NBA 2K in the UK with SamThaRuler and The Duke of Hoops
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In this special episode, Brian Bosche speaks with SamThaRuler about how NBA 2K is helping build basketball culture in the UK. SamThaRuler is one of the best 2K players in the UK, is a part of S2V Esports, and is partnered with 2K United Kingdom. They discuss how SamTheRuler became a fan of the Miami Heat, what it's like training for 2K, playing for S2V Esports, going to Paris to play in the ESL Global Championship European Finals this year, and 2KFest celebrating the launch of NBA2K21.
Full Transcript:
Brian Bosche:
Hey everyone, welcome back to High Tea Hoops, this is Brian Bosche, @TheDukeOfHoops, and today we have a very special guest. From the 2K world, we have SamThaRuler. What's up, Sam? Thanks for joining the podcast.
SamThaRuler:
Thanks for having me, man. It's a pleasure.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, this is exciting. We've brought on British basketball players, we've brought on former NBA players; our first eSports player, 2K player, professional, and this is going to be exciting. Let's get into it a little bit. To start with, do you just want to give a little background on yourself? How'd you become an NBA fan, why are you a Miami Heat fan? I'd just love to hear about your basketball background in general.
SamThaRuler:
Okay, that's awesome. Thank you. I got introduced to basketball, funny enough, by the game called NBA Street Volume Two.
Brian Bosche:
Oh, yes, Sam!
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it was like 03, I think? 04?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
I can't remember.
Brian Bosche:
God, that was my game. I loved that so much.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, that's probably the best basketball I've ever played to date.
Brian Bosche:
The soundtrack!
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, especially the soundtrack.
Brian Bosche:
Oh, it's so good.
SamThaRuler:
Troy, that's the soundtrack, I think. Reminisce Over You.
Brian Bosche:
Yes, I still love that. I think they had... We lived in Seattle-
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
... Green Lake is one of the courts, in NBA Street.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
I play at Green Lake every summer and just play Reminisce Over You over and over again, just trying to think that I'm in NBA Street. I love that callback.
SamThaRuler:
Awesome. Yeah, around that time is when I got introduced to basketball, through that game.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
One of my favorite players to use in that game was Shaq, and at the time I got to play it, which was like 05, I think. I can't remember, but yeah, it was Shaq. Shaq was my favorite player, so I became a Heat fan. I saw the introduction, [inaudible 00:01:48] stage, and I was like, "Yeah, this is probably going to be my favorite team." With basketball, you get introduced to basketball through a player, more often than not. That was my favorite player then and progressively I've been a diehard Heat fan over the years.
Brian Bosche:
You got very lucky picking that team, with their future. You came in hot with Dewayne Wade and with Alonzo Mourning getting that title. I think they had Gary Payton too, when they beat the Mavs.
SamThaRuler:
06, yeah.
Brian Bosche:
Such a fun team, I was rooting for them. Then you get LeBron and now you have a whole new era of success.
SamThaRuler:
I love this sport. My era of this sport, technically, yeah.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Do a lot of people in the UK get into the NBA through 2K, through video games? Have you seen that?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, most definitely. I think if I'm being honest, I think more people play than watch. More people play 2K than actually watch the NBA, because you ask them about their NBA knowledge, and it's almost nonexistent. They know the players in the game. They'll be like, "I play with this person."
SamThaRuler:
In MyCareer, you get drafted and you join a team. I know this player on the team, what he can and can't do. Their knowledge is based off of 2K, which is amazing, but most of them are mostly introduced to basketball via the game.
Brian Bosche:
It's such a good way, because the time zones are a nightmare. We both Mo Mooncey, who was up at 3AM every single day-
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
... during the NBA Playoffs, covering it.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I was in his Twitch chat quite a lot, when he was doing a watch party.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, definitely.
SamThaRuler:
The time out breaks, I'll be in the... especially when the Heat were playing the Celtics, funny enough, I'll be in here talking my stuff-
Brian Bosche:
To Mo, a well known Celtics fan.
SamThaRuler:
... winding him up, yeah. I was in there a lot when the Heat played the Celtics.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. It's such a good way to get into the game, too, because you learn the stats, you learn the players, you learn the team movements. It's such a good intro, and you see fantasy sports does that a lot, as well.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
Where you start to just memorize all the stats, all the best players, but with 2K, with MyLeague, and doing your own career, and I love that they introduced the WNBA too, just to get a little bit exposure to that.
SamThaRuler:
Amazing, yeah. Honestly, I have no idea of WNBA in general, but I think that's... to see how the game works, that's a good introduction to it.
Brian Bosche:
Definitely.
SamThaRuler:
And people become analysts, which is funny, through 2K.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
It's like, "JaVale McGee is trash because he can't do this, he can't do that."
Brian Bosche:
In 2K? Yeah, not even on the court.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, exactly.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, that's really funny. How did you get into playing 2K at the level you're at now? When did that really start?
