NBA x MLBB: The Crossover We Never Saw Coming

We’ve never dreamed of seeing NBA and Mobile Legends in one headline, but now it’s real.

MOONTON Games has announced a historic collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the M7 World Championship, the seventh edition of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s flagship global tournament. Anchored on the philosophy “Game Recognizes Game,” the partnership signals a shared belief in competition, excellence, and the power of fan-driven culture—values that define both basketball and esports at the highest level.

NBA x MLBB

Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, framed the NBA x MLBB collaboration as a sign of esports’ growing role in the broader sporting ecosystem.

“Partnering with one of the world’s most established sports institutions underscores how esports is becoming an integral part of the wider sporting conversation,” Xu said. “Like traditional sports, esports thrives on competition, skill, and the passion of its fans. This collaboration will create new opportunities to connect our audiences, athletes, and competitive communities.”

More details about how the NBA x MLBB collaboration for the M7 World Championship are expected to be revealed in the coming months, but the announcement alone marks a defining moment for mobile esports.

The NBA partnership represents a milestone in MOONTON Games’ global maturity. As esports continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports in cultural relevance, collaborations of this scale highlight how far competitive mobile gaming has evolved.

Recognition from a global sporting institution speaks to the strength of MLBB’s competitive ecosystem, its massive international fanbase, and MOONTON’s growing influence as a global publisher. It reinforces esports’ legitimacy as a sport in its own right, driven by elite competition, compelling narratives, and fandom once reserved for legacy leagues.

Indonesia Takes Center Stage at M7

The announcement follows a series of major reveals at the M7 Press Conference, where MOONTON Games confirmed Indonesia as the host nation for the championship. Home to one of MLBB’s most passionate communities, Indonesia will be showcased through what was 2024’s most-watched mobile esports title globally, according to Esports Charts.

For the first time in M Series history, M7 will feature a full Opening Ceremony, scheduled for January 9. Inspired by the spectacle of global sporting events, the ceremony will blend MLBB Esports with Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage. Through a cinematic narrative where tradition meets modernity, audiences will be taken across Jakarta’s iconic landmarks—uniting culture, competition, and esports on a world stage.

Road to the World Title

The press conference also unveiled the official tournament draw, setting the stage for 22 teams competing from January 3 to 25 for a share of the USD 1,000,000 prize pool.

Fans can participate directly through the M7 Pass, available from January 1 to 25, which unlocks exclusive in-game rewards. Headlining the pass is the free Gatotkaca “Solar Spark” skin, inspired by the legendary warrior of Indonesian folklore—an emblem of national pride and esports spirit as M7 begins.

The NBA partnership arrives amid a landmark run for MOONTON Games. In 2024, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was recognized by multiple institutions—including The Esports Awards, The Mobies, and the GamingonPhone Awards—as the world’s most popular mobile esports title. It has since become the most-watched title in Esports World Cup history and earned a Game Awards 2025 nomination for Best Esports Game for the second consecutive year, standing as the only mobile title in the category.

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