NBA Top Shot sounds like one of those things that your college friend texts you about at 1 AM on a Tuesday because he just watched a hundred YouTube videos about it and thinks there’s big money to be made there. The gambling Twitter accounts he follows are screaming about it nightly so it must be a thing.
Maybe because that’s exactly what it is, but it’s still in its infant form.
So what is it exactly? With the use of Blockchain (you know, the computer stuff that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are based on), Dapper Labs created a digital collectible marketplace for NBA plays. The use of Blockchain allows for these moments to be impossible to hack or even duplicate, which is the draw to these moments.
Think of it in the same vein as baseball cards. You own the physical copy of these cards. Someone else may have the same card, but you can hold and see your specific version. That is almost exactly what these Top Shot moments are. Owning a moment, you own that version of the moment and you are the only one with that serial number.
How do I get moments?
Currently, there are four different ways to get a moment; opening packs, buying specific moments in the marketplace, trading with other users or being gifted a moment.
Packs? What are those?
Packs in Top Shot mean the same as packs in the real world – you buy a pack when they’re available and there are three moments inside a pack. Some deluxe packs may even have more than just three moments, but that all varies with the price point of the pack. There’s a whole ceremonial pack opening animation and moment reveal, it’s beautiful.
There are games nightly, so there are constantly new moments to be created in Top Shot. For that reason, there are constantly new series’ and new sets within those series. Currently, we are just in Series 2.
Packs happen in drops and since the hype for Top Shot is higher than the number of packs released at a single time, you have to be present for drops in hopes to receive one. Drop times are announced in advance and then anyone interested hops into a queue in hopes of getting a spot in line to buy a pack.
Packs range in price. The most common packs that drop go for $9 and the highest price for a pack that has been released was $999. As of right now, every pack is worth it. The lowest-priced card listed on the marketplace is $12. As of writing this, every pack is a worthwhile investment.
What if I can’t get a pack, how can I buy moments from the marketplace?
The Top Shot marketplace is a journey, but it’s a blast. Owners of moments decide to list their moments for any value they so choose. It’s eBay for virtual NBA moments, but there’s no bidding! It’s all Buy It Now.
What moments should I buy?
This is entirely up to you. If you like a player, buy their moment. If you like the play, buy the moment. Different cards hold different values to everyone. Make a collection or make an investment.
One thing to note is that certain serial numbers of moments have a lot more value than others, as well as some player moments than others. Some marketplace trends to be noted:
- Jersey Serial Number (The moment has the same number as the players’ jersey)
- Lower Serial Number (Lower the better)
- Circulation Volume (Lower amount of that moment that exists makes it rarer)
- Player popularity (LeBron James has the highest selling moment, for obvious reasons)
For example, if there was a highlight of Bradley Beal hitting a half-court shot and it happened to be a rare care where only 100 versions were released, then you can expect that the card with the serial number 3 is going to be one of the most valuable. Not only is it an extremely scarce card, but the serial number also matches the player and it is a low number. It checks all three boxes for maximum value. Not to mention on top of the card’s attributes, Bradley Beal also happens to be one of the best players in the league this season.
Of the current top-10 highest-selling moments:
- All 10 are of the leagues most notable players (LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo)
- 9/10 only have up to 49 in circulation
- 7/10 are of LeBron James
- 2/10 have jersey serial numbers
How do packs increase in value?
The same way baseball cards or any collectibles increase in value. The more people want them, the more people are willing to pay. As NBA Top Shot increases in popularity, these card prices are going to continue to grow.
Why is this growing in popularity?
People are always looking for new distractions. I believe it’s a combination of tax refunds hitting the bank accounts, the popularity of the NBA, the investment aspect, and just how different it is to regular card collecting.
Additionally, NBA players have recently joined in on the Top Shot hype. Players like Terry Rozier, CJ McCollum, Andre Iguodala, and LaMelo Ball are some of the early adopters of the new craze. The idea that you could potentially sell LaMelo Ball his highlight of him dunking is incredibly appealing to some people. Plus, if an NBA player is tweeting about it… It must be worth checking out, right?!
In the end, it’s all about how you want to approach this. Are you collecting your favorite players’ moments, or are you using this as an investment platform? There’s not a wrong answer, which is the best part!
It’s a dope rabbit hole to dive into, and you’re only just beginning.
