NBA 2K is the first esports league that is being ran by a traditional sports company. With large names and confidence from its investors, the league as become operational and contains a great infrastructure for an infant league. However, esport leagues can only be maintained if the viewership and fan support is keeping the league afloat. During the Tip-off Tournament of the 2K League, only 6.5 thousand viewers tuned in. The start of the league was not looking bright. The same year, Overwatch brought in 213 thousand viewers and attracted more concurrent fans as the years progressed. The Tip-Off tournament brought in 13 thousand viewers at its peak and averaged 10 thousand overall.

NBA owners have stated the league to be a failure as the large sum of money given upfront has not returned any profit whatsoever. The viewership ranks the game 39th on the “Most Watched” games on Twitch. For reference, FIFA 2018 is ranked 21st and Overwatch is ranked 7th.

What factors could be attributing to the low viewership? The NBA 2K league is mostly viewed by players who have an interest in the game, and it is safe to assume that most of their viewership has owned or played the game themselves. NBA 2K18 sold over 9 million copies worldwide. That may seem like a lot, but games like Rocket League and FIFA boasted over 40 million players. These leagues with less investment have produced a more interesting and attractive experience that the NBA could not provide.

Even with the lack of confidence in the 2K league, we can expect the league to continue for a while. Traditional sports fans should catch wind of the 2K league as NBA owners continue to invest in other esport titles. Though the fan base may not be large, it is strong and the community is supportive of each other. Only the future can tell whether or not NBA 2K can compete with the top dogs of esports.