NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue To Step Down

Donahue has been president of the esports league since its inception in 2017

Brendan Donohue will step down as President of the NBA 2K League.

The announcement was made in an official release on Wednesday that said Donohue, who has overseen the NBA 2K League since its inception, will stay on to assist with the transition to new NBA 2K League leadership until Oct. 31.

“It has been an incredible privilege to lead the NBA 2K League and witness its evolution over these past six years,” Donohue said in the official release.  “Working and engaging with talented colleagues, the very best NBA 2K players in the world and a growing community of passionate fans has been such a rewarding experience.  I am proud of what we accomplished together and look forward to taking on my next challenge in the sports industry.”

Donohue was named NBA 2K League President in 2017. The esports league – which was co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive – is the first official esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. Under his tenure, the 2K League expanded from 17 teams to 25 teams and added 22 NBA-affiliated teams and international franchises in Australia, China and Mexico.

“We thank Brendan for all of his efforts in overseeing the launch and expansion of an entirely new league,” NBA President, Global Partnerships Salvatore LaRocca said.  “Under his leadership, the NBA 2K League has built a strong global following and presence in the esports community, and we see more opportunities for growth in the coming years given the enormous popularity and interest in the NBA 2K franchise.”

Prior to his time at the helm of the NBA 2K League, Donohue was SVP, Team Marketing & Business Operations for the NBA. He joined the NBA league office in 2009 and previously held sales leadership positions with the Atlanta Hawks, the then-New Orleans Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons.