Nike has officially announced a first-of-its-kind gaming and sneaker partnership with 2K Sports that operates in conjunction with the 2019-20 NBA season tipping off tomorrow.
Dubbed the NBA 2K20 x Nike Gamer Exclusive Program, it will grant players on NBA 2K20 the opportunity to earn up to 10 pairs of soon-to-be-released virtual Nike Basketball signature shoes by completing in-game challenges through the MyPlayer mode—but there's more. Those who can successfully complete the challenges may then have the chance to purchase the real-life version of the limited-edition basketball sneakers from Nike. Although yet to be confirmed, one of the upcoming styles may include the all-purple "2K" LeBron 17 colorway that King James, himself teased on Instagram last month.
"We’re excited to be the first sports game to offer our players the chance to buy exclusive shoes from their favorite Nike athletes,” said VP of Global Marketing at 2K, Alfie Brody. “We always strive to push the boundaries of in-game partnerships and offer our players unique experiences alongside traditional basketball gameplay. We can’t wait to see our fans progress through the challenges to unlock and purchase each pair.”
The first challenge of the NBA 2K20 x Nike Gamer Exclusive Program will take place on October 29, and other shoes will be available as the NBA season progresses including at 2020 All-Star Weekend, the NBA Playoffs, and the NBA Finals.
UPDATE (12/20): NBA 2K has officially announced its next challenge in its Gamer Exclusive Program with Nike. Beginning on Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. EST, gamers who surpass Kobe Bryant’s Christmas Day game-high of 42 points in the MyPLAYER Nation and win the game will unlock a new iteration of the "Chaos" Nike Kobe 5 Protro seen below for their in-game player as well as the opportunity to purchase the sneakers through the SNKRS app. Stay tuned for new challenges as the 2019-20 NBA season progresses.
UPDATE (12/25): Check out a closer look at the Nike Kobe 5 Proto GE "Chaos" releasing tomorrow exclusively on NBA 2K20. According to the game, this iteration will be limited to only 2200 pairs available to fans who surpass Kobe Bryant’s Christmas Day game-high of 42 points and win the game in the MyPLAYER Nation.
