At the inaugural League of Legends player draft earlier this month, a very recognizable figure from the traditional sports world joined this momentous occasion in the esports universe.
Among the executives present was Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who likened the occasion to the NBA’s first draft.
“The draft is really important,” Morey told esports reporter Travis Gafford. “Developing talent is really important. We’re in this for the long haul. We really take care of our players, and this is an historic draft. I think everyone here is going to remember we’re here.”
The Rockets are one of four major North American sports organizations to also own entrants in the initial League of Legends franchising with their team Clutch Gaming, so named for the “Clutch City” moniker given to the 1994 Rockets championship team.