SamThaRuler:
I started playing 2K... I was a Live fan, to be fair.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Live 08 was one of the games where they introduced the loading screen, where you play on the courts before the-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, man, these are throwbacks. I love it.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it's crazy. From then, I got 2K11 from a friend. I didn't know anything about 2K, by the way, because over in the UK, it was always EA everything.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
I was like, "Probably 2K's like PES of football." We have Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA, which PES is like an off brand version. But yeah, got introduced to 2K11, one of the greatest games I've ever played to date.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Played the Michael Jordan story mode and just got hooked from there as well, really. It had the Michael Jordan mode, which you played as Michael Jordan. You played his story, basically, and you got to unlock his shoes over the course of the game, which got me to know a bit more about Michael Jordan, as well, because obviously I didn't get to watch him. It wasn't my era, as well.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
That's how I got hooked. Then, I got 2K11 late, and I got 2K13.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
Through the next gen, I was able to progress and keep playing over and over, and was able to improve my skills, to be able to then play ESL Championships, really.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Before we get to the Championship, which was incredible, earlier this year, was there a community that you could join when you first started playing in the UK? Either 2K or NBA, how did you find it getting into the game, and getting to know other players in the UK?
SamThaRuler:
Okay, I'm not too long home, but I think I'm an OG in UK scene.
Brian Bosche:
Okay, love it.
SamThaRuler:
I didn't know anything about the EU community until 2K15, I believe, because on their servers, on 2K14 and previous, you get to play against Americans, as well. It wasn't a European region or the US, it was just everyone together. I played quite a lot Americans, met quite a few Americans through 2K, as well, and was able to go on 15. That's when they separated servers, so now you had an EU server, and barely anyone's there because everyone is so used to playing the US guys, my US friends.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
Later, down the line, I was able to find a couple European players, which were quite decent at the level they played, so I was able to play with them. The community got bigger, especially 2K16, when they released the game for free that summer. A lot of people, a lot of Europeans came over. Also, they're bored, they're not playing FIFA, because FIFA got changed at some point-
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
... and people traveled over to a new game, and it's 2K, and that's how most people got introduced to 2K.
Brian Bosche:
When you're playing on the servers with Americans, was there lag? Would people blow by you because the connection was focused on the States?
SamThaRuler:
To be fair, I knew nothing about lag at the time.
Brian Bosche:
The ping rates, everything, it was just so early on?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it was so new to me. People would be like, "I'm delayed," and I never knew what that meant. I've been playing like this for a while.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, you go into the EU servers and you're like, "Holy shit, I'm so fast, why am I so much better now?"
SamThaRuler:
Exactly, yeah. Playing with the US guys, it's funny, because they're very obnoxious. I came in and talked to them with my accent, right?
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
Which is funny, they'd be like, "Don't let this British guy do you like that."
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, go over and play FIFA.
SamThaRuler:
They'll make you think you're not good because you're not American.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
I play the US guys, it's fun. You just trash talk.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Amazing.
Brian Bosche:
That is the best part of FIFA and 2K.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, that's the best part of the community, the trash talk; of the US community, anyway. Then, I was able to get more into the EU scene from 2K17 onwards.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, so OG of the EU 2K community. Love to hear it. Man, we need to pull some clips from NBA Street Volume 2. You just unlocked memories in my brain that I didn't know I had, going back to those. So, you've been playing for a while; now, what do you think of... Favorite players, now. You mentioned Shaq, who's your go to? Are you just all Heat now, who are your favorite players in 2K?
SamThaRuler:
On 2K, or just the NBA in general?
Brian Bosche:
Both, I guess. Let's start with NBA; who are your favorite players right now in the NBA?
SamThaRuler:
My favorite player right now in the NBA is... wow. I'll probably say Bam.
Brian Bosche:
Bam, nice. Did you see his big contract he just got? I think he got, what, $250 million or something?
SamThaRuler:
He deserves it. $163 and then, obviously, the incentives of being MVP or All-NBA, that rises a hundred.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Guy deserves it.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah. I'm a big fan of his roots in Nigeria.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I'm a big fan of a Nigerian boss who plays technically. Giannis, his roots are Nigerian even though he's Greek.
Brian Bosche:
Yep.
SamThaRuler:
I'd probably say Bam is my favorite player right now, just on that. But my favorite player over the decade would probably be LeBron-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... when he was Heat.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
No matter what he did to us this summer though. I mean, this winter, I guess.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, that was tough.
SamThaRuler:
He's still one of my favorite players to watch.
Brian Bosche:
You're in Mo Mooncey's Twitch chat, Bam is blocking Tatum for a game winning dunk, and did you just lose it?
SamThaRuler:
Yes. Actually, I think I was in his chat when that happened. I saw his reaction before I saw what happened, because I was so nervous. End of the game, I think we're up one?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
We're up one, Tatum gets a line drive, and he blocks it, and you go crazy.
