NetsGC Season in Review

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!”

Shakespeare’s Henry V probably wasn’t referencing the NBA or NBA 2K League (imagine the short shorts in 1415!), but he could easily have been referring to NetsGC’s inaugural NBA 2K League team. NetsGC’s first-ever season has come to an end, and although the team did not qualify for the playoffs, it’s a year the six team members—and anyone who followed them, watched them, supported them—will never forget.

There was THE TIPOFF Tournament, at the start of the season, NetsGC’s first-ever game in the NBA 2K League. Top expansion selection NateKahl, the 2018 Finals MVP, against his former team, Knicks Gaming, starting a new chapter. NetsGC won 55-49, with the studio rocking, as Nate collected 5 steals as part of an 18-steal team effort.

Then came week one, where NetsGC jumped out to a 2-0 start to the regular season with wins over Kings Guard Gaming and Magic Gaming, with first-round pick Wavy.zay averaging 19 points per game that week. After a bye—the team’s bane throughout the season—the squad dropped four straight games, though they fought Blazer5 Gaming to the final seconds in week three. They fell to Raptors Uprising in the same week before squandering another doubleheader in week four against Hawks Talon GC and Celtics Crossover Gaming.

They got back on track in week five against Lakers Gaming, one week after bowing out in Las Vegas, at THE TURN Tournament, at the hands of Celtics Crossover. That marked Lav’s first spell at point guard, where he helped lead the team to three consecutive wins. A week six doubleheader against Knicks Gaming and Jazz Gaming proved no issue, as Lav averaged 19 points and 12 assists while second-round pick Shuttles racked up the steals at power forward.

Two losses to playoff teams followed: 76ers GC, in a slogging week eight affair, once again on the heels of a bye week, and then Pacers Gaming, en route to the finals of THE TICKET Tournament for the first time in team history.

Perhaps the team’s best moment came in week nine. Facing fellow playoff hopefuls Heat Check Gaming and Bucks Gaming, NetsGC swept the doubleheader, with Wavy.zay (back at point guard) and Lav each scoring 30 points as Nate and Lav defeated their hometown Bucks. The playoffs, however, were not to be, as NetsGC dropped its final four games to finish the season 7-9.

But the inaugural NetsGC season isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about the player-staff panels, the film sessions with head coach/GM Ivan “OGKINGCURT” Curtiss, the countless games of ping-pong played between scrimmages. It’s about New Jersey’s Shockey and Bronx native Wavy.zay teaming with Shuttles and iiTz Chas, both from Florida, and with NateKahl and Lav from Milwaukee.

A band of brothers, indeed.

⚫️⚪️ Brooklyn, thank you for your support this season ⚪️⚫️#WeGameHard pic.twitter.com/pVrK1524Dt

— NetsGC (@netsgamingcrew) July 20, 2019