Magic take Jacksonville native as first esports pick
Christian “Cowboy” Callazo has become one of 102 nationwide to make up a pool of players set to be selected in the NBA’s very first video game player draft on April 4. Before heading off to the draft he goes head-to-head in NBA 2K with Sentinel reporter Marco Santana.
Jacksonville native known online as “KontruL” became the first draft pick for in the history of the Orlando Magic’s esports team.
Christopher Cantrell, 20, said he visited Disney World when he was younger but hadn’t spent a lot of time in Orlando.
He will be part of a six-player team that will represent the Orlando Magic in the NBA’s new competitive video game league. As a first-round pick, Cantrell will earn $35,000, plus living expenses, during the six-month season. That’s $3,000 more than the rest of the team will earn.
“Going through my head was all the hard work and time I have put into the game, all of my friends, family supporters,” he said shortly after he was named Magic Gaming’s first pick. “I’m excited.
Cantrell, who will play as a point guard, says he hoped to land in Orlando in the lead up to the draft.
“It honestly feels like a dream,” said Cantrell, who had never been to New York before attending the draft, in quotes provided by the league. “It’s incredible.”
Social media has been buzzing all day about the NBA 2K League, with NBA team leaders chiming in and announcing their draft picks.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was at Madison Square Garden to announce the league’s top overall pick. The Dallas Mavericks selected Artreyo Boyd, a Cleveland-based gamer who goes by the tag “DatBoyDimez,” as the No. 1 overall pick.
In the second round, Magic Gaming selected New York native Emmanuel Cruz. He was followed by Bilal Almashni of Chicago, whose gamer tag is Supreme Puller, who has been called by publications one of the most well rounded players in the pool.
The Magic then selected Brian Traynor, an Ohio native who grew up on a farm and plays under the tag “NachoTraynor,” as its shooting guard.
Both Cruz, whose gamer tag is “UCMANNY5_,” and Traynor said they would visit Disney World when they arrive in Orlando.
The draft helped 17 teams populate their six-man rosters for the upcoming season of the NBA 2K League.
Four rounds into the draft, Orlando resident Christian Collazo was picked in the fifth round by the Sacramento Kings.
Source: Orlando Sentinel