Scottie Pippen isn’t here to chase crypto hype—he’s here to build something lasting. The NBA Hall of Famer is part of a rising movement of athletes who view blockchain not just as a financial tool, but as a platform for cultural preservation and innovation. In a recent conversation, Pippen opened up about his journey—from a time when NBA locker rooms were silent on investing, to discovering Bitcoin, and now launching $BALL, a project rooted in legacy, teamwork, and the power of real-world objects onchain.
With six NBA championships, seven All-Star nods, ten All-Defensive Team honors, and two Olympic gold medals, Pippen’s legacy on the court is undeniable. Twice inducted into the Hall of Fame—once individually and again as part of the iconic 1992 Dream Team—he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest two-way players in basketball history. Now, he’s taking that same passion into Web3.
Back in 1987, when Pippen entered the league, financial literacy wasn’t a priority in the NBA. “Players didn’t talk much about investing,” he recalled. One exception? Junior Bridgeman—a former Buck who turned his career earnings into a franchise empire with over 400 Wendy’s and Chili’s locations. “He was someone we really looked up to,” Pippen said.
Inspired by Bridgeman, Pippen made his own early investment moves, including buying into Taco Bell franchises. But after a tough split with partners, he stepped away. “I didn’t have the right people around me, and I couldn’t do it all alone,” he admitted.
His curiosity about crypto began a few years ago. “I was interested, but didn’t quite get it at first,” he said. Like many, it wasn’t until Bitcoin dropped to around $17,000—after its peak near $69,000—that it truly clicked. “That’s when we really started looking into it,” he said. And when it rebounded and touched 33K, the number on his jersey, it felt like a sign.
Bitcoin became the anchor of his crypto journey. “I’ve watched other blockchains, but haven’t invested beyond Bitcoin,” he said. “Not because I doubt them—but because I believe in Bitcoin’s foundation.”
That foundational mindset inspired $BALL—a crypto project centered on a single, tangible item: the actual game ball from Pippen’s first NBA championship in 1991. What started as a conversation about meaningful memorabilia grew into a vision: that culturally significant physical objects, when digitized, can live on across blockchains, generations, and communities.
“This isn’t about a trophy or personal milestone,” he explained. “It’s about what the ball represents—teamwork, history, culture.”
$BALL is more than just a token—it’s an ecosystem. It bridges the real and digital worlds through gaming, fashion, AI, and storytelling. Plans include integrations with Fortnite, a mobile game dubbed Meme Ball, and an AI personality inspired by the classic Magic 8 Ball. There’s even a documentary and a hybrid tour in development to connect Web2 and Web3 audiences—all centered around a single, meaningful item: one game ball with a story to tell.
While other athletes have dabbled in Web3—Spencer Dinwiddie tokenized his contract, Messi partnered with Bitget, Ronaldo teamed up with Binance, and LeBron backed blockchain education—Pippen’s approach is different. This isn’t a one-off sponsorship. It’s a cultural mission.
As his team puts it, “Ball is a universal language. Everyone speaks it. We just needed to bring it onchain.”
And that’s exactly what they’re doing. The vision behind $BALL is to create experiences that introduce people to Web3 in a way that feels natural, even if they don’t fully understand the tech behind it. “Most people don’t know crypto,” his team noted, “but they know basketball.”
In a world dominated by charts, tokens, and memes, Pippen is betting that the next big thing might just be a basketball—one that carries legacy, emotion, and value. “People didn’t believe in Bitcoin at first. Or Dogecoin,” Pippen said. “Now, real-world cultural assets are entering the space. And they need a leader. That’s what we’re building.”
Despite being immersed in crypto now, Pippen still knows when to take advice. After joking online that he knew who Satoshi Nakamoto was, none other than MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor advised him to tread carefully. “He told me to stop talking about Satoshi,” Pippen laughed. “So I’m gonna keep my mouth shut and follow Michael’s lead. That’s worked for me before.”
