Seventeen teams played in the inaugural NBA 2K League season.
The first NBA 2K League season took place in 2018, beginning with the Tip-Off Tournament on May 1 and concluding with the championship on August 25. Its 17 teams were created largely through partnerships with NBA franchises, including Heat Check Gaming, Mavs Gaming, Bucks Gaming, and Celtics Crossover Gaming.
The season used a professional esports structure with regular-season matches, tournament events, and playoffs. Players qualified through an open process tied to NBA 2K18, then the league selected competitors through a draft. The first draft featured 102 players, chosen from a much larger qualifying pool, giving the new league a formal pathway from online competition to professional play.
Knicks Gaming won the inaugural playoff championship, defeating Heat Check Gaming in the finals. The league expanded to 21 teams in 2019, then grew further with additional NBA-affiliated and international organizations. Therefore, figures such as 20 or 23 describe later league sizes, not the inaugural 2018 season.