Remember the appeal of buying and trading cards when you were a kid? There was nothing as special as opening a pack and finding a name, someone you knew would make your friends go nuts.
Today’s generation of fans might find that same magic through a new vehicle—owning highlights. Say it with me: Digital...crypto...highlights.
The surging new platform is known as NBA Top Shot. It hails itself as a “revolutionary new experience in which jaw-dropping plays and unforgettable highlights become collectibles that you can own forever.”
NBA Top Shot Family - thank you to the best community in the world. We appreciate your support during beta, and are excited to have you with us for the long haul 🚀 Happy collecting 😎 pic.twitter.com/e0LC4vnHEx
— NBA Top Shot (@nba_topshot) February 23, 2021
If you’re confused, don’t sweat it—while it might sound complicated at first blush, it’s really not. Below is everything you need to know about NBA Top Shot.
Fans Owned Highlights
How Does It Work?
How Much do They Cost?
The first thing you should know: they’re all sold out right now. So hold your horses and take a moment to breathe before you liquidate your 401(k) or sell all your sneakers.
As with sports cards, there are options for both the budget-conscious and high-rollers. You can (normally, when items are in stock) buy a pack for as little as $9. Similarly, on the secondary market, a Bismack Biyombo reverse layup is currently listed for $18. Not bad.
But it’s like buying a sweater—if you get one from H&M, it probably will feel nice in the moment, but won’t give you much long-term value. The bigger the player’s name, the more jaw-dropping the play, the bigger the potential rewards—and, of course, the higher the price tag. For example, this LeBron James dunk sold for $3,800.
🚨 TOP COLLECTOR ALERT 🚨
This is 1️⃣ of 4️⃣9️⃣ LeBron James Moments that can ever be minted in our Cosmic packs. Scooped up by user rapid_goji_berry2079 via the #NBATopShot marketplace 📈
Start collecting Moments like these before the beta opens! https://t.co/S4XvtARyar 🏀⛓ pic.twitter.com/Lqm8grEIF1
— NBA Top Shot (@nba_topshot) September 29, 2020
And the numbers keep growing. Last week, FantasyLabs co-founders Jonathan Bales and Peter Jennings bought a Ja Morant highlight—a clip of him dunking over Aron Baynes in a clutch moment last year—for $35,000. (Of course fantasy guys are first to this market.) Not to be outdone, SnapBack Sports founder Jack Settleman led a group that purchased a James dunk for $47,500.