Jazz Gaming

Last updated
Jazz Gaming
Jazz Gaming logo.jpg
Sport
Founded2017
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
ColorsNavy, white, yellow
   
Website jazzgaming.nba.com

Jazz Gaming is an esports team that competed in the NBA 2K League (NBA 2KL or 2KL) from 2018 to 2024. Founded in 2017, they are associated with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contents

History

Jazz Gaming was one of the original 17 NBA 2KL teams to be announced. [1] In December 2017, the Utah Jazz announced the name and logo for Jazz Gaming. The team's logos were created by RARE Design; its primary logo is "a 3D shape of Utah, with a white U and gold J outlined in navy blue". [2] They also designed a secondary logo, featuring the team name with a pair of eighth notes in the "A" slot in "Jazz". [2]

In the inaugural 2KL draft, held in 2018, Jazz Gaming selected Shaka "Yeah I Compete" Browne with the third-overall pick. [3] Their five following picks in the draft were: Malik "MrSlaughter01" Leisinger, DeMar "Deedz" Butler, Delano "Tifeworld" Allsup Jr., Jaishon "24k JSmoove" Scott, and Michael "Stambreezy" Stam. [3] The 2KL held the Tip-Off Tournament to begin the 2018 season; Deedz was named to the All-Tournament Third Team. [4]

Jazz Gaming held the first-overall pick in the 2019 2KL draft, which they used to select Spencer "Ria" Wyman. [5] [6] Jazz Gaming finished the season with an 8–8 record and missed the playoffs. [7]

In the 2020 2KL draft, Jazz Gaming selected Brentathan "Lord Beezus" Aasgaard; Lord Beezus previously played for Pacers Gaming. [8] During the season, Jazz Gaming played their games remotely from Level 5 of Vivint Smart Home Arena. [9] The team lost in the semifinals of the Tip-Off Tournament. [10] The team finished the regular season with a 14–2 record, clinching its first playoff berth and the 2nd seed in the playoffs. [11] [12] In his second year with the team, [13] head coach Jelani Mitchell was also named 2KL Coach of the Year. [12] They lost in the semifinal round of the playoffs. [14]

Jazz Gaming selected Kimanni "Splashy" Ingram with the first pick in the 2021 2KL draft. [14] In 2021, Splashy and Ria were voted as All-Stars for the inaugural 2KL All-Star Game. [15] The team finished with an 18–10 record, placing them third in the 2KL's Western Conference. [16] After defeating Warriors Gaming Squad 2–1 in a best-of-three series, [17] Jazz Gaming advanced to the 2KL Finals in 2021, which they lost to Wizards District Gaming 0–3 in a best-of-five series. [18] [19]

In October 2022, Splashy was among six 2KL players to be indefinitely disqualified from any league activity. [20] [21] An investigation by the league found the six players to have wagered or attempted to wager on 2KL games, either themselves or through other individuals. [20]

In July 2024, 2KL CEO Andrew Perlmutter held a town hall with the league's staff and management, firing everyone and placing Jazz Gaming, along with the rest of the entire league, on an 18-month hiatus intended to be spent revamping the league. [22]

Season-by-season results

5v5 format

SeasonFinish [a] W [b] L [b] Win% Playoffs Head Coach
2018Did not qualify [11]
201988.500Did not qualify [7] Jelani Mitchell
20202nd142.875Lost semifinal roundJelani Mitchell
20213rd1810.643Lost 2KL Finals (Wizards District Gaming)
0–3
2022
2023
2024

3v3 format

SeasonFinish [a] WL Win% Playoffs Head Coach
2022
2023
2024

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.
  2. 1 2 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. ↑ Fogel, Stefanie (August 15, 2018). "NBA 2K League Adds Four Expansion Teams for 2019 Season". Variety . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Genessy, Jody (December 13, 2017). "Utah Jazz introduces logo for new video game team". Deseret News . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Wells, Adam (April 4, 2018). "NBA 2K League 2018 Draft Results: Full Selections and Rosters". Bleacher Report . Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ Mazique, Brian (May 6, 2018). "'NBA 2K' League Tip-Off Tournament Wrap-Up: MVP, All-Tournament Team, Positives And Negatives". Forbes . Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ Garcia, Jeff (May 8, 2019). "Q&A with the NBA 2K League's 2019 first overall draft pick Spencer 'Ria' Wyman". KABB . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ Holmes, Jack (March 7, 2019). "At the NBA 2K League Draft, I Witnessed the Surreal Future of What It Means to Go Pro". Esquire . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Garcia, Jeff (May 21, 2020). "Jazz Gaming HC Mitchell says expect great things from 2019 No. 1 pick Ria". KABB . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ Garcia, Jeff (May 29, 2020). "Texas native Aasgaard brings his talents to Jazz Gaming". KABB . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ Miller, Larry H. (May 20, 2020). "Jazz Gaming to make season debut on Thursday". KJZZ . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ Garcia, Jeff (June 23, 2020). "One-on-one with Jazz Gaming's HC Mitchell: 'Tip-off' wrap up, season outlook and more". KABB . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Garcia, Jeff (July 26, 2020). "Jazz Gaming clinches NBA 2K League playoff berth for first time in team history". KABB . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Ireland, Kyle (August 22, 2020). "Utah Jazz Gaming's Jelani 'Comp' Mitchell Named NBA 2K League Coach of the Year". KSL Sports . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  13. ↑ Alsever, Jennifer (September 7, 2021). "Inside Jazz Gaming, Utah's competitive eSports league". Utah Business. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Scribner, Herb (February 27, 2021). "Why this Utah Jazz Gaming star isn't humble". Deseret News . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  15. ↑ Scribner, Herb (September 24, 2021). "Why the NBA 2K League's All-Star Game is important for its future". Deseret News . Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Standings Archive". NBA 2K League . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  17. ↑ Rader, Doyle (August 30, 2021). "NBA 2K League Returns To In-Person Gameplay For Playoffs In Dallas". Forbes . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ Hansen, James (September 1, 2021). "Utah Jazz Gaming takes on Wizards District Gaming in NBA 2K League Final". SLC Dunk . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Wizards District Gaming Wins 2021 NBA 2K League Championship". Monumental Sports & Entertainment. September 4, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "NBA 2K League bans 6 players, coach for gambling violations". ESPN. October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  21. ↑ Webster, Andrew (October 28, 2022). "NBA 2K League bans players for gambling on league games". The Verge . Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  22. ↑ "NBA 2K League unveils layoffs, reimagined business". Sports Business Journal . July 3, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
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