He got (video) game: Battle Creek's Ethan White is an esports superstar Battle Creek Central graduate a first round draft pick and MVP in inaugural season of NBA2K League

Nick Buckley , Nick Buckley | Battle Creek Enquirer

Ethan White already had the game in hand when he launched and sank a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.

He and his teammates celebrated with chest bumps, high-fives and intermittent shouts of "Let's go!"

Their prize: $35,000.

White scored 17 points to go with 14 assists and seven steals in leading the 76ers GC to the championship of the Tipoff Tournament on May 5.

GC stands for "gaming club." White, who plays under the name "Radiant," is one of the stars of the NBA 2K League, an NBA-backed video game league in its inaugural season.

“I don’t think I could have ever expected this (back when I was) just playing with friends, having fun, talking junk," White said. "It’s fun - I love NBA 2K - but it’s not for fun anymore. It’s a job now. It’s still fairly new and sometimes when I'm bored I think about how far I’ve come playing just this game. I don’t think I would have come to Philly, seeing all the things I’ve seen."

White was studying accounting at Kellogg Community College when the NBA announced it would become the first US pro sports league to run an organized esports league.

The 2016 Battle Creek Central High School graduate decided to put aside his textbooks and pick up his controller.

Roughly 72,000 gamers took part in the NBA 2K League Combine. White survived the initial cutdown to 250 players. He was then made part of the pool of 102 draft-eligible players for the 17-team league. On April 4, the 76ers GC selected "Radiant" in the first round, No. 14 overall.

"Ethan stood out immediately as the best statistical point guard in the league," said 76ers GC general manager Michael Lai. "His smooth style and steady demeanor made us believers in his ability to be the cornerstone of a franchise. We were thrilled to select him 14th overall, believing that he was the best player in the draft."

White had never been on an airplane before being flown out to Philadelphia. He attended some of the Philadelphia 76ers playoff games and has been featured on forbes.com.

He is under contract for six months, earning $35,000 as a first-round draft pick (other players earn $32,000), while his housing, food and transportation are covered by the team. The Tipoff tournament was one of four opportunities to earn additional money over the course of the 17-week season.

He would like to make gaming his profession for the foreseeable future, with additional revenue generated through endorsement deals, tournaments, streaming and potentially testing and providing feedback to video game developers.

And video games, of course, are big business. According to a report by the entertainment software association, video games added $11.7 billion to U.S. GDP in 2016. Global industry revenues are projected to surpass 90 billion by 2020. The NBA 2K franchise, released annually since 1999, has sold more than 68 million copies worldwide.

White is currently fourth in the NBA 2K League in total points (190), second in assists (120) and tied for first in steals (25). His avatar features his likeness in the face, but otherwise does not resemble him. All of the avatars in the NBA 2K league have the same player ratings.

⭐️ MVP ⭐️@iTz_Radiant is named tournament MVP after leading @76ersGC to the 1st-ever #NBA2KLeague Steel Championship Banner with 17 points, 14 assists and 7 steals in THE TIPOFF title game! #ItsOurTime pic.twitter.com/fSuDzhXE4e — NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 6, 2018

Jonathan Raber, who covers the NBA 2K League through his website, The Ballgamer, said it is White's selflessness that sets him apart from other guards in the league.

"He doesn’t get the hype that other top players at his position receive, but he quietly goes about his business," Raber said. "He is a true floor general, possessing a steady hand and the ability to find his teammates for easy scoring opportunities."

White got his start by playing online with friends before branching out to find better competition. He became "Radiant" in 2011, taking the name from a popular XBox Live game. Because he put in countless hours playing video games, his family was skeptical at first, but have since warmed to his gaming career and are "very supportive."

White offered some advice to kids who aspire to one day become a professional gamer.

“If they want to play games, maybe don’t play as much as I did," White joked. "Always do schoolwork first and get outside. But if you want to play video games for a living, it is possible. If that’s what you want to do and are willing to put in the work, it is possible."

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley