Pacers Gaming

Pacers Gaming
Sport
Founded2017
ColorsNavy blue, gold, cool gray
     
PartnersIndiana National Guard
Parent groupPacers Sports & Entertainment
Websitepacersgaming.nba.com

Pacers Gaming is an esports team competing in the NBA 2K League (NBA 2KL or 2KL). They are a venture of Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), which owns the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)'s Indiana Fever, and the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League.

History

Pacers Gaming was founded in December 2017 as part of the Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) umbrella.[1] The team's founding was led by Kelly Krauskopf, at the time the team president of the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), as well as the Senior Vice President of the Indiana Pacers.[2] The team competes in the NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the NBA 2K' video game franchise.[3] The Pacers were one of the first teams to join the 2K League.[2] Cody Parrent serves as the team's Senior Director of eSports Operations, equivalent to the head coach and general manager of the team.[4][5] The team is sponsored by the Indiana National Guard.[6]

In the first 2K League Draft, Pacers Gaming selected Bryan "WoLF 74" Colon, a 22-year old from New York, with the 13th overall pick.[4] During the 2018 season, WoLF 74 was selected All-Tournament Second Team in the league's Tip-Off Tournament.[7]

The team won five games in its first season; the following year, they doubled their win total and clinched a playoff berth.[8]

Beginning in 2022, the NBA 2KL added a 3v3 format, which would be played over the course of three tournaments as opposed to a traditional regular season.[9] That season, the league returned to in-person competition, after two years of remote play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] In the 2KL's 3v3 format in 2022, Pacers Gaming had a league-best 17–6 record, earning the number-one seed and a first-round bye for postseason play. They lost in their first championship tournament matchup, 3 games to 0, to Rim Runners, an amateur team.[11]

Logos and branding

A sister team of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, the Pacers Gaming logo features a stylized version of Boomer, the Pacers' mascot.[1][12] In the press release announcing Pacers Gaming, the logo was called a "modernized Pacers Panther".[1] Like the NBA team, Pacers Gaming's logo is blue and yellow.

Season-by-season results

5v5 format

Season Finish[a] W[b] L[b] Win% Playoffs Head Coach
2018 5 9 .357[13] N/A Cody Parrent
2019 10 6 .625[14] N/A Cody Parrent
2020 4 12 .250[15] N/A Cody Parrent
2021 2nd 20 8 .714[16] L Second Round (Jazz Gaming)[17]
2022 6 11 .353[18]
2023 11 13 .458[19]

3v3 format

Season Finish[a] W L Win% Playoffs Head Coach
2022 1st 17 6 .739[18] Lost 3v3 Championship Tournament (Rim Rummers, 3–0)[11]
2023 14 12 .538[19] N/A

Roster

for 2024
Pacers Gaming NBA 2K roster
Players Coaches
Role Handle Name Nationality
G Ceez Martinez, Caesar United States
C Scoreo Lawrence, Devin United States
G Cooks Campbell, Mike United States
F SubGoated Ferreira, Josh Canada
F JaySnags Laboy, Julio United States
Head coach

Joel Lazu

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: 2024.

Source:[20][21]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.
  2. ^ a b The Wins and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play, or play in the "Tip-Off", "The Turn", or "The Ticket" tournaments. Regular and postseason records are combined only below the table.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Pacers Sports & Entertainment Announces NBA 2K League Team Name & Logo". NBA.com. National Basketball Association. December 12, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Ayello, Jim (December 12, 2017). "Pacers Sports & Entertainment enters world of eSports as member of NBA 2K League". Indy Star. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Pacers Gaming Has Got Next". Indianapolis Monthly. February 18, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Nye, Rich (April 25, 2018) [April 23, 2018]. "Pacers Gaming eSports team begins play in NBA 2K League next month". WTHR. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Sokeland, Kyle (May 15, 2020). "Reitz grad Cody Parrent turned love of video games into career with Pacers Gaming". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Chapman, Lauren (July 26, 2018). "Pacers, NBA Dive Into Esports". Curious Mix. WFYI. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Mazique, Brian (May 6, 2018). "'NBA 2K' League Tip-Off Tournament Wrap-Up: MVP, All-Tournament Team, Positives And Negatives". Forbes. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Glaspie, Akeem (July 24, 2019). "Traditional athletes, competitive experience transforms Pacers Gaming into playoff team". Indy Star. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (December 16, 2021). "Changes coming to NBA 2K League: Tournament schedule, amateur 3-on-3 games, higher prize pool". USA Today. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Lorenzi, Joel (April 21, 2022). "NBA 2K League hoping to grow league in return to in-person play". Indy Star. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "The NBA2KL 3V3 Championships". Pacers Gaming. August 19, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Schoettle, Anthony (December 12, 2017). "Pacers unveil esports team's name, Boomer-inspired logo". Indianapolis Business Journal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Pacers Gaming Makes Historic Trade with Pistons GT". Pacers Gaming. September 27, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  14. ^ White, Eddie (July 19, 2019). "Week 12: Pacers Gaming vs NetsGC". Pacers Gaming. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Pacers Gaming Gains No. 2 Position in 2021 NBA 2K League Draft". Pacers Gaming. October 29, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  16. ^ "Pacers Gaming 2021 Playoff Preview". Pacers Gaming. August 23, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "Pacers Gaming Record-Breaking Season Ends". Pacers Gaming. August 27, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "The 5V5 Ticket Tournament vs Pistons GT". Pacers Gaming. August 12, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Pacers Gaming Win, Then Lose, Ending 2023 Season". Pacers Gaming. July 29, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "Roster". Pacers Gaming. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Pacers Gaming Win in Ceez Debut". Pacers Gaming. May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.