Two-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns will compete in a 2v2 celebrity Hype Battle during the Call of Duty League’s launch weekend in Minneapolis. The battle will take place on Sunday, January 26 at the Minneapolis Armory.
On the Call of Duty League website, they state that Hype Battles are intended to spotlight celebrities and other surprise guests as a “new competitive entertainment experience.” For now, the league has not announced any more contenders for the Hype Battles, but says more information will soon be available on its website.
The Minnesota Timberwolves player announced his involvement on Twitter stating “Hey @CODLeague – I’m coming for you!”
This is not the first time that the NBA star has been involved in esports and gaming. According to an ESPN article, he has been a gamer ever since he was a child. His first game was a Marvel vs. Capcom cabinet at his local Pizza Hut. Today, he plays Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds and, of course, Call of Duty.
Twitter reaction
The announcement of his involvement in the Hype Battle has seen some criticism from Timberwolves fans. Towns has been off the court for the last fifteen games, originally due to a knee injury, but is currently suffering from flu-like symptoms, according to the Star Tribune.
As such, the announcement that he will be participating in a Call of Duty event when he hasn’t been playing basketball left some Twitter users unhappy. Despite the backlash, Towns has also received support from gamers and players in the league.
Let’s goooooo 💪🏽
— Attach (@Attach) January 16, 2020
The inaugural weekend for the Call of Duty League, which will feature Karl-Anthony Towns’ Hype Battle, starts on January 24. The event will be hosted by the Minnesota Røkkr in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Find all you need to know about the inaugural season of Call of Duty League on Daily Esports.
