NBL Oz Gaming Coach “Not Shocked” with Playoff Berth

Monday, May 8, 2023

NBL Oz Gaming head coach Mitchell ‘Mootyy’ Franklin has revealed he and the team are “not shocked” with qualifying for the NBA 2K League 3v3 Playoffs.

In the 3v3 part of the season, the NBL’s winning percentage was 57% and they managed to clinch the 7^th seed in the 3v3 Playoffs.

Coach Mootyy confirmed that with doubters questioning the squad before the season, the team created a strong culture to prove the non-believers wrong.

"The guys and I weren't really shocked. I said from day one, I wanted to establish a culture, whether we were winning or losing, when you saw the angry kangaroo on the schedule, you thought 'oh s--t, we're going to be in a bar fight tonight',” Mootyy said via ESPN.

"The majority predicted us to be one of the worst teams in both modes, mediocre for sure in 3v3. I think we've gone out there and shocked a lot of people.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/KanePitman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KanePitman</a> caught up with head coach <a href="https://twitter.com/Mootyy2K?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mootyy2K</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyLoeliger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeremyLoeliger</a> ahead of NBL Oz Gaming's <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA2KLeague</a> 3v3 Playoff debut next week ?<a href="https://t.co/TyoRN1LLb7">https://t.co/TyoRN1LLb7</a></p>— NBL Oz Gaming ??? (@nblozgaming) <a href="https://twitter.com/nblozgaming/status/1654631721374216192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger spoke on the instant success NBL Oz Gaming has had in their inaugural season.

"The interest in NBL Oz Gaming from the US has been really high. I think they're doing a great job of representing our brand, the way that we want it to be represented into that market," Loeliger said.

Loeliger mentioned the launch of NBL Oz Gaming further strengthened the alignment between the NBL and the NBA.

"We want the NBL brand and business to be constantly and consistently aligned with everything that the NBA is doing,” Loeliger said.

“NBA 2k was one that was uniquely accessible to us and it hopefully demonstrated to the NBA our commitment to partner with them but also our aspiration to continue to develop in North America as a brand."