Brian Bosche:
Man, there's not enough emotes to express that emotion. You needed to jump on the stream itself.
SamThaRuler:
I almost leapt up off my desk, it's crazy. That's probably the highlight of the season. One of the highlights of the season, anyway.
Brian Bosche:
What'd you think of them getting to the Finals? What'd you think of the playoffs in general?
SamThaRuler:
What's funny is, I did think we were going to make the Finals.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I always get delusional, as a Heat fan, when I say, "Okay, I think this season, we have an actual chance of making the Finals." I actually study my team compared to other team compared to other fans-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... and I know what we can and can't do. We're a bubble team, as well, in terms of the culture of the Heat.
Brian Bosche:
They loved that bubble.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly, we're built for this. I just knew after the bubble, yeah, we're making the Finals. The first series sweep, I expected that.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
Nervous against the Bucks, but after the first game, I knew we were going to win the series.
Brian Bosche:
They just fit so well. When they took down the Bucks like that, it was just like, this team is built well, they're coached well, they have the leadership in the locker room. After they beat the Bucks, it was like, all right, they're going to storm through the bubble.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, exactly. Then, the Celtics, I just thought, okay... mind you, we played zone, which is crazy. We played zone against the Bucks in the regular season, which worked great, and we never did it in the playoffs against them. It was crazy how we even beat them without playing zone. I guess it was a coaching tactic, which is crazy. [inaudible 00:12:20] got our coach, in that aspect.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, definitely.
SamThaRuler:
Then, coming to the Celtics series, we then play zone against a Celtics team, which is... see, I could be a coach, because that's just chess, right there.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, exactly.
SamThaRuler:
It's crazy. Then, we were able to... not steamroll, but beat them 4-2, and then to the Finals.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Skylar went to Michigan with Duncan; saw Duncan around campus, and has been a big Heat fan since he joined the team, and has been doing so well. We were rooting for Heat the whole time. I'm so glad they pulled more games off the Lakers in the Finals, because a sweep, or 4-1, especially with Dragic going down, because he was such a big part of that team. I'm glad they challenged them; I wish they could have been fully healthy that whole Finals.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, most definitely. It's heartbreaking. The first game, these two of our lads-
Brian Bosche:
And Bam not even being healthy.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, Bam was our leading scorer up until that point in the playoffs, and then you didn't see him. Then we lose Dragic off a freak accident, it's wild scenes.
Brian Bosche:
Tough. They made some off season moves, there's been so many. What have you thought about their off season so far? I'm trying to pull up our-
SamThaRuler:
Our off season, I'd probably say A, really, with the moves we made. I'd probably give it an A+, because even the Bam signing-
Brian Bosche:
Getting Bam back was huge.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, exactly. We got Mo Harkless, Avery Bradley-
Brian Bosche:
The Avery Bradley one was big-
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
... pulling off that strong wing player.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, big, especially defensively. Now, our guards get all over the place now. Mo Harkless, Avery Bradley...
Brian Bosche:
Meyers Leonard, you re-signed Dragic, you re-signed... That's the thing, too. They're treating the players so well. They re-signed Haslem-
SamThaRuler:
Yep.
Brian Bosche:
... so that UD, they brought back. They're just treating the players right; players want to go there because they treat them well.
SamThaRuler:
Most definitely. We didn't want to let the 2016 D-Wade situation happen ever again, I guess.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
It's like, shore up everyone. The Meyers Leonard one was funny to me, though, because that's crazy, right?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, he must have been hurt, or something. It was a lot.
SamThaRuler:
For someone that's only clapping for other players.
Brian Bosche:
Hopefully he'll come back, because this was the first year they were really all together, and they were so young. Another year of development, bringing in Avery Bradley, bringing in Mo Harkless, I think they're going to be really good again next year in the East.
SamThaRuler:
I think that was a tactic from Riley, as well, because now if you want to get Giannis in the off season after, I think, in the back of his head, Bam is definitely going to ask for the rookie max, or the max deal, and he has to obviously has to take that into consideration. Give Meyers Leonard, Dragic money like that, I think it's good that Dragic is getting that kind of money as well. Then, obviously, getting them paid, and do a sign-and-trade-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... on the free agency front, so when Giannis... and who knows?
Brian Bosche:
They are so smart. It makes such a big difference when the front office is that good, and your coach is that good. They're prepping for Giannis, they know they're a free agency destination, they showed they can get to the Finals with a team they just threw together last year.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly. How many players want to come play for us just off that?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
No more [inaudible 00:15:47].
Brian Bosche:
Exactly, and a little dig at Mo and the Celtics; when you cut Isiah Thomas like that, when you don't treat players like the Heat do, you get penalized for it; people leave, people might not want to go there.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly, and then going here with [inaudible 00:16:02], got paid, but that's another story for another day.
