The Last of Us, both the video game and the TV show, have been a sensation in the entertainment industry. The game, released in 2013, was a critical and commercial success, due in part to its gripping story, intense action and compelling characters. The show, just recently premiering as of January, seeks to adapt the story of the 2013 game, in a mostly faithful fashion. The show is packed with an all-star cast, such as “Mandalorian” star Pedro Pascal as the lead role of Joell. It is also backed by an excellent narrative team with Neil Druckman, who directed the “original game” and Craig Mazin, who has had HBO success with hits like “Chernobyl”.

On the story side, both the game and the show serve as a gripping and emotional tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by the cordyceps infection. The main characters, Joel and Ellie, are both complex and likable. Their evolving relationship drives the story forward as they seek to travel across this new-world United States. The show builds on the game’s story by delving deeper into the characters and their relationships. The producers also introduced new characters and storylines to keep the audience hooked.

Despite the game already being very cinematic in its presentation, the live-action nature of the TV show makes the violence and drama even more visceral than before. The show’s visual effects are also impressive and create an immersive world, full of danger and excitement. Playstation and Naughty Dog, who are responsible for the development of the game, are bound to see lucrative  synergistic success from the show. Sales for The Last of Us Part 1 on PS5 have already gone up with the announcement of a season 2, which will adapt the events of the second game in the series. 

The Last of Us game and TV show are both incredible pieces of art that have captivated audiences. If the show is to maintain its faithful relationship to its source material, viewers are set for a heartbreaking yet warming journey that will produce lasting feelings. The show builds on what the game set up and is sure to be a hit for fans of the game. Both the game and show are must-sees, and it’s clear why The Last of Us saga is so beloved. As of date, four4 episodes have been released and five more are on the way. Episodes air at 8 P.M central every Sunday night on HBO Max.

Teams are composed of players that were selected in the NBA 2K League draft April 4. Players were declared eligible for both the 2K League draft and the pre-draft 2K League combine, an event in which these players were allowed to showcase their “NBA 2K” skills to professional teams, if they were able to win 50 games with their personally created NBA avatar player. These 50 games could be won in one versus one games against other players or team versus team games.

Seventeen NBA franchises have partnered with the 2K League in creating teams based around their cities. The 17 teams in the inaugural 2K League season are the Dallas Mavs Gaming; Boston Celtics Crossover Gaming; Utah Jazz Gaming; Sacramento Kings Guard Gaming; Detroit Pistons GT; Portland Blazer5 Gaming; Miami Heat Check Gaming; Orlando Magic Gaming; New York Knicks Gaming; Milwaukee Bucks Gaming; Toronto Raptors Uprising GC; Washington, D.C. Wizards District Gaming; Indiana Pacers Gaming; Philadelphia 76ers GC; Memphis Grizz Gaming; Cleveland Cavs Legion GC; and the Golden State Warriors Gaming Squad.

The inaugural season will begin in May. Regular season games will be Fridays and Saturdays with teams facing off head-to-head each week. Teams will participate in 14 regular season matchups with three tournaments spaced throughout the season for teams to win prize money and increase their playoff seeding.

The playoff matchups will begin August 17, with the top seven win-loss records in the league and the final tournament winner guaranteed playoff spots. The quarterfinal round will be single-game eliminations, and the semifinals and finals will be best-of-three series with the winning team taking home over $500 thousand in winnings.

Photo courtesy of miastogier.pl

No one expects a lot of defense to be played or a lot of effort to be shown in an All-
Star game, but a record-breaking 196-point display by the Western All-Stars was not expected either. Granted, the West had 193 until reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Steph Curry hit a 40-foot buzzer-beating three pointer. The final score was 196-173 in favor of the Western Conference All-Stars. The total points scored were 369, remarkably one point shy of the NBA record.

Russell Westbrook, a point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, took home the All-Star MVP honors after putting up 31 points, dishing out five assists, and grabbing eight rebounds. This is his second consecutive All-Star MVP, making him the second player in NBA history to get the award two years in a row after Bob Petit. Paul George of the Indiana Pacers had the highest scoring output with 41 points for the Eastern Conference. George was just one point shy of tying Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star game scoring record set in 1962.

The main focus of the night was worldwide celebrity and basketball icon Kobe Bryant. Bryant declared at the beginning of the season that this, his 20th NBA season, would be his last. Kobe received not only a standing ovation from both the Eastern and Western conference All-Star squads, but also got the loudest and longest of the Toronto fans as he was the last starter announced for the game. Magic Johnson sent Kobe into the game with a phenomenal farewell along with a highlight video thanking him for his great years with the Lakers and recognizing him as one of the greatest ever to take the floor. Bryant finished his final All-Star game with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

With dunks galore, players having fun both on and off the court and a memorable sendoff for a future Hall of Famer, this All-Star game was definitely something to remember. Kudos to Toronto for hosting and doing well at it.