NBA Top Shot is ushering in a new era of digital basketball collectibles in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This marketplace combines an experience akin to collecting traditional sports trading cards with the blockchain technology used in other NFT platforms.
Featured Cryptocurrency Partner Offers
1
eToro
Limited Time Offer:Deposit $100 get $10 (US Only)
Fees1%/1%
Cryptocurrencies Available for Trade20+
1
eToro
Learn MoreVia eToro's Website
2
Uphold
Fees (Maker/Taker)0.95%/1.25%
Cryptocurrencies Available for Trade92+
2
Uphold
Learn MoreOn Uphold's Website
3
Crypto.com
Fees (Maker/Taker)0.40%/0.40%
Cryptocurrencies Available for Trade170+
3
Crypto.com
Learn MoreOn Crypto.com's Website
What Is NBA Top Shot?
NBA Top Shot is an NFT marketplace where sports fans can buy, sell and trade basketball video clips.
Launched in 2020, NBA Top Shot is a partnership between the NBA and Dapper Labs, the creators of CryptoKitties. High-profile investors include the NBA legends Michael Jordan, Kevin Durrant and Klay Thompson.
The platform is run using Dapper Labs’s Flow blockchain, and gives users the ability to trade digital assets based on video clips from NBA games. The Flow blockchain supports transactions on a range of other sports NFT marketplaces, like NFL All Day and UFC Strike.
As of September 2021, NBA Top Shot had more than 1 million registered users. Data from NFT marketplace tracker DappRadar suggests that more than half a million NBA Top Shot had exchanged a total volume of nearly $1 billion on the platform since its inception.
What Are NBA Top Shot Moments?
Moments are the video highlight clips sold as NFTs on NBA Top Shot. Much like conventional sports trading cards, Moments increase value based on their rarity. The rarer the video clip, the higher its potential value as a collectible.
On its surface, a Moment is simply a video clip of a specific play—a LeBron James dunk or Steph Curry layup, for example. So why would anyone pay money for video highlights they can watch for free on YouTube?
Moments are more than highlights. Like other NFTs, which represent real-world items from art to in-game items to music, each Moment is an NFT that’s officially licensed by the NBA and minted with a unique serial number and data, including game and player stats.
There’s also the cachet of owning a piece of basketball history. NFTs are like a certificate of authenticity: The technology behind them makes it difficult to replicate or counterfeit them.
Think of it like owning a piece of art. You can go online and print a copy of the Mona Lisa, but it’s nowhere near as valuable—or prestigious—as owning the real thing. It’s that pride of ownership that sets NBA Top Shot Moments apart.
What Can You Expect to Pay for NBA Top Shot Moments?
Like all NFTs, a Moment is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay in the secondary market. Rare Moments from top players can go for hefty sums, while others sell for just a few dollars.
A Moment of a LeBron dunk against the Houston Rockets, for instance, fetched $387,600 last year.
According to the site Cryptoslam!, one of the most valuable NBA Top Shot Moments is a LeBron dunk from a Nov. 15, 2019 game, with 49 mints. One of those minted Moments is currently on sale for $1 million.
Of course, not all Moments are that expensive. NBA Top Shot users can purchase a starter pack of Moment NFTs for $9, giving the buyer a 0.024% chance of getting a more valueable “Legendary NBA All-Start Classics” Moment.
Like trading cards, Moments are finite, and NBA Top Shot determines how many to release at once. So, getting a Moment that’s 1 in 49 is more valuable than one that’s 1 in 11,000.
The scarcity is somewhat manufactured since NBA Top Shot releases Moments on its website in digital packs via limited events called “Drops.” Drop times vary, so users have to stay tuned for announcements.
How to Buy NBA Top Shot Moments
Wondering how you can snag a Moment of your own? First, you need to sign up and get verified on the official NBA Top Shot marketplace.
Only verified users can make purchases with a credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard) or their crypto wallet with Ether, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, and the Ethereum variations of Dai and USD Coin.
NBA Top Shot also hosts a healthy secondary marketplace where fans can buy, sell, trade, or gift packs or individual Moments.
Can You Make Money on NBA Top Shot?
There’s no shortage of epic tales of iconic NBA Top Shot Moments selling for astounding prices.
Like physical trading cards, Moments’ value depends on supply and demand. Moments produced in greater quantities, or featuring lesser-known players, aren’t worth as much as a LeBron dunk.
“Blockchain technology lets collectors see who previously owned each moment, how much it was sold for, and how many moments are in circulation,” says Jesus Castellanos, a fund manager at cryptocurrency investment firm R.F. Capital. “Preventing the overproduction of certain moments is good protection against the market crashing because of oversupply, similar to collecting baseball cards in the 90s.”
Cryptoslam!, a site that tracks NFT sales and values from various online marketplaces, including NBA Top Shot, had several Moments listed for as little as $4 at the time of writing.
While some early adopters have amassed collections worth millions, these NFTs are like any investment. Past performance is not a reliable predictor of future results, especially if the market is cooling off.
Advantages of NBA Top Shot
Disadvantages of NBA Top Shot
Should You Buy Top Shot Moments?
If you’re a true NBA fan and you’re willing to hedge your bets on the future success and popularity of the players, the Top Shot marketplace and NFTs, then investing in this new crypto craze could be for you.
Potential for financial gains aside, those who are truly passionate about NBA basketball and collecting Moments of their favorite players and game highlights have the potential to benefit from the sheer joy of the pastime.
NBA Top Shot is not for people looking to get rich quick, says Julian Morris, founder and principal at Concierge Wealth Management. “I recommend setting a budget and having fun with it, but don’t plan to retire off your Top Shot Moments,” he says.
Investors and collectors seeking to diversify their holdings may consider taking a small position in NFTs. If you’re new to crypto and NFTs, NBA Top Shot may be an appealing option because it’s easy to use and widely accessible.
That said, the values of most collectibles, including NFTs, tend to be volatile. After all, a LeBron dunk NFT could be tomorrow’s Beanie Babies.
