Durant, Mitchell headline charity NBA 2K tournament

Chris Bumbaca

Some NBA players are returning to the hardwood this weekend – virtually, of course.

With the Association’s regular season suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and no set return in sight, the league has partnered with NBA 2K to create a players-only tournament that will air this weekend and next on ESPN.

Aside from filling the void of live sports, the winner of the tournament will receive $100,000 to donate to a charity connected to coronavirus relief efforts.

Players submit a list of eight teams they can choose from before the tournament’s start, and they can use the same team only once during the event.

The first and second rounds of the tournament are single elimination, while the semifinals and finals become best-of-three series.

The seedings are (players with the same overall rating are seeded based on NBA tenure):

1. Kevin Durant, Nets (96)

2. Trae Young, Hawks (90)

3. Hassan Whiteside, Trail Blazers (87)

4. Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (87)

5. Devin Booker, Suns (86)

6. Andre Drummond, Cavaliers (85)

7. Zach LaVine, Bulls (85)

8. Montrezl Harrell, Clippers (85)

9. Domantas Sabonis, Pacers (85)

10. Deandre Ayton, Suns (85)

11. DeMarcus Cousins (81)

12. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets (81)

13. Rui Hachimura, Wizards (79)

14. Patrick Beverley, Clippers (78)

15. Harrison Barnes, Kings (78)

16. Derrick Jones Jr., Heat (78) The schedule for the tournament this weekend is Friday, 7-11:30 p.m. ET (ESPN and ESPN2) and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. ET (ESPN2). The quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday and the semifinals/finals for April 11.