NBA champion Tristan Thompson is joining forces with Improbable CEO Herman Narula and co-founder Hadi Teherany to introduce a groundbreaking web3 experience that aims to revolutionize basketball fandom in the digital age.
The project, known as basketball.fun, is set to launch in October just in time for the NBA season. The main goal of the platform is to gamify the way fans engage with players and games, as announced by Thompson.
Built on Somnia, a layer 1 blockchain that recently went live, basketball.fun has already seen significant trading volume in its first few weeks of operation. Thompson emphasized that the platform is not just about basketball but about creating a shared experience where fans’ presence, passion, and participation truly matter.
One of the unique features of basketball.fun is the tokenization of NBA players. Unlike traditional fantasy sports or fan tokens, players on the platform will be tokenized with values that fluctuate in real-time based on sentiment and performance. Fans will have the opportunity to build rosters, speculate on up-and-coming talent, and earn rewards based on their predictions and engagement.
Teherany explained that the platform aims to shift the power back to the fans, allowing them to not only predict player performance but also earn incentives from it. This model sets basketball.fun apart from other platforms that rely heavily on token price speculation.
When asked why Somnia was chosen as the blockchain for the platform over more established chains like Solana or Avalanche, Teherany highlighted the importance of authentic relationships and a shared vision for long-term growth. He also pointed to the technical capabilities of Somnia, which boasts impressive transaction speeds and scalability.
Somnia, which launched on September 2, has already onboarded a significant number of validators and integrated with various protocols. The network’s native token, SOMI, has seen substantial growth since its launch, further solidifying its position in the market.
As basketball.fun gears up for its official launch, Thompson, Narula, and Teherany will be sharing their vision at Korea Blockchain Week. Attendees of Somnia House in Seoul will have the opportunity to preview the app and learn more about the roