eFIBA has provided an innovative way of contributing to the growth and popularity of basketball around the world. It has extended the global reach of the sport and seen some of the world’s most high-profile esports gamers entertain fans with their skills.
eFIBA is the official esports basketball competition organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), where national basketball federations from around the world compete for the prestigious World Championship title. The tournament is played on the NBA 2K video game, using the version specific to the year of the competition. Each match follows a 5v5 format in PRO-AM mode, with players controlling their personalized avatars.
The competition spans seven regions globally, including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South America, making it a truly international event in the esports world.
Following the success of the FIBA Esports Open events in 2020 and 2021, players were invited to take part in the first eFIBA season and the subsequent seasons 2 and 3.
In 2023, FIBA 2K, the publisher of NBA 2K, and the NBA 2K League entered into a multiyear deal with the desire of all parties to further strengthen bridges between eFIBA events and the NBA 2K League by providing an opportunity to identify regional talent, offering eFIBA participants a chance to participate in NBA 2K League events or the NBA 2K League Draft, as well as establishing a clear national team competition system.
In 2024, eFIBA Season 3 players will represent their National Teams on PlayStation 5, competing in NBA 2K25 for a spot in the World Finals in the Philippines. Over 60 National Federations and around 40 players from regional champions across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Oceania, along with Europe's runners-up, will vie for the title and a share of the prize money.
eFIBA is making an ever-increasing contribution to the sky-high levels of digital engagement across FIBA platforms. It is seen as a discipline that will only grow more and more as innovative technology evolves.