Brian Bosche:
That was a lot of guaranteed money.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it's crazy.
Brian Bosche:
All right, let's get back to 2K. What is a day like? When I practice basketball, I can get like an hour in, and then I'm just completed exhausted. For a 2K player, what is your training schedule like, how do you practice, give me some sense, and the audience some sense, what it's like actually being a player at your level.
SamThaRuler:
All right, I'm the type of player from 2K16. I've played every game mode.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I've played from MyCareer, to MyTeam, to Play Now, to MyLeague, even. It's the most enjoyable 2K of all time, it's the best one. Most players will tell you that, 2K16 is the best 2K. That's how I'd say I hone my skills properly. I was able to play multiple positions, as well, so I'd learn how to play different positions. I went in 5v5, as well. I was a consistent player, to be fair, I was playing quiet a lot.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I don't know how many hours I could say I'd spend, but I was playing quite a lot over the years. Then, 2K20, it's a pandemic. It's now a lockdown, so even more time to spend. I was able to play more tournaments-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... obviously I qualified in late 2019, for the ESL-
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
... but I would say I played more during these lockdown times, and I was able to get even ahead of competition, playing more frequently, playing more regularly.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, and what's it like, how much do you stream, how much content do you create, are you mostly focused on practicing? What's your mix there, and how do you think about that?
SamThaRuler:
All right. I used to make videos on 2K17.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
I taught myself how to edit and do all that, but the way I've made videos, it took me a long time to edit and to do all that. I took a huge break away from that, three years now, because I had work and stuff like that. It was hard to commit to it. But, yeah, I started streaming properly as soon as the pandemic hit. I was at like 100 followers and now I'm just over 1000.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, you're over 1000 now, and you do it more consistently. It's great to see.
SamThaRuler:
Which is good for me, I guess, and then I was able to... I'd say, whenever I play, I stream. Whenever I play competitively, I stream. I don't want to stream anything, so I only stream competitive matches. If I have a [inaudible 00:18:43], I stream.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
And I obviously garner more views doing that, really. Obviously the success I've had in tournaments, with my team that I play with, I was able to garner more followings from that, as well.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, so let's go into it. You play for S2V Esports, is that right? Did I pronounce that right? They're Spanish?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, Spanish. [foreign language 00:19:06]
Brian Bosche:
What is it like being on that team? [crosstalk 00:19:10] cropping up a lot.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah. We literally just signed a contract with S2V MyTeam.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
For me, I play with a team called Faze on 2K20-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... which is [inaudible 00:19:25]. Well, it's me and another player that's with me at S2V, [inaudible 00:19:31]. We're on the same team, on Faze, and we're able to win four tournaments out of six, I want to say-
Brian Bosche:
Wow.
SamThaRuler:
... three out of six. It was amazing, really. We went back to the team I was originally with in the previous 2K, which is Rise Above, which was this year-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... and we won the biggest tournament [inaudible 00:19:51] so far, which was the Clash/Milwaukee Bucks gaming tournament. We won that and people were over to see us play. Not just 2K managers, but teams, as well; teams interested in us. That's how we were able to garner that much attention to sign a contract over at S2V.
Brian Bosche:
That's great to hear.
SamThaRuler:
From PS5 onwards, we will be playing for S2V Esports team.
Brian Bosche:
And what are some of the advantages of joining a team like S2V? What do you get out of that type of a contract and how does that help you elevate your game?
SamThaRuler:
It puts us, obviously, in terms of content creation-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... it's a whole new fan base, a whole new... I don't want to say fan, but follower base-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... which is in Spain. I obviously have no connection to Spain [inaudible 00:20:44], opportunity for that, as well. Also, I guess it's a sense of security, as well.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
You get to represent an organization now, so it means more than just coming over to your friend's and playing now. It gives a sense of responsibility, I guess.
Brian Bosche:
Yep.
SamThaRuler:
It's a high level esports organization, as well, so you know you have to meet the same criteria now, so the pressure's on to win tournaments now, to win even bigger tournaments than we actually play for normally in EU. Tournaments get bigger now, so there's more incentive, and there's more focus towards it, really.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, it's been great to see Faze clan, obviously, a lot of the different NBA teams themselves creating teams in the actual NBA 2K league. It just provides a lot of the mentorship, support, following, gets you exposed, and collaborate with the other creators, and other players.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly.
Brian Bosche:
It's been fun, and it helps you go from I'm just a streamer individually, to I'm part of something bigger, I'm part of a team, because I think esports is really growing quickly. Like you said, 2K is probably more popular than the actual NBA, and they'll be following the 2K players more than the actual league itself.
SamThaRuler:
Mm-hmm (affirmative), and S2V we got brought in by Vituber, in Spain. That's our team, S2V Vituber.
Brian Bosche:
Yep.
