The 2019 NBA 2K League Draft was held today at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Below are quotes from the some of the players selected during the draft.

Ria – Jazz Gaming (No. 1 Overall Pick)

On realizing when he was a good 2K player…

“Really good, probably four years ago. I was playing NBA 2K17 with some friends that I met over the game, and I got a message from another soon-drafted player, hopefully tonight, SlayIsland [Stephen Lay]. He hit me up and said I need a player like you. So I went and played with them. We joined the competitive pro-am scene and started dominating. It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a video game. I built these great friendships with people that you would never expect to over a video game.”

On remembering the first day he started playing video games…

I don’t remember the first day, but I remember back in the original Xbox, I played Shrek 2. It was this one mission. It was some hero time, and it was like a button combination sequence. You had to get it perfect or you would fail the mission. For some reason, it was just so amazing to me. I would sit there for hours just trying to perfect it. I was younger. I wasn’t the most — I wouldn’t say coordinated, but I just wasn’t great at video games at that time. So when I finally did complete it, it was just this amazing feeling, that I’ve overcome the most impossible obstacle.

On what he thinks he brings to the Jazz…

“A hard worker, and I can play with anybody. The Jazz, they already have their leader, their set leader in Compete. I’m good friends with Shaka. And I’m just ready to get to work. I’m going to be a dominant player at 3 through 5, so we’re going to have a lot of different lineups we can run there in Utah. It’s going to be fun.”

Gradient – Warriors Gaming (No. 2 Overall Pick)

On his relationship between the players from the draft…

“A lot of them are good friends. The 2K community, they’re all close-knitted. On the court is really competitive, like you said, but off the court everyone is — most people are cool with each other and want to be teammates and stuff like that.”

On how he got into 2K…

“It was my dad. He’s a huge basketball fan, and I think around 2K09 or 10. He got me the older ones, but that was when I could start taking it serious like 2K10, so he got me that one, and I just couldn’t get off of it.”

MrStylez_ – Pistons GT (No. 4 Overall Pick):

On making it to the 2K League…

“It’s a great feeling. It’s something i’ve been working on over the years. It’s great to have it finally come to fruition.”

On replacing Ramo as the new face of Pistons GT…

“Yeah, definitely. I’ve got some big shoes to fill, but I’m excited. I’m ready.”

PeteBeBallin – Mavs Gaming (No. 5 Pick):

On how he feels with playing along with Dimez in the future…

“I don’t think Dimez gets a lot of credit for the things he does. I think he’s a really good player, and he’s really under-looked in terms of how people portray him, but I’m really excited to go to Dallas and form a great organization with him.”

On his parents’ thoughts…

“Yeah, so growing up, maybe the first couple years of high school, that’s what I heard a lot from my parents, but eventually once they saw the money that I was making and experiences that were coming from this situation, they started to support me even more, and they’re really supportive of the situation 100 percent today.”

Plondo – Bucks Gaming (No. 6 pick):

On how not making the league in Year 1 motivating him…

“Definitely was motivating. I was a little upset at first, but once the second Combine came around, I just played and changed my whole game style, just tried to focus on being a team player, just doing the little things that they notice in their system to select the players.

On how he got into playing 2K…

“I started really playing back in 2K10, just with my friends. I got the game for Christmas, and then competitively in 2K17 and started playing in amateur leagues there. Just something fun to do in my free time, man. Never thought it would come to this.”

Vandi – Grizz Gaming (No. 7 overall pick):

On what excites him about the Grizz Gaming roster…

“We’ve got Authentic and Phenom, and we’ve got a good group of guys here. Last year seemed like they needed that point guard, and I think going into this year, they found that point guard. I think I’m that missing piece for them.

On how he thinks his father feels now that he’s been drafted…

“No, my father isn’t here. I don’t know how he’ll feel, but I hope he’s happy. A lot of the things I got in my life, he instilled in me. From seeing his bad, seeing his good, I learned from him, and he is the biggest influence in my life hands down. It’s not even close. Biggest influence in my life. I can’t repay him.”

Bully – Celtics Crossover Gaming (No. 8 overall pick):

On what excites him about the Celtics Crossover Gaming roster…

“It’s a great feeling. All my friends are there. I’ve been playing with Fab and Mel for a really long time, so I just can’t wait to meet them and play with them.”

On when he realized he was good at NBA 2K…

“Just always putting the hard work in and just always seeing the outcome. Every time I worked hard or focused on a game and you just start playing really good and just seeing it, it motivates you and you just want to keep going. My friends and family, they all support me, motivate me, so yea.”

Reizey – Magic Gaming (No. 9 Overall Pick):

On when he realized he was good at 2K…

Probably about a year ago when the league started. Last year actually before the Combine, people were telling me that they thought I could get drafted and was good enough to do this and make a living out of it. I just tried to focus on that and keep moving forward, and this year it has worked out for me so far.

On not being drafted last year…

I was down for a little bit, but it motivated me to further my game because I wasn’t as good as I thought I was at that point. So it was humbling. It humbled me and just made me want to work even harder. It’s got me here to this point, so I’m excited.