The Minnesota Timberwolves are taking a deeper dive into the esports world. T-Wolves Gaming, the basketball team’s official esports organization, announced on Tuesday that it plans to set up a physical presence at Wisdom Gaming Studios at the Mall of America.

Timberwolves and Wisdom leaders say the two organizations are partnering to extend the team’s reach beyond basketball fans and shrink the divide between esports and traditional sports. The Timberwolves will formally open the new space in 2023. It’s expected to be a multi-year partnership, said Wisdom Gaming president Steve LaCroix. He declined to share financial details about the partnership, though he did note that it won’t follow a traditional sponsorship model.

T-Wolves Gaming will get 500 square feet of dedicated space on the second floor in the Wisdom Gaming venue. Wisdom Gaming’s retail store Side Quest will also carry T-Wolves Gaming merchandise.

Until now, T-Wolves Gaming operated out of a practice facility in Mayo Clinic Square in downtown Minneapolis. That space remains part of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, and has been converted to additional office space.

“Our partnership with the T-Wolves evolved out of a shared aspiration to further the connection between traditional sports and esports, as well as creating inclusive spaces to grow gaming communities,” LaCroix said. “As T-Wolves Gaming was looking for a new home within Minnesota, they were drawn to Wisdom Gaming Studios and Wisdom’s capabilities that will help them continue growing in the esports and gaming space in a meaningful way.”

A former Minnesota Vikings executive, LaCroix noted that Wisdom has already partnered with several Minnesota professional sports teams. That includes the Minnesota Twins, which sponsored Wisdom’s high school esports league earlier this year.

Founded in 2018, T-Wolves Gaming is part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) 2K League, the first official esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. The NBA 2K League, which also launched in 2018 and was co-founded by Take-Two Interactive Software, currently features 25 teams, 22 of which are affiliated with NBA teams.

“Partnering with Wisdom Gaming and having access to their industry knowledge and expertise allows us to continue to grow as we navigate the esports and gaming space,” said Justin Butler, general manager of T-Wolves Gaming and senior VP of technology at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, in a statement. “We are excited for what this partnership means for the future of T-Wolves Gaming and professional esports.”

Meanwhile, Wisdom’s esports hub at the Mall of America continues to host a variety of events, tournaments, and watch parties. The hub formally opened to the public in July. Its next big event is the Minnesota Varsity League (MNVL) Fall Finals on Jan. 13-15. The event will feature Minnesota high school esports teams competing across five game titles.