The NBA 2K League, the official esports competition that’s a team effort of both the NBA and NBA 2K publishers Take-Two, has just “indefinitely disqualified” six players and a coach for their role in a betting scandal.
According to a statement released by the league, an internal investigation has found that players Marquis Gill, Christopher Lafanette, Dorian Earl Miller and Robert Nastasi of Blazer5 Gaming (the Portland Trailblazers’ esports team), Kimanni Ingram of Jazz Gaming (from the Utah Jazz), and Zekirri Dennis of Mavs Gaming (Dallas Mavericks) have all been “disqualified indefinitely” for “violating the league’s gambling and fantasy rules”. Blazer5 Gaming coach Andrew Maxie has received the same punishment for the same offence.
The investigation found that Dennis, Ingram, Lafanette, Miller, and Nastasi had all either bet on or tried to bet on 2K League games, while Gill and Maxie reportedly knew about the betting and “failed to report violations or cooperate fully with the investigation”.
The full statement reads:
The following has been announced by the NBA 2K League: pic.twitter.com/Nr30aIyQuU
— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) October 27, 2022
NBA 2K League players Marquis Gill, Christopher Lafanette, Dorian Earl Miller and Robert Nastasi of Blazer5 Gaming, Kimanni Ingram of Jazz Gaming, and Zekirri Dennis of Mavs Gaming have been disqualified indefinitely from the NBA 2K League and any of its teams for violating the league’s gambling and fantasy rules, it was announced today by NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue. Blazer5 Gaming coach Andrew Maxie has also been disqualified indefinitely for violating the gambling and fantasy rules.
After an investigation, the NBA 2K League determined that Dennis, Ingram, Lafanette, Miller, and Nastasi wagered or attempted to wager on NBA 2K League games, either on their own or through other individuals, and also violated the rules by failing to report violations or cooperate fully with the investigation. Gill and Maxie violated the rules by failing to report violations or cooperate fully with the investigation.
“The integrity of our game is, and always will be, the NBA 2K League’s top priority,” said Donohue. “We take our obligation to the competition and to our fans incredibly seriously, and we will always act forcefully regarding violations of the rules governing game integrity and the related reporting and cooperation requirements.”
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