SamThaRuler:
He recruited us and was able to put is in pole position. Also, it comes with huge incentives when signing a contract. Not just monetary, but very... You know what I'm saying?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Very good deal we've got here.
Brian Bosche:
It's cool to see. I worked for Dan Gilbert's family of companies, from the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I know him.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, so I worked there right out of college. Esports was a huge focus, obviously, and the Cavs have one of the best teams, and they're one of the few NBA teams that actually introduced that. It's so good to see the coverage and the drive for esports.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
It's so much more accessible, especially basketball, where you hit 25, 30; your knees start to go, your ankles start to go, and it helps to have that love of the game, and you're able to play still. Especially for me, where I feel like I'm playing, and I feel like I'm participating. You can play pick-up with your friends without absolutely destroying your body, and getting to play as LeBron James and these other players.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly, most definitely. Also, the partnership with Dan Gilbert and [inaudible 00:23:26]-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... ownership, which is crazy, right? It's a crazy investment, so you can see how esports is growing throughout the world. Not just in America, but especially in Asia; China and Japan, it's crazy.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Well, you even have Ballmer buying the Clippers, and building that new arena in Engelwood, which is built for esports tournaments, as well.
SamThaRuler:
Oh, really?
Brian Bosche:
They're actually building the stadium and the arena to be a little bit smaller, a little bit more... you feel like you're on the court a little bit more with the players. They have the big screens, so that you can actually host those esports tournaments.
SamThaRuler:
Okay.
Brian Bosche:
And, you know, in Seattle, we have the DOTA2 Championships, which are huge, in Key Arena.
SamThaRuler:
Oh, it's huge, yeah.
Brian Bosche:
It's the whole city that's flooded, and it's one of the biggest tournaments in the world. It's incredible to see.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it's crazy. Especially my bubble, which is the NBA bubble, is like... Over esports, DOTA is huge. I never realized how big. Now, League of Legends, crazy. Crazy how much esports [inaudible 00:24:34].
Brian Bosche:
It's fun.
SamThaRuler:
Who knows what's going to happen?
Brian Bosche:
And it's good to see the NBA embracing it a lot more, and seeing it as a way to build the community. You're partnered with 2KUK-
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
... what is that like? From them, what's the focus that you see? I see they just did an incredible project with their foundation, with the Birmingham Rockets, to refurbish the facility, to improve training courts, school and community programs. They're not staying just in esports, in the game; they're actually going into the community. What have you see from them, of what's their focus, what's their mission? How do you see them contributing to that community?
SamThaRuler:
I see them sharing the same goal as me, which is growing basketball in the UK.
Brian Bosche:
Yep.
SamThaRuler:
To me, obviously, there's more emotion involved than football. I don't want to compare sports, but that's how I feel, anyway. There's more drama in basketball, there's more storylines in basketball-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... unlike the Premier League, the season goes... Football, right now, is a routine, or soccer as you call it.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
It's so modern, but basketball, there's so many storylines. Jimmy Butler against TJ Warren-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... that one game, and they had a scuffle, and he goes on social media and goes, and circles the next day for the match up.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
It's just stuff like that, it's amazing. There's so many storylines. How many rings will LeBron get? Will LeBron ever catch up to Michael Jordan? KD, can he win on his own now? There's just so many storylines. That, to me, is just amazing for me, and watching basketball. I just want people to enjoy that aspect, as well. Not just a routine of going throughout the season and just watching football, and transfers happen, cool. Then, free agency, every year, it's always something crazy.
Brian Bosche:
Oh, man, it's amazing. It's almost more fun than the season.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly. It's like, wow, James Harden now wants to join the Nets. Imagine if that happened now; the whole... It's just crazy. I think, that as well, in terms of them wanting to grow basketball in the UK, is so fresh. I have a passion about it; Mo, too, has a great passion about it.
Brian Bosche:
Yup.
SamThaRuler:
Kudos to him, as well. Just growing the nature of basketball, and the poetry of basketball, as well. I remember I became such a basketball junkie, I went through different documentaries, going back to... I think it's a 1994 documentary. I forget what it was called now. Hoop Dreams?
Brian Bosche:
Hoop Dreams, yes.
SamThaRuler:
Not just the storyline, but how basketball is also life, in terms of it can illustrate life, as well. In terms of that and how it just followed these two hoopers throughout their journey, and how basketball is for them, in some cases life or death. Things like that, man. What they're doing right now in, I think, Birmingham City?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, Birmingham Rockets.
SamThaRuler:
Birmingham Rockets, yeah. Great, incentive; get people into playing basketball. More people playing basketball, more people fall in love with it, watch it, and grow the sport there.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, you're right. Basketball, over the last couple of decades, has intertwined itself with the culture more than any other sport from what I've seen. The conversations that are started, all of the players having their personalities and their brands. Even Jimmy Butler... everyone will know the 50th best NBA player in the world, the 100th best NBA player in the world.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
In tennis, or golf, in a lot of sports, you just have no idea outside the top few. Just their personalities are brought out. 2K is such a good way to introduce people to the game, get them, "Okay, I've been playing 2K. Oh, there's this new facility opening up, let me go actually try to play myself." Then you get excited, you play at home; it's such a good flywheel model of bringing people interested in the game.
