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Due to the rigorous NBA schedule, players do not get enough personal time. However, some do manage to take out time to indulge in video gaming with whatever little time they have, especially during the offseason.
eSports is garnering a lot of traction around the world, and NBA players are also joining the party. In 2020, the NBA organized an NBA 2K tournament that was open to only players. Superstars like Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Andre Drummond were some of the 16 players who featured in the tournament.
Top five NBA players who are serious gamers
Gaming is really popular with the younger generation, which is why most of the NBA players involved in gaming are youngsters.
Ben Simmons is also an avid gamer who has been in the gaming space for a while. Although he doesn't make the list, Ben is popular on Twitch as he streams alongside other famous streamers like Shaun Hutchinson and Los PollosTV. Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox is also popular as he is a well-known Call of Duty player.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five NBA players who are avid gamers.
#5 Paul George
Paul George has always had a keen interest in gaming, so much so that he partnered with Nike to produce a signature sneaker based on the original PlayStation console color - gray. The LA Clippers star player is a huge PlayStation fan but is slowly making the switch to a PC.
Although PG was one of the first people to get the PS5 when it got released, he is now turning to Alienware for his gaming needs. George went all out during the NBA's enforced break and started streaming on Twitch, majorly Call of Duty. He now has a battle station set-up courtesy of Alienware.
#4 Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is the self-acclaimed best player of NBA 2K. The LA Lakers forward has talked about owning every version of 2K dating back to 2007 and how helpful they are to him in preparing for games.
In recent years, Davis has focused more on Grand Theft Auto. When LeBron James and The Brow were sidelined due to injuries during the 2020-21 NBA season, they both took on gaming and King James was seen calling AD for pointers relating to GTA.
#3 Karl-Anthony Towns
According to Karl-Anthony Towns, no other NBA player can best him in Call of Duty. The Minnesota Timberwolves big man has had a keen interest in gaming for a long time, so much so that he was a spokesperson for Activision, a video game publisher.
Towns has been playing long before his NBA days. He's always talked about how he often played with his mother to pass time. Sadly, he lost his mum in April 2020 due to covid-19 complications.
Traditional sports players are now crossing into eSports, and Towns is not getting left behind. In March 2021, he signed a deal with Luminosity Gaming. The NBA star is one of many athletes that have deals with eSports.
#2 Devin Booker
Devin Booker is an extremely competitive athlete as we all saw in the 2021 NBA Finals. He upholds the same standards as a gamer and strives to be better at any opportunity.
The enforced NBA break in 2020 was an opportunity for Booker to take his skills to the next level, and he took advantage of that. The 2021 NBA Finals finalist delved deeper into Call of Duty and often broadcast on Twitch. Funnily enough, he got the information of the NBA going on a break from a professional Call of Duty player - Nadeshot - in a live stream.
Booker also solicited advice from Nadeshot on how to set up his gaming room after he bought a new house. Apparently, he needed his set-up to feel exactly like that of a professional gamer, and Nadeshot was more than helpful, sending him details on everything a teammate of his needs to compete.
#1 Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward is a genuine lover of gaming. He was active from way before his NBA days. The Charlotte Hornets star has featured several times in eSports tournaments, including IGN's StarCraft 2 Pro League.
Hayward graduated from console gaming a while ago and has gotten more into console gaming. You'll catch him playing titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, etc.
Hayward is arguably the most professional of the bunch when it comes to gaming in the NBA. While others play for fun and as a pastime, he was really into competing and taking it up as a career path.
