Magic Johnson, Warriors co-owner Peter Guber get into esports with stake in Team Liquid

The list of NBA stars and owners buying into esports continues to grow.

On Tuesday, esports org Team Liquid announced a strategic partnership with aXiomatic, a new ownership group that includes NBA legend Magic Johnson, Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, and Washington Wizards co-owner Ted Leonsis.

Other investors in aXiomatic include AOL co-founder Steve Case, President and COO of the Golden State Warriors Rick Welts, and Groupon co-founders Eric Lefkosky and Brad Keywell. Former Liquid co-owners Steve “LiQuiD112” Arhancet and Victor “Nazgul” Goossens will be staying with the organization as co-CEOs, while Guber and Leonsis will step in as co-executive chairmen.

“Team Liquid is already one of the organizations shaping the future of esports, but there are still so many opportunities that we want to explore,” said Arhancet. “The goals I share with Victor have changed—they are now a lot bigger, and a lot bolder. There are very exciting times ahead, and we’re all going to take this to the next level together.”

Team Liquid fields teams in League of Legends, Dota 2, Hearthstone, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, Halo, Street Fighter V, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and StarCraft 2.

This deal comes hot on the heels of an announcement yesterday that the Philadelphia 76ers had purchased both Apex Gaming and Team Dignitas and combined them to play under the Dignitas banner. Both deals smartly retain the name of longtime mainstays in the esports scene.

You can follow Taylor Cocke on Twitter @taylorcocke.