SamThaRuler:
And because it's 5v5, everyone on the court has a different skill set.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
You get to watch Steph Curry, different game to LeBron; you get to watch LeBron, different game to KD, different game to Kawhi, it's different. It's all different.
Brian Bosche:
There's so much variety.
SamThaRuler:
It just meshes together, it's poetry. That's what I call basketball; it's poetry, man.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, you have Herro versus Bam, who couldn't be more opposite players on the court.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, exactly.
Brian Bosche:
And they're still both young players-
SamThaRuler:
The same passion. Yeah, us dudes have the same passion, and show expressive passions differently. It's amazing.
Brian Bosche:
It's really amazing.
SamThaRuler:
I don't know how you can't love basketball; I just don't know how.
Brian Bosche:
We've been covering the BBL more this year-
SamThaRuler:
Right.
Brian Bosche:
... and covering different players, and from what it sounds like when I talk to different people, there's a lot of people who are NBA fans or BBL fans. It doesn't seem like there's too much crossover.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
Are you a fan of the BBL? Have you followed it, or is it just NBA, and it's a little bit separate?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I don't follow BBL at all. I don't even know too much teams, to be fair.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
But it's only NBA. I stay up late nights just to watch the NBA, as well. I don't watch anything other than the NBA. I watch EuroLeague time to time, if it's there.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
I watch just to see a different version of basketball, but...
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
BBL doesn't really [crosstalk 00:30:00] there, so...
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Maybe even more people [inaudible 00:30:04] than NBA.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, it's interesting. Where BBL is the local league, it's picked up a lot. This year, there's a lot of momentum. They signed Byron Mullens, DeAndre Liggins, there's a lot of good times right now. Liggins is fun; I watched him with the Cavs in person, when I lived in the midwest, and I'm like, "Holy shit, he's going to play for the London Lions?" He's been tearing it up out there, which is super fun. Kevin Ware joining, from Louisville, and then he's getting into BBL Twitter spats with people, and calling the Sharks trash. It's starting the conversations more, like you're talking about in the BBL, and I hope that helps cross over, where okay, this game is at least in my time zone, I can go watch in person when the pandemic's over, whenever the lock down's restricted. I think there could be more crossover. I'd love to see BBL teams build out in 2K, too, that would be a lot of fun.
SamThaRuler:
That would be fun. Also, in an exhibition over here, maybe an NBA team could come over here and play a BBL team. Maybe that garners more attention, who knows?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
As of now, I don't really keep up with the BBL at all.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, it's interesting to see. It's kind of like Premier League fans in the US, aren't fans of the MLS, the Major League Soccer-
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
... our local league. It's very separate. You're like, "I'm a Tottenham fan, and it's like, okay, the Sounders are also here. Do I follow both?" It seems completely different, so I can understand how it's different in the UK.
SamThaRuler:
I think it's more of a mental thing. You've seen the highest peak of competition by watching everything else, but-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. It's kind of like college. College here is obviously not the same level as the NBA, but people get so invested because of those storylines, because of the personalities.
SamThaRuler:
Exactly.
Brian Bosche:
If you know your local team and you like their personality, follow their fits, you like their starting drama, I think that pulls you in, no matter what the level is. I think we're starting to see that happen a lot more.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, most definitely.
Brian Bosche:
All right, let's go back to ESL, NBA 2K20 Global Championships, European Finals. You represented the UK; what was that tournament like?
SamThaRuler:
I-
Brian Bosche:
That's where... Yeah, go ahead.
SamThaRuler:
To be fair, I started the tournament... I didn't pay... not much attention, but I didn't give my all to it at first. It was online, I heard about it, and I just wanted to play it.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I qualified the first round; I won all my games. I think it was like eight rounds, I won all eight games. Then, the next one, there's another round, which you only had to use one team per round.
Brian Bosche:
Yep.
SamThaRuler:
One team per game, really; you could only use one... If you play a game one, two, and three, they have to be all different teams, and throughout the whole tournament. The team you used in round one, you can't use in round two. I ended up playing a player that plays with the Knicks now, Knicks Gaming, Harry Hurst.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
I played him in the Finals of the UK tournament-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... and it ended up being 2-0, best of three, and that's how I was able to be the UK finalist for ESL Global Championships in Paris.
Brian Bosche:
That, that's amazing, because it's the first... I think it was one of the first tournaments of its kind from what I read. The NBA partnered with the NBA Players Association, with ESL-
SamThaRuler:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Brian Bosche:
... yeah, so it's one of the first big ones, right? This was a first type of tournament?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah. It was the first one. 2K normally hosts these things, like 250k MyTeam Tournament, or the 250K Pro Am Tournaments, but this one was hosted by the NBA itself, and the NBA Players Association. It was more from the NBA than from 2K.
