The newly minted NBA2K franchise, Kings Guard Gaming, has partnered with two of the most influential partners in the esports ecosystem. Unikrn and its partner Playwire, have been selected to represent the team in international branding and acquiring potential sponsorship partners during its inaugural foray into the NBA 2K League’ first season which begins on May 1.

The Sacremento Kings have been on the forefront of being one of the most technologically-advanced teams in the NBA. They will parlay this technology into all aspects of building a championship NBA2K team. The franchise will see NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal serve as the team’s General Manager, while UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber will act as the team’s training and performance manager. This all will be done at the world’s first dedicated esports training facility and content studio located at a pro sports venue.

“Partnering with esports industry leaders like Unikrn and Playwire will provide Kings Guard and with a distinct advantage,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Technology Officer and head of esports Ryan Montoya. “We are excited to connect corporate partners with new global audiences that are growing exponentially day by day.”

“A shift into esports from the Kings shows a sharp understanding of what the coming months and years hold for sports and entertainment,” said Unikrn CEO Rahul Sood. “Unikrn has the perfect combination of assets and experience to help drive major success for Kings Guard as they create an unprecedented bridge to the future of sports.”