Miami Heat become the latest NBA team in esports

11 January 2017

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Miami Heat have invested in European esports organisation Misfits to become the latest in an onslaught of NBA teams, players and personalities into the space. 

Misfits, who currently maintain rosters in League of Legends, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone, have already switched to the same colours as Miami Heat.

The team isn’t one of the best known or supported in esports but has made a name for itself in Overwatch by winning the Overwatch Open and Dreamhack Winter where they overcame Fnatic. For an organisation that only formed in May of 2016 that’s pretty good going. 

It’s expanding fast as an org too and signed four well regarded Hearthstone players in December. 

Michael McCullough, Executive Vice President and CMO of Miami Heat stated: “What we saw was an opportunity to partner with somebody who could help us reach this millennial audience while at the same we could help them reach a more mainstream audience.”

Esports Insider says: Shaquille O’Neal, Jonas Jerebko, Magic Johnson, the Philadelphia 76ers, owners from the Golden State Warriors, LA Dodgers, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks and now Miami Heat are invested in esports. Phew.