS: 

Playing the prior season under the handle of “Jarvis,” Simptoms was acquired this offseason from Mavs Gaming. The Greenwood, South Carolina native averaged 18.0 points and 2.6 assists, while knocking down 4.7 triples per game during his rookie campaign last year.

Along with being a knockdown shooter, Simptoms is known for his off-ball movement and ability to get himself open on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s solid for his position and occasionally even served as Dallas’ lockdown during stretches of last season.

Perhaps what excites Orlando the most about the shooting guard is the tremendous strides he made over the course of his rookie campaign while in Dallas. After averaging just 11.4 points and 1.1 assists per contest in THE TIPOFF, Simptoms elevated his game to the tune of 21.4 points and 4.4 assists per affair during seed-week play.

“I feel like (with our group), we’re going all the way, man,” said Simptoms. “I feel like me and Scoreo come here being two additions to the team that will help us tremendously because we bring our own skillsets. We’ve all been there before now. So, there won’t be anything shocking. We’ll all be poised and professional.”

SF – MATTY: 

Matty joined Magic Gaming last season when the team selected him with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NBA 2K League Draft. The fifth-year 2KL veteran instantly exceeded expectations both as the team’s primary lockdown defender and as one of the group’s best communicators.

One of the most lethal offensive threats from the lockdown position, it’s possible that Matty will have his best season in the 2KL this year as the league-build version of the game allows for better scoring from that position.

Valued for both his ability on and off the court, Matty was selected as the team’s captain this season.

“It’s a big honor,” said Matty. “My best friend on the team is Robbie May and this is his fourth season here. And for him to tell me that he was voting for me as captain is very special. He had my vote. So, we were both voting for each other. (laughter) But the team having that much faith and confidence in me to be a leader and be that guy, it’s very special.”

PF – MAY: 

If you see any offseason big man list and it doesn’t have May towards the top of the rankings, consider the creator a casual.

In a league where brashness is often rewarded with attention, May’s cool and calm approach can easily get overlooked by outsiders. However, there’s no question he’s immensely valued in Magic Gaming’s locker room.

The versatile fifth-year veteran has provided a calming voice during his four years in Orlando and is willing to play any role to help his team win. Known as Octo-May for his ability to disrupt passing lanes and get his hands on any loose ball, he recorded double-digit rebounds in 11 straight 5v5 games to close out the season and performed his best in the team’s biggest moments.

“This season is really exciting,” said May. “We start off with 3v3 play and I feel like we have unfinished business there. We were very confident in the playoffs last season, but unfortunately, we lost. So, we’re going to try and continue our momentum. I feel like last year maybe just was not our time yet, but we have really high expectations for (3v3) this season. In 5v5, we’re really excited for our new additions of Scoreo and Simptoms. We feel like they complement us really well. I feel like we’re going to improve this season in 5v5. We have unfinished business there too after making the playoffs and having a first-round exit (in that game mode). We feel like these new additions will hopefully help us get further.”

C – SCOREO: 

Scoreo comes to Orlando after spending two seasons in Cleveland playing under the handle “DLAW.”

Offensively, Scoreo’s most impressive stretch of basketball last season came during THE TURN tournament, during which he averaged 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 76.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.

On the defensive end of the floor, the third-year pro is known as a terrific corner defender. While May will likely operate as the team’s primary big man in pick-and-roll coverage, Scoreo will focus on shutting down the opposition’s top corner 3-point threats, a role in which he’s excelled in the past.

During the offseason, Scoreo attends Monmouth College in Illinois and plays football for the Division III program. He’s already impressed Magic Gaming players and coaches with his competitiveness and communication on and off the virtual hardwood.

“They made a lot of progress and made the playoff in both game modes last season,” said Scoreo of his new team. “I feel like our potential is even higher this year. We have better talent adding Simptoms and me, who are two guys who are good in their respective roles, fit right in with the team, that want to get better, (and) are good communicators. I feel like (we can) make the playoffs in both modes, be really good, and hopefully turn some heads.”

SEASON SIX INFO: 

Magic Gaming opens season six of the NBA 2K League on Thursday, March 9 at 7:45 p.m. ET as they face off against Blazer5 Gaming to begin group play in THE SLAM 3v3 tournament powered by Coinbase. The season opener will be livestreamed on NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Additional changes were made this offseason to the NBA 2K League’s season structure. For season six, the schedule has been split between 3v3 and 5v5 gameplay modes. Each of the 3v3 regular season tournaments (THE SLAM and THE SWITCH) and the 3v3 playoffs and Finals will take place before the start of the traditional 5v5 season. The 5v5 season will feature 12 regular season games, beginning with THE TIPOFF tournament and finishing with THE TURN tournament. There will also be qualifying events for the 3v3 tournaments which will give amateur players the chance to compete for prize money.

NBA 2K League teams, amateur teams and community teams will qualify for the 2KL 3v3 playoffs based on their performance in the prior competitions throughout the season.

All 25 teams will compete in THE TIPOFF, THE TURN, THE SLAM and THE SWITCH. The top five performing teams in each conference at the end of the regular season will automatically qualify for the 2KL 3v3 and 5v5 Playoffs.

Season six of the NBA 2K League will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 5 with the 2023 NBA 2K League 5v5 Finals.

Also of note, Magic Gaming’s new gaming studio is now located in leAD Lake Nona. The team will play all of their remote contests in this space and will reside in the building for the duration of the season. The leAD Lake Nona is a 16,000-square-foot Pixon MS2 innovation space within the Lake Nona Town Center. Wired with gigabit infrastructure and access to a high-speed 5G network, the Pixon MS2 space provides an environment ripe for innovation that includes co-working spaces, conference rooms, and common areas for participants in the program to utilize.

“This space is incredible,” said Edwards. “The area is insanely convenient. I can’t believe this is our reality some days. What a gorgeous set up where we can wake up, roll out of bed, come to practice, get breakfast, get lunch, all within a three-minute walk from the same place. It seems so uncommon. Safe area, and the facility is gorgeous. We are providing a set up that rivals what any team can provide for their NBA 2K League team. It’s something we take great pride in.”