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- NBA star got started in blockchain just as lovers do: shitcoins trading
- In 2017, he first learned about cryptocurrency from some kids with whom he played Fortnite
- In collaboration with NFT Crypto Kickers, Chandler’s first digital shoes deal
A journey that began with shitcoin trading has evolved into a growing passion for NFTs, as part of a larger wave of NBA players and cultural tastemakers who are embracing blockchain technology. According to Wilson Chandler, despite having a ten-year NBA career and nearly $80 million in earnings, the 6’8 combo forward got his start in blockchain the same way that many other enthusiasts do: by trading shitcoins.
The early investment strategy of Chandler’s
Chandler claimed that he first learned about cryptocurrency from some kids with whom he played Fortnite in 2017. He eventually invited one of them out to his Chicago home for a crash course on setting up wallets and using exchanges after becoming fascinated by their stories of turning small sums into legitimate holdings. From there, everything is on-chain: his early investment strategy was little more than spray-and-pray, according to his Etherscan address.
From there, he bought a bunch of coins — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Stellar — just to mess around with and learn. He lost a lot of money doing stupid things like pump and dump companies because he didn’t know any better. He, like many other degens-in-development, relied on a social network for information. He had one enthusiastic friend talk him into a pump-and-dump scheme based out of Amsterdam, as he recounted on a recent episode of NFT collector podcast Club Top Shot, a scam that cost him a significant Bitcoin position. Is it a friend? Nipsey Hussle, the late legendary rapper and activist. He thinks about that nonsense all the time, he joked.
The second actions and sneaker deals of Chandler
As a basketball player, Chandler’s resume is stellar. For years he could be relied on for strong 13-5-2 stat lines, primarily playing for scrappy Denver teams that twice made the playoffs — including an all-time great hipster team in the Knuggets, the collection of Nuggets Vs Knicks players assembled in the wake of the Carmelo Anthony trade.
Chandler’s playing days, on the other hand, appear to be coming to an end. He’s been on three teams in the last three years, opted out of last year’s bubble playoffs, and most recently played for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, a stop in China that can often signal a pro player’s last hurrah. While he has stated in interviews that he has received offers from NBA teams, including playoff contenders this season, he is planning to retire.
Crypto and NFT collecting could play a major role in whatever comes next for the former star if some of his recent investments are any indication. He’s starting to become a savvy NFT collector and is working to enmesh himself into space, in addition to opening a medical marijuana dispensary. He revealed last month that he had become a proud CryptoPunk owner, changing his avatar to one of the exorbitantly priced pixel collections. It was a surreal moment for many long-time NFT collectors, as well as a source of validation for those aficionados who clung to hope for mainstream adoption in the midst of a brutal bear market.
He announced a neat, possibly first-ever digital shoe deal with NFT company CryptoKickers just a few weeks later. Basketball players inking shoe deals with major brands is nothing new, but CryptoKickers creates one-of-a-kind streetwear-inspired shoes for virtual worlds like Cryptovoxels and The Sandbox, a use case that major fashion and apparel brands have been eyeing for a long time. Chandler now has the best virtual ‘gear’ of any NBA player in the Metaverse for the time being.
Chandler’s current obsession, however, is Zed Run. Due to its rising popularity and the eye-watering sums rare, genesis breed horses can fetch for collectors and racers, the Polygon-based collectible horse racing and the breeding game has gotten a lot of attention. Chandler was drawn in by the social and educational aspects of the program.
NFT’s influence and culture
Chandler isn’t the only NBA player who has dabbled in NFTs. Younger players such as Josh Hart, Tyrese Haliburton, and the reigning Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball have begun collections in recent weeks, with LaMelo flourishing under the tutelage of collector-whale Pranks.
NBA players, after all, have a long history of serving as tastemakers and arbiters of what is cool, so handler believes it could be the start of a trend. They now have a rapidly evolving technological and cultural movement in NFTs, which in some ways reflects the nature of the modern game, which is increasingly defined by absurd athleticism and pace. Players can participate in the space in a variety of ways. Aside from collecting NFTs, Chandler points out that a number of players have made angel investments in blockchain companies, including early positions in Dapper and Coinbase. He believes the NBA will eventually experiment with the technology, calling it a no-brainer for them to do so.
Steve Anderson is an Australian crypto enthusiast. He is a specialist in management and trading for over 5 years. Steve has worked as a crypto trader, he loves learning about decentralisation, understanding the true potential of the blockchain.
