Twitter & Top Shot π£
Featuring Lakers Woes, A Legendary NBA Partnership, Top Shot Twitter Talk, Challenging Challenges, LG's Sorare Thoughts & More
Good Morning, B&B Squad! Hope you had an excellent week, and cheers to the weekend!
A few things Iβve been seeing across the hardwood:
The Lakers are in a whole lottaβ trouble. Sitting at 0-5, Anthony Davisβ injury woes look to be back, Russell Westbrook is who he is at this point β everything is just a mess. If Iβm the Lakers, Iβm hoping LeBron James pushes his way out. Blow this thing up and go into a full rebuild.
Ben Simmons also looksβ¦ really bad! I have to admit, I was dead wrong so far β I really thought Simmons could get back to his previous form and be a real factor. Maybe he still can, but the early tape has NOT been promising.
This rookie class has some real talent. Paolo Banchero already looks like a star, Benedict Mathurin has that dawg in him, and weβve seen flashes from several other solid looking youngsters (Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Jabari Smith Jr.).
Letβs get into all the action from the last few days:
A Legendary 50 π§
We got a cool new announcement from NBA Top Shot this week, partnering with the NBA Players Association to celebrate 50 players that define the 2022-23 season.
Chosen by the players (more specifically, βdozensβ of players representing the NBPA), the new Top Shot 50 will replace the Holo Icon set, and be minted sometime after the season concludes. As for the specific highlights? Thatβs up to collectors, who will get to vote on which play makes it into the set.
Iβm into the partnership, and hopefully we see some fun engagement from players getting competitive for spots βΒ similar to what we saw for the NBA 100 in previous seasons. Also, shout out to Harrison Barnes, a longtime Top Shot fan still grinding out there!
Iβm not really into the name change, as I think Holo Icon felt exclusive and cool. Iβll also be interested to see how the legendary market looks for Series 4, considering it sounds like the flagship set wonβt be minted until the summer.
Top Shot Talk π£
Itβs been a polarizing start to the season as always for Top Shot, with a mixture of sentiments across the community. And the rollercoaster has been apparent in the Twitter streets, with a few different conversations catching my eye.
Here was the platform catching strays from Darren Rovell (expected), and ESPN2 show Jalen & Jacoby(???):
Rovell sucks βΒ and has been posting trollish posts about Top Shot before it was cool. Boo that man. But I guess we wonβt be seeing a Jalen Rose leaderboard anytime soon?
Elsewhere in the Twitterverse wasβ¦ Twitter β with Dapper Labs being one of the first companies to get the NFT Tweet Tile treatment:
And finally, a voice that I feature here often β one that I trust to call it like he sees it when it comes to the platform:
I personally havenβt been super engaged with the challenges so far β and the lack of clarity is a big reason why. I want to know WHY I should be burning and completing these expensive and complex challenges, other than for the opportunity to get a random new moment. Give us exciting ways to burn! The League Pass initiative was a great example βΒ how about jerseys, merch, tickets, anything that isnβt another moment?
Speaking of burning, at least the team will be getting in on the action:
Around The First Mint π£
π§ Why the Chicago Bulls are winning at NFTs (Feat. Luka Dukich)
π§ Steph Curryβs Multi-Billion Dollar Future in Crypto
π The Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Basketball NFTs
Thanks for reading! βΒ ZachΒ @ The First Mint
FollowΒ ZachΒ on Twitter atΒ @GhostOfGregOden.ο»Ώ
**This is not financial advice. Nothing in this newsletter, podcast, or publication should be considered financial or trading advice of any kind. Please do your own thorough research and make your own trading decisions. This is not advice.β
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