Welcome to another edition of Community Roundup -- this is where we keep you updated on what’s been happening over the last week: your one-stop shop for all things NBA Top Shot.
We’ll review FAQs we’re seeing from the community and provide you with some highlights from the past week’s NBA Top Shot coverage. We also have a discussion with an avid collector from the global NBA Top Shot family in our “Community Spotlight.”
As a reminder, we created a second Twitter account to provide the community with up-to-date alerts about the Marketplace, Stress Tests, and more. Give us a follow at @topshot_updates.
FAQ'S FROM THE COMMUNITY
Q: I completed one of the challenges and acquired all required Moments before the timer expired. When should I expect to receive my Challenge Reward?
Challenge rewards are not immediately distributed after the timer expires, but are normally distributed the same day as the challenge ending. We will communicate otherwise in the edge-cases where delivery is delayed. Our team is checking closely for any potential missed cases for collectors who completed the challenge before time expired, as the serial numbers are randomized and distributed.
If you check the “Completed Challenges” tab in your profile, you will see whether the challenge is completed. If it does not show within 48 hours and you believe you should be receiving the challenge reward, please submit a ticket.
For collectors looking to complete challenges, note that you are only eligible to receive one reward per challenge, maximum. Even if you acquire multiple required Moments for the challenge, you will still only receive one reward.
For more information, please read through our blog post regarding Challenges.
Q: When will wire transfers for Canada/UK become available?
We anticipate that wire transfers for Canada / UK banks will become available in the next month or so.
Q: Where is my pre-order pack?
Pre-order packs are being delivered as we publish this! They’ll be sent out incrementally over the next 24 hours or so. We will send an email to all eligible collectors tomorrow once all pre-order packs have been sent.
Q: Why am I being blocked from making purchases?
There are several reasons why collectors may be blocked temporarily from making purchases. Reasons include: using a VPN, using multiple accounts, using shared credit cards, and repeated attempts to purchase a Moment via the Marketplace without success.
Long-term, please understand that our team is trying to build a community that values the collector experience on NBA Top Shot above all.
Q: What's the latest with gifting?
Gifting has returned with new restrictions that'll reward collectors and prevent bad actors from abusing the platform. Read more here.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Part of what makes NBA Top Shot so special is the community. We see the passion and excitement from all of you, and it does not go unnoticed. So, we wanted to take a moment and spotlight one of the many avid collectors, Sean Freidlin.
As a diehard New York Knicks fan, Sean has been collecting NBA Top Shot Moments since mid-February. His love for the Knicks is almost on par with our Community Lead, Jacob Eisenberg. Below is a transcription of our conversation with Sean. Enjoy!
How did you get started with NBA Top Shot?
On the morning of Friday, February 19, my friends and I came across an article online about Top Shot and were immediately intrigued. We started texting about it, did a little reading, and signed up for accounts that day. We must've spent the entire weekend sharing moments we liked, doing research, and starting to build our own collections. It's been a daily topic of discussion ever since, although we all wish we had learned about it a little earlier!
What do you love most about NBA Top Shot?
Simply put, it's the most fun, rewarding fandom and collector experience I've ever been a part of. It's beautiful, well-designed, and exists at the cross-section of a lot of my interests. The thrill of getting a pack and opening it, full of mystery and potential, can make you feel like a kid again. As a Knicks fan, collecting moments representing milestones from this season is such an unexpected added element to rooting for the team.
What is your favorite Moment you own?
That's like asking a parent to choose their favorite kid, but I think it has to be the Obi Toppin Three-Pointer on December 23! At the time, it was the most expensive investment I had made on Top Shot. The Moment itself also felt symbolic of this new era for the Knicks and the hope it represents; Quickley's first assist, Toppin's first points, and the first game in what I'm hoping will be a special season. Plus, it's a "triple badge" Moment, which I think is extra unique and rare.
What is your favorite Moment you want to collect?
Oh man, there are so many great ones! At the top of the list is definitely Dirk Nowitzki's "Run It Back" Moment in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks, from February 24, 2014. He's my favorite NBA player of all time, and I vividly remember the game because I was there with my brother. The game-winner over Carmelo is just a classic, and the Moment captures it perfectly. My second choice is the Vince Carter Three-Pointer over the Knicks on March 11. It's the final game and shot of his career and the last game before COVID infamously halted the season. It feels historic and worth collecting and holding onto for a long time.
Which highlight do you want to see minted?
If the Run It Back series ever goes back into the 90s, I need the John Starks dunk over Michael Jordan! But from the more recent NBA players and games, this three-pointer JR Smith hit in 2013 from the logo at the end of the third quarter. Afterward, he does this iconic celebration where he whirls his arm like a windmill then gets on one knee. It's just a classic JR Smith moment. Jeremy Lin's game-winner against Toronto during the Linsanity era would be epic! Stepping away from the Knicks, the first thing that comes to mind is the Dame Lillard game-winning, series-ending, buzzer-beating three against the Thunder in the 2019 playoffs.
Favorite NBA team and/or player.
My favorite NBA team has always been the New York Knicks. I grew up in Long Island and spent a lot of my youth and 20s watching them almost succeed (and fail spectacularly) and going to games at Madison Square Garden - there is just something special about that arena! Knicks fandom can be a frustrating experience, so while there are many players in their past (Patrick Ewing, John Starks, David Lee, JR Smith) and present (Randle, Barrett, Quickley) that I love, my favorite NBA players are often non-Knicks. When I was younger, Rasheed Wallace and Dirk Nowitzki were my two favorites -- I think I always had a thing for big men that could shoot threes. You can imagine the range of emotions the Kristaps Porzingis era brought me. In the modern NBA, my favorite player would have to be Steph Curry. I remember watching him play at Davidson and falling head over heels, and then being crushed when he almost fell to the Knicks in the NBA draft. Since then, watching him decimate the league, revolutionize the three-point era, and take on LeBron has been a joy. The fun and fearlessness he brings to the game is just awesome!
Piece of advice for collectors trying to get in the game.
I would definitely recommend starting with a clear-cut budget in mind. From there, you can filter the marketplace through that number so you can get a more refined sense of what your options are. It never hurts to go after players you love from your favorite team! My first purchase was an S2 /15000 RJ Barrett that I got for around $20. When you really want to spend more time on the platform and make some decisions, or when there is a lot of activity, do it from your computer instead of your phone; it's much easier to navigate and act. There are a lot of great educational resources available with tools like Evaluate Market and podcasts like First Mint, and the community is really inviting, so definitely try to learn about some of the more strategic aspects of Top Shot, like Series 1 vs. Series 2, and Rookie Moments, if you want to diversify your portfolio. Last but not least, build a list of moments you want, even if some of them are really ambitious, so you can watch those moments over time and strike when the opportunity is right!
You can check out Sean’s NBA Top Shot collection here and follow him on Twitter @collector_top.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Capturing the NFT market, capturing the scarcity, doing things that are fun for fans is always great. The fan is the true life blood.” - The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie on NBA Top Shot (via Forbes)
AROUND THE LEAGUE
For your reading and viewing pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite NBA Top Shot coverage in the community and beyond over the last week.
TopShot Fastbreakers | What Do Fantasy Sports Have In Common With NFTs?
The Dropshot | My Top 10 Top Shot Moments
Max Minsker | Marketplace Breakdown Thread
Greg Murray | NBA Top Shot In Review (March)
NBA Top Shot Weekly | Alex Kennedy, Oliver Maroney Joined by NBA All-Star Rudy Gobert
Also: congrats to Own The Moment for launching their website!
NBA TOP SHOT FEATURED
Lastly, here are a few highlights from NBA Top Shot mentions in the press over the past week.
"We wanted something that has a trading card sort of timeless quality, where it can grow and evolve, but it can always be iconic." (via PCMag)
“It feels like we have entered the next generation of collecting.” (via Dan Grunfield)
“NBA Top Shot takes the best parts of trading cards and makes them digital.” (via Forbes)
"[NBA Top Shot] has taken away barriers and made people closer. The experience is very shared and communal. What I've seen is how it's permeated the NBA community. It's very cool the players are a part of it." (via SportTechie State of the Industry Roundtable)
AS A REMINDER
- Gifting has returned. More details can be found in the blog post.
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can find up-to-date and informational content. This includes coverage of NBA Top Shot, podcasts, pack break openings and recaps of our Discord Office Hours.
- There are currently two active challenges - Holo Icon Challenge 3 and Metallic Gold LE Challenge 22 - where you can earn exclusive rewards and add to your collection. Remember, do not feel obligated to complete every single challenge. We shared some insight and gave the community an update on concurrent challenges running.
- One final reminder to follow our new Twitter account @topshot_updates. Give us a follow to be in the know for all important updates and announcements.
