Who does Mootyy want in the NBA 2K League Draft?

With the 2024 NBA 2K League draft around the corner, reigning Coach of the Year Mootyy sat down with NBL Media to discuss the recent draft combine and what he’s looking for in the newest NBL Oz Gaming player. 

After bringing in Milo as the team’s pick from the NBL Oz Gaming Tournament Series, the roster has four players locked in for 2024. 

Former Atlanta Talons guard Ceez will play point guard, the inaugural NBL Oz Gaming player HarryVZN will play shooting guard, 3v3 champion for Pistons GT Bagmotion will play small forward and fellow former Piston Milo will play center. 

In the draft, coach Mootyy is on the hunt for a power forward. Having narrowed down his options at the combine, he explained that Bag and Ceez would sneak off with him to discuss prospects and what they’ve liked and disliked from players across the event. 

“Luckily, I’m kind of in the same position as last year, it's less stressful when you only need one position,” Mootyy explained.

“Last year we needed a lock and now and this year we need a power forward. It’s no secret. I don’t look for the shiny new toy or the person that has the most stick skills. I need guys that are going to check all the boxes of what a professional needs intangible-wise, not only on the court but off the court.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who will complete our roster? ?<br><br>Tell us who we should take in the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA2KLeague</a> Draft with the 15th overall pick below ?? <a href="https://t.co/WQ7fBGE73J">pic.twitter.com/WQ7fBGE73J</a></p>&mdash; NBL Oz Gaming ??? (@nblozgaming) <a href="https://twitter.com/nblozgaming/status/1744478598218780956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The draft combine was in-person for the first time, allowing the coaches and US-based players to interact and scout upcoming players. 

Mootyy explained he was studying prospects’ actions outside of the games, like how they reacted to positive and negative situations, if they maintained consistent communication, and if they had the intensity and passion to make it in the league. 

“I like to have good genuine human beings that have a strong work ethic that can maybe come in like a little hungrier and with the chip on their shoulder and that are willing and open to learn,” Mootyy explained. 

“So that's what we're looking for at the combine and it was a cool experience. I didn't know how it was going to go with the first in-person combine. A lot of people showed their true colours in good ways and bad ways. It was really cool to see the intensity of the combine games, I thought it was definitely an advantage for coaches, GMs and scouts.

“I have seen the lowest of lows in this and you need to be so much more than just a good 2k player to be what I consider a professional in the league.”

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C15pW-WvL2r/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C15pW-WvL2r/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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One of the coach's biggest priorities is versatility between the main two modes, 3v3 and 5v5. Having seen success in 3v3s and making the Grand Final Series in 5v5, coach Mootyy says his drafting philosophy will be based on whether the player will adjust well between the two modes.

“I wanted to go get the best overall lockdown in 3v3 mode (Bagmotion) and a top-five point guard in 3v3 mode (Ceez), and now the power forward,” he said.

“I want them to be a good threes player, stage player, because in my opinion, especially with the format of the season kind of being like last year, having 3v3 success and getting those reps in, [that] translates over to 5v5. 

“So if you give me a guy I think is elite at 3v3 and can work on 5v5 a little bit, I think that I can work with him throughout the season.”

The 2024 NBA 2K League Draft will take place on Friday at 10am AEDT, streaming via NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube Channels.