Brian Bosche:
And you were the only UK player, right, in that Finals in Paris?
SamThaRuler:
Yes, I was the only UK player, because no UK player qualified from the wild card. I was the only one.
Brian Bosche:
Only one? So, what was the experience like? Did you actually go to Paris to play?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I went to Paris to play.
Brian Bosche:
What was that like? What was the atmosphere like?
SamThaRuler:
It was great, but getting there first, it was going to a hotel from the airport. Met the other players that were going to be in the tournament itself; recognized quite a few people that I normally play against, just not in Pro Am, but in MyTeam, as well. Met Danny [inaudible 00:34:31]-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... two Spaniards, and it was good fun, at the end of the day. It was fun, the experience itself. We were there for three, four days, I believe-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... and went sight seeing in Paris, I think Friday, and then Saturday was when the tournament started. I got to meet Ronnie2K-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, that's amazing.
SamThaRuler:
... when it started, and I met Doncaster there, as well.
Brian Bosche:
Did you go to the Pigalle Court? The one that's super colorful in Paris.
SamThaRuler:
No, we didn't get to, because we were far away from... where the hotel was, was quite far away from Paris itself.
Brian Bosche:
Oh, got it.
SamThaRuler:
It was a region quite... I think, during that Friday, we spent almost a hundred Euros, if not more, just going to Eiffel Tower and stuff like that.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
There were strikes during that time, in Paris.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
That's why the fee was quite high, there was strikes everywhere, probably transferred and stuff like that.
Brian Bosche:
Got it, man. Paris basketball environment is so fun, too.
SamThaRuler:
Right.
Brian Bosche:
Last time I went, I played pick-up basketball onto the Eiffel Tower. There are just always people playing, every court, it's such a huge basketball community.
SamThaRuler:
It's big.
Brian Bosche:
That must have been a lot of fun.
SamThaRuler:
It's fun. Basketball is quite big in Paris, as well, very big, it's cool to see, really.
Brian Bosche:
Absolutely.
SamThaRuler:
How much [inaudible 00:36:11].
Brian Bosche:
Well, it's good to have one of the OG 2K players from the UK represent at the Championships this year.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it was fun, but I lost in the first round in the tournament, because I had the tactic and mindset, because you only had to use one team throughout the whole-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... each game, I'll say. I had the tactic of using the lesser teams first, before I went to juggernauts, but my opponents used the juggernauts off right; used the Bucks, and the Lakers.
Brian Bosche:
That's rough.
SamThaRuler:
You just saw Giannis, and LeBron, so it was like, yeah. I lost by one point both games, crazy.
Brian Bosche:
Damn. Well, a learning experience for other tournaments, for sure.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, most definitely.
Brian Bosche:
All right, let's go on to all of the faces on the covers of 2K21 I saw this weekend. There was 2K Fest, you got your own cover art. For the audience who doesn't know what was going on, why is everyone getting their own custom 2K21 covers, what was 2K Fest, what was it like this weekend?
SamThaRuler:
All right. 2K UK here is asking for details about not just our size, or picture, or stuff; we didn't know what it was for.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
We had an idea what it was going to be for, but not as a cover or anything.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
We got contacted and then, it was submitted to Becky. Amazing; shout out to Becky, and Matt, from 2K UK, amazing people.
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, they were able to send us our own box, I guess. Not a jersey, of the game, of our face in there; just a lot of big stuff in there. We were able to get... obviously you saw us on the cover, and stuff, which is amazing. All the years of playing 2K, and in game, when you play MyCareer, there's [inaudible 00:38:10], being on the cover of 2K-
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
... on the game itself, but obviously, and then now, you're on the cover. It's crazy.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah. Who is on the cover, and who they pick, is always such a huge reveal. Damon, Zion, and Kobe this year; I can't even imagine what it's like to see yourself, and I love the Mo Mooncey arms on [inaudible 00:38:30]. I see you, king, on your incredible image on the cover, but that must have been amazing to see. You've been playing for almost, what, 20 years now, different versions of NBA video games, and now you're on the cover?
SamThaRuler:
Mm-hmm (affirmative). It's crazy, man. That's all I could say, wow, when I saw it. It was an amazing feeling.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, that's amazing to see. Then, the 2K Fest, they had a 24 hour stream, and they also introduced the Birmingham Rockets. Was that just trying to build awareness around 2K21, and get people excited about the game?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, it's just showing different aspects of the game, not just 2K21; just 2K21 all over the world, in France, in Spain, in the UK, just what every 2K department is working on all around the world, different interviews and stuff like that. It was a great watch.
Brian Bosche:
Absolutely.
