Former NBA Star Jeff Teague Files Trademark for ‘Teague Time’ After Viral Gaming Moment
Former NBA point guard and 2015 All-Star Jeff Teague has taken his latest viral moment off the court and into the trademark office.
On October 9, Teague’s company, Club 520 LLC, filed a trademark application for ‘Teague Time’ with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The application covers a range of products and services including, clothing (shirts, sweatpants, hats), energy drinks, and a podcast, all under the ‘Teague Time’ brand.
The filing follows a bizarre but hilarious moment that recently went viral on Twitch, when Teague’s nephew was streaming a game of NBA 2K. During the stream, a player model appeared wearing a Jeff Teague jersey with no shorts, a glitch that quickly turned into a viral trend dubbed ‘Teague Time.’ Fans began creating their own “no draws” Teague avatars, spreading the inside joke across the NBA 2K community and social media platforms.
Fit for today 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NWQh87MbCj
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 4, 2025
Rather than ignore the moment, Teague leaned into it, and now, with the trademark filing, he’s looking to capitalize on the viral phrase before others try to do the same.
A smart legal move by Teague
Ultimately, this trademark filing was a savvy business decision by Jeff Teague.
When a phrase or meme goes viral, it often attracts squatters who rush to the USPTO to file applications and try to claim ownership of the phrase. We’ve seen this play out before, when TikToker Jules Lebron went viral for her ‘Very Demure, Very Mindful’ catchphrase, only to have multiple squatters file trademark applications before she did. While she could challenge them, doing so was far more expensive than simply filing first.
By getting ‘Teague Time’ filed quickly, Teague protected himself from that exact problem. Filing early means he’s first in line when the USPTO reviews new marks. It also gives him the flexibility to develop his brand — from merch to a podcast — without worrying about squatters making filings and ultimately having to spend the time and money to challenge them.
The filing also shows good timing and business awareness. Teague recognized that his viral moment had traction and understood that it could be more than just a week-long internet joke. By securing a trademark, he’s turning a glitchy NBA 2K meme into a potentially valuable personal brand.
Whether it’s ‘Teague Time’ clothing, an energy drink, or a new podcast, Jeff Teague is doing what every modern athlete should be doing: turning attention into a business opportunity… and making sure to protect trademarks in the process.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.
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