NBA Legend Pippen Launches $BALL Blockchain Project
2min read Scottie Pippen, a legendary NBA player, is making a significant move into the world of blockchain technology. Unlike many athletes who enter the crypto space for financial gain, Pippen is driven by a desire to build and bring culture onchain. His latest project, $BALL, is more than just a token; it represents a bet that physical objects, such as the championship basketball from his first title, can carry value across blockchains, generations, and communities.
Pippen's illustrious career includes six NBA championships, seven All-Star appearances, ten All-Defensive team selections, and two Olympic gold medals. He was inducted into the hall of fame twice, once as an individual and again as a member of the 1992 “Dream Team.” Now, he aims to leave a similar mark in the blockchain arena.
During his NBA days, investing was not a common topic among players. Junior Bridgeman, a former Milwaukee Buck, was an exception, quietly building a fast food empire after retiring. Bridgeman's transformation from a role player to a multimillionaire businessman stood out in a league where endorsements and flashy purchases were more visible than equity or ownership. Pippen tried to follow a similar path by investing in Taco Bell franchises but faced challenges due to a falling out with his partners.
Pippen's interest in Bitcoin started around three years ago. He was initially curious but didn't fully understand it. What ultimately caught his attention was Bitcoin's role as the foundation of the crypto space. He and his team started paying close attention during the last cycle, when Bitcoin fell from its all-time high to the mid-teens. From there, they watched it climb, eventually reaching a number that matched Pippen's jersey: 33. This philosophy of learning from the leaders became a through line in how he thinks about investing today.
Pippen's belief in fundamentals led him to partner with a team of creatives and technologists to launch $BALL. This crypto project is rooted in one object: the actual game ball from Pippen’s first NBA championship in 1991. The thesis is that physical objects, when backed by cultural history and digitally tokenized, can become assets just as valuable as art or NFTs. $BALL has grown into an ecosystem, including an RWA with a digital twin, surrounded by gaming, apparel, AI, and even a documentary.
Pippen's approach is rooted in legacy and storytelling. Unlike many athletes who have made moves into crypto through sponsorships or one-off campaigns, Pippen's project is about creating experiences that onboard people into Web3 without them needing to be fluent in the technology. Over the next year, $BALL will roll out integrations with games like Fortnite, a mobile game called Meme Ball, and a trash-talking AI agent modeled after the Magic 8 Ball. There’s a documentary in the works, metaverse experiences planned, and a physical-digital tour aimed at bridging Web2 and Web3.
Pippen's thesis is bold. In a space dominated by price charts and memecoins, he and his team believe the most valuable asset onchain might one day be a basketball. “Once upon a time, people didn’t believe in Bitcoin. Then they didn’t believe in Dogecoin,” said Pippen. “Now there’s a new category which are real-world objects with cultural weight and it needs a leader. That’s what we’re building.”
Despite his deep involvement in the crypto world, Pippen knows when to let others lead the charge. After making a few tongue-in-cheek Bitcoin predictions online about knowing who Satoshi Nakamoto is, he shared that MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor pulled him aside and told him to stop talking about Satoshi. Pippen laughed and said, “I’m gonna try to keep my mouth closed and follow Michael’s lead. It’s worked out for me before.”
Ask Aime: "Is Scottie Pippen's blockchain venture worth investing in, and how does it differ from traditional athletics endorsements?"