SamThaRuler:
It just showed [inaudible 00:39:26], which mostly competing from Spain. When Team Ducks played a French team, I think it's LDLC-
Brian Bosche:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SamThaRuler:
... it's amazing to watch.
Brian Bosche:
That's really cool to see. Let's go on to some audience questions, some listener questions, submitted through Twitter, which were pretty fun. We've got one from James Green, who just came on the pod this week, presenter at SkySports, journalist at SkySports and TalkSport. He asks, "How can I hit a three pointer and how can I make my player move his feet quicker than a double decker bus?" Any tips for James to get better at 2K?
SamThaRuler:
I think the MyPlayer build on the next gen, I think that's what he's talking about anyway... When you make your player, you have to factor those things. When you make a player, speed is always important on any 2K. Speed is always important. To make threes more consistently, I'd suggest turning your shot meter off. If gives you a boost when you turn your shot meter off, to times your shots, and put vibration on, so you're able to feel when to release it. That's my advice to him on threes. And make sure you're open; you can't just shoot from [inaudible 00:40:42] and expect to make it.
Brian Bosche:
That was a real answer, Sam, and James is a Lakers fan, and so, I'm just going to say you're out of luck, James. You're just going to be terrible forever. Just watch the Lakers win Championships and be happy with that; you don't have to be good at 2K, too.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
All right, we've got another one from Fredz, @xFredzzz, with three zs. Are you a dunker or are you a shooter?
SamThaRuler:
On 2K?
Brian Bosche:
I think, that's all he had, and you know Fredz, right?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I know Fredz. He's trying to be funny, but no, my game on 2K is in between, it's dunking and shooting. All around.
Brian Bosche:
All right, Fredz, there you go; all around player.
SamThaRuler:
In real life, I'm a rebounder, I don't play basketball well.
Brian Bosche:
You're Charles Barkley?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, I just rebound it and pass to the nearest point guard, is what I do.
Brian Bosche:
Love it. All right, we've got Elliott Sargeson; sorry, Elliott, if I pronounced it... @ElliottSarge. "How do you improve on 2K?"
Brian Bosche:
We've already talked about that a little bit. Here's another one from him. "How do you get more involved in the basketball scene in the UK, because I'm heavily starting to get invested in basketball, but there's so little exposure here." What's your advice to Elliott to get more in the British basketball community?
SamThaRuler:
I'd say going to different parks. That's why I asked about where you were moving to, because if it was to East London, there's a place near Heathlee, which is a [inaudible 00:42:11], which has a huge basketball community there. Obviously it's played on pavement, but the level of competition there is quite good, it's very good.
Brian Bosche:
Oh, great.
SamThaRuler:
I'd say go to different parks and playing basketball there, and making friends is always a plus. Then, check basketball communities around the area; there might be a couple tournaments, a couple showcases, you can go in and just play a game, get involved in more of the British basketball scene, the landscape of it.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
There's always playing the game, 2K.
Brian Bosche:
Are there online communities where people can access? They're going to get more involved with people like you, and other players.
SamThaRuler:
Yes. We have a Discord server, where you can play other individuals on 2K. You can ask them, "I play this position," you want to get a five, or get through to play Pro Am, or stuff like that.
Brian Bosche:
Nice; I'll share the Discord server link out, so people can join.
SamThaRuler:
No worries, yeah.
Brian Bosche:
Last question, because somebody said, "How do you spell talking?" Is that an inside joke, ResidentStevil7?
SamThaRuler:
Yeah. I guess when you tweet it out, you said taken?
Brian Bosche:
Yeah.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, so that's why.
Brian Bosche:
Do you know ResidentStevil, commenting on my grammar?
SamThaRuler:
I don't know who that is, no.
Brian Bosche:
Well, thank you, ResidentStevil, yes, there is no edit button on...
SamThaRuler:
Yeah.
Brian Bosche:
And luckily 2KUK tweeted out my misspelling, so... Appreciate that. Real last question, from Captain Crunch, "How does it feel to play on PS5?"
SamThaRuler:
He's being funny, again. I know who he is. I don't get my PS5 til late this weekend, I believe. He's trying to be funny.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, he's teasing you.
SamThaRuler:
Yeah, he is.
Brian Bosche:
Got a bunch of trolls in the chat. Thanks, everyone, for your questions, even if they are trolling, that's fine. Sam, any plugs? Where can people find you, where they can find you on Twitch, YouTube? Give yourself some shout outs, here.
SamThaRuler:
I appreciate it. SamThaRuler on Twitter, on YouTube, and Twitch. S-a-m-t-h-a-r-u-l-e-r.
Brian Bosche:
Great. Go follow Sam, I'll tweet out the links; join the Discord, get involved in the British basketball community. Sam, thanks so much for coming on, this was awesome.
SamThaRuler:
Amazing. Appreciate you, thank you for having me, man.
Brian Bosche:
Yeah, absolutely.
