The NBA and streaming service Twitch have come to an agreement to broadcast G League games on the platform beginning Dec. 15, the two companies announced on Wednesday.
With the partnership, at least six G League games a week will be broadcasted on Twitch. Previously called the D League, the NBA's developmental league games have been broadcasted across the ESPN networks, NBA TV and Facebook Live. After the games air, they will be available on demand from the G League Twitch channel's video library.
"Our deal with Twitch will be groundbreaking," NBA G League president Malcolm Turner said in a media release. "By leveraging fan commentary, new technology and a passionate community, Twitch elevates video in a unique, engaging way that resonates with young viewers. We look forward to collaborating with their team to create something truly special for basketball fans."
Part of the deal will also feature co-streaming with certain Twitch personalities and basketball fans, as well as statistics that are on-demand using Twitch overlays. On-court stats, such as points, assists, rebounds and team stats can be accessed while watching with a touch of the button.
Twenty-six of the 30 NBA franchises, including the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, currently house affiliate teams in the G League. Only three -- the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trailblazers -- do not currently participate in the league. The Wizards are set to enter the league as the Capital City Go-Go starting in the 2018-2019 season..
The deal comes as the NBA continues to push into the esports and gaming spaces. Each February, during All-Star Weekend, the NBA holds a tech summit, where ownership and its board of directors discuss new technology opportunities. Over the past few years, esports and gaming have been a large part of the discussion, leading to several NBA teams and owners investing in esports and the NBA itself launching its first esports league, NBA 2K League, in 2018.