As Nintendo had famously done with its industry-changing NES back in the 80s, Microsoft launched its fledgling Xbox in The Big Apple with the notion that “if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere.” Just over 20 years have passed since that exciting day at a Times Square Toys “R” Us. And now, Xbox is returning to New York, this time to give back in the place where it all started.
It will be teaming up with New York Liberty and The Brooklyn Nets to create a digital content series it is calling Jnr.Ballers. Pepper Persley, a 10 year old sports journalist from NYC, will be the host of the series, which follows 6 boys and girls participating in the NYPD Community Center who have been selected to work with Sabrina Ionescu of the WNBA’s New York Liberty and Cam Thomas of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets as they plot out a road map toward finding and realizing their dreams.
The collaboration is not only an intersection of sports and video gaming, but also is a nice example of giving back to the community (not to mention a good PR endeavor for all parties involved). There is also a sweepstakes that fans can enter for a chance to win one of an array of prizes including VIP seats to a home Liberty or Nets game as well as a custom basketball-themed Series S console.
