Our #21Teamsin21Days series will highlight one NBA 2K League team each day, in alphabetical order, reviewing each team’s 2018 season, while also taking a look at each teams outlook in 2019, including the four new expansion franchises.

Team: Knicks Gaming

Head Coach: Kyle Rudy

2018 Regular Season Record/Finish: 5-9/ 14th in the League

2018 Season Accolades: Won the NBA 2K League Finals

Protected Players for 2019 Season: G O O F Y 7 5 7, iamadamthe1st, Idrisdagoat6, YEYNotgaming

Season Summary:

Introducing the historic first-ever NBA 2K League Champions. With their backs against the wall needed the automatic bid to make the playoffs, Knicks Gaming found their way in the final tournament of the season. Slated as the No. 15 seed, New York’s team took down No. 2 Raptors Uprising GC before slowing down the No. 1 scorer Boo Painter and Wizards District Gaming. Sparked by iamadamthe1st’s MVP run, Knicks Gaming then upset Cavs Legion GC and Celtics Crossover Gaming in back-to-back games to capture THE TICKET tournament title and an automatic berth to the playoffs.

In the playoffs, Knicks Gaming found that same magic that turned them into tournament champs. New York upset No. 1 seeded Blazer5 Gaming who only had two losses in the regular season in dramatic fashion as iamadamthe1st and G O O F Y 7 5 7 combined for 51 points. After dropping the best-of-3 opener to Cavs Legion GC in the semifinals, the Knicks used a game-saving block from G O O F Y 7 5 7 at the buzzer to force a decisive game three. In the win-or-go-home matchup, iamadamthe1st went off for 36 points and 1- assists while G O O F Y recorded a 20 point, 20 rebound effort to propel their squad to the title showdown. Nate Kahl and Knicks Gaming would slow down the league’s hottest scorer in Hotshot to sweep Heat Check Gaming and capture the league’s inaugural NBA 2K League Championship.

Looking to defend their title, Knicks Gaming returns four of their starting five. While losing NBA Finals MVP NateKahl was a tough blow, Knicks Gaming brings back the strongest core of any squad with iamadamthe1st, G O O F Y 7 5 7, idrisdagoat6 and YEYNotGaming.