North Texas native ‘Dayfri’ might be best NBA 2K player in world after second 2K League title

The influx of NBA 2K League championship money made Ryan “Dayfri” Conger step out of his comfort zone, but he has done it before.

Conger, a native of Palmer who now lives in Richardson after winning his second esports title with Wizards District Gaming earlier this month, has cemented himself as one of the best NBA 2K players in the world.

Then his father gets a food truck.

“I want him to be able to do what he wants, to withdraw and wake up every day to cook,” said Conger. “I feel like we’ve got the financial situation covered now, it’s all about marketing and making sure we’re producing good food.”

Congers are no stranger to uncomfortable decisions. Both he and his family questioned his decision to become a professional 2K player after his college baseball career was disrupted by a cruciate ligament rupture. He sat in his LeTourneau University room, depressed, wondering what he was going to do. NBA 2K offered a way out.

The 2K League kicked off in 2018 and took advantage of an esports scene that is growing steadily in the United States, bringing lucrative contracts and fame to those who are successful.

Conger, who recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the Wizards’ 74-53 title-winning win over Jazz Gaming on September 4, quickly became one of the best players there is. He was drafted in 2018 by Mavs Gaming, owned by the Dallas Mavericks as one of the 22 squads in the 2K League, but was traded to the Wizards.

He was a cornerstone of his team and now has two championships after winning the $ 450,000 prize in Dallas over Labor Day weekend in 2021.

“We really made the table even better this year,” he said. “We were number one in the postseason with the best record in the league and we didn’t even lose in the playoffs. It was definitely an insane achievement. I feel like a top 2 player in the world and the only player who is maybe better than me is (Jack “JBM” Mascone). “

98% of these 2k 💩 are all between the ears

– Ryan I 𝖎𝕭𝖆𝖑𝖑 (@dayfri) September 6, 2021

Conger is a high quality representation of what the 2K League aims to promote and achieve, said league president Brendan Donohue. He has the backstory, thrives on the big stage, and has already achieved what most only dream of in three seasons.

Like other eSports, the 2K League has had to switch to online games for the most part over the past two seasons. The most recent championship was a return to live events, with Mavs Gaming hosting the games at their Dallas headquarters.

Live action in esports is helping to get the drama going, and Donohue enjoyed a comeback in Dallas.

“I think it’s bigger than just geography. Dallas has become one of the epicentres of esports in the United States. What we wanted to do was very special to us, ”said Donohue. “We’ve never had two circle stages in one building and that’s what we wanted to do for our playoffs. The Mavs invested so much in this space that it was one of the few places we could actually handle. “

Online games cannot recreate the feeling that opponents are sitting a few feet away talking rubbish and strategizing. Conger was able to demonstrate his mental strength in those moments when he saw jazz gaming players arguing between championship games.

“A lot of the teams we played in the playoffs, we looked around and saw them implode on each other,” said Conger, a 2021 MVP candidate. “I was basically telling the guys, ‘Hey, us don’t implode on each other and I think we have a good chance. ‘”

Conger’s fame has made him one of the faces of a young esports league. Because of this, his father has a lot more breast to smoke.

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