Magic legend Tracy McGrady to relaunch 1-on-1 basketball league
ORLANDO, Fla. — Four years after launching Ones Basketball League, Magic Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is returning to re-start the 1-on-1 competition in a new light this summer. Now backed by a multi-million dollar growth capital investment by Miami-based investment firm Next Gen Sports, “OBL: Battle of the Cities” will take an expanded version of the original OBL, “with elite one-on-one athletes bringing their own vision, culture and prestige tied to the city from where they grew up, played and/or call home,” the organization announced Wednesday.
Each city-based team will have a three-man roster, comprised of players who “best reflect the tradition, values and basketball culture of the city the team represents,” the league said, and they’ll be hand-selected by celebrity owners and general managers. The competition will take place over multiple weeks in Orlando from May 15 through June 12, with teams competing for “the swagger, pride, and identity of every city represented,” the league said. “The way we’re building this version of OBL, it’s not just about skill — it’s about toughness, personality and authenticity,” McGrady said in a statement.
“Every team and every player is bringing their own story and their own energy to the game. We’re also excited about these legends stepping in to help shape these teams. “We’ve got some of the most respected voices in basketball, media and entertainment getting involved and people who really understand the culture of the game,” he added.
“Together we’re building something that goes way beyond just one-on-one basketball. ” The cities and coaches include: — Team Orlando — Vince Carter, Hall of Famer — Team Washington, D. C.
— Quinn Cook, two-time NBA Champion — Team Miami — Tim Hardaway Sr. , five-time NBA All-Star — Team New York — Jadakiss, recording star — Team Chicago — Lorenz Tate, actor, film producer — Team Raleigh — John Wall, five-time NBA All-Star There will also be teams in Atlanta and Baltimore, but those coaches haven’t been announced yet. The league plans to hold a three-round tournament in Orlando starting May 15, which will see its first event held in a high school gym that seats roughly 500 to 600 people, Sportico reported.