In this week’s NFT roundup, we have appearances from the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ronald Acuna Jr., as well as Paige Bueckers testing NFT via Meta and a new initiative from a pair of USC Trojans.
Let’s get into it.
Paige Bueckers, Instagram influencer
Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) will begin allowing users to post NFT on Instagram through a test with 16 influencers, one of which is basketball star UConn Huskies.
“I am thrilled to be among the first creators to be able to share NFT on Instagram and it is an honor to have acquired a piece from @swopes’ incredible Sunrise Art Club @ilovesunriseart,” Bueckers said in his post.
“The chance to be part of a global community that celebrates Justice, Opportunity and Community and that centers education and well-being in empowering the WOC through projects and representation in the NFT community is beautiful. I am here to learn and I am so inspired by all the artists, creators and collectors I meet. This image representing the dawn of a new day moves me. “
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s CEO, “similar functionality” will soon arrive on Facebook as well.
The “voice of the NBA 2022 Playoffs” on NBA Top Shot
On May 9, NBA Top Shot (the Association’s hub for NFTs) announced that ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke has officially become the voice of the NBA 2022 playoffs on Top Shot.
Today Doris Burke’s voice officially becomes The Voice of the NBA Playoffs 2022 on NBA Top Shot 🗣️
Across the @NBA Playoffs after each round, @heydb will choose and analyze his favorite playoff moments 🔥
Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/D67kCfySKb pic.twitter.com/IW7RKDvprt
– NBA high shot (@nbatopshot) May 9, 2022
“Every moment of the playoffs tells a story, and from the first round to the finals, some of these stories will come to life with Doris’ new narrative in our first partnership with a broadcaster,” the platform said in a statement. “She is selecting her plays of hers and her favorite moments from each round to share her excitement and experience of her with NBA Top Shot fans and collectors, making every officially licensed NFT that captures NBA history yet more special “.
Heritage ‘Room of the GOATS’
Matt Leinart, former USC Trojans Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, is partnering with current Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams to launch a new NFT platform called the “Hall of GOATs” to allow college athletes to generate digital collectibles through their rights in name, image and likeness (NIL).
The first step to getting GOAT’d starts here. Join the Hall of GOATs now to own a piece of the next generation of greatest hits from legendary athletes on and off the pitch. @MattLeinartQB @CALEBcsw pic.twitter.com/d8c5SfkOjF
– Room of the GOATS (@GOATS_hall) May 2, 2022
On the platform’s homepage, it says it was “created so that amateur athletes can connect with their most loyal fans and offer ownership and access to future experiences.”
Leinart told Boardroom: “All athletes grow up dreaming of becoming the greatest of all time in their sport, but as we know, few or none get this title,” he said. “The career span of an athlete at the high school, college and professional levels is so short that it is imperative to make the most of the limited window to build your personal brand on and off the pitch.”
NFT Collection “The future is …”
On May 4, Autograph (the Web3 brand co-founded by QB Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) announced its partner athletes “The Future is …”, who are also featured in a brand new campaign.
The group includes Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, American tennis star Coco Gauff, American professional golfer Collin Morikawa and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The first collection of the program was that of Ionescu on 10 May.
MLB stars release NFTs through DraftKings Marketplace
Two of baseball’s biggest stars – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves – were featured in DraftKings’ collaboration with Metabilia.
Guerrero’s collection was released on May 3, while Acuña’s was released on May 11.
Metabilia passes and event-based NFTs consist of three rarities (in order of scarcity): black, platinum and green. Athlete-specific versions allow owners to continue receiving event-based NFTs throughout the season.