*By Jacqueline Corba*
Denver Nuggets shooting guard Malik Beasley has already made it to the *real* NBA, and now the former first-round draft pick has his sights curiously set on the top tier of NBA2K, basketball's video-game analog.
"I think it's cool to see them compete, and it's different from actually being in the NBA," Beasley said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "Even if they don't watch the NBA, if they are playing the games then they know a little something about us."
A real baller showing respect for the virtual ballers of the NBA's esports league is a telling sign of the times. Beasley said he enjoys playing video games like NBA2K with his teammates on the road, and said it's more than just a hobby.
"People always think that gaming is just bad if you are just sitting there and playing," he said. "If people get joy out of it, then enjoy that"
The NBA became the first professional sports league in the U.S. to launch an online league too. The NBA2K playoffs [tipped off Friday](https://cheddar.com/videos/e-trade-generation-trader-nba-2k-playoffs-kick-off) and were streaming on Twitch.
Building on the success of its inaugural season, the [NBA2K league announced] (https://2kleague.nba.com/news/nba-2k-league-announces-four-expansion-teams-for-2019-season/) recently it's adding four NBA teams ー the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves ー to the lineup in 2019.
Beasley wants to Nuggets to get in on the action.
"I'm going to help create that."
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/nba-athlete-malik-beasley-dishes-on-esports).
After years of protest, the Cleveland Indians will remove Chief Wahoo from their uniforms starting in 2019. Chat Sports Founder and CEO James Yoder explains the timing behind the team's decision.
Hope King joins Austin Lucas, Assistant Manager at Gotham Archery in Brooklyn NY, to learn how to navigate the world of bows and arrows!
Ken Block has made a name for himself as an action sports star, turning his love of sports into a career. Alyssa Julya Smith caught up with Block on the mountains of Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival to talk about his latest Amazon Prime original series, "The Gymkhana Files."
Cody Gough, podcast host for Curiosity.com, cooks up some surprising statistics about Super Bowl food and explains why daydreaming might be good for you.
Action sports legend Ken Block and our very own Alyssa Julya Smith take to the mountains in Utah to talk about his new Amazon Prime Video series "The Gymkhana Files"! Check it out.
Jemele Hill is out at SportsCenter. Moviepass is no longer available in some of AMC's highest-traffic theaters--and they're not revealing why. Stormy Daniels will appear on Jimmy Kimmel live after the State of the Union.
CEO and Founder of CityRow, Helaine Knapp, talks about the boutique fitness club's first franchise in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The location is a natural fit considering Knapp is a University of Michigan alumnus.
Mastering the sport of polo is no easy feat. Now, polo player and model Ashley Busch is taking on a new challenge - launching her own swimwear line.
Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is likely going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Axios reporter Shannon Vavra joins Cheddar to discuss the long-lasting consequences from the very public seven-day hearing.
Ashley Busch, model and Polo player, says that she uses digital platforms to show the presence of women in the coed sport, and to encourage more women to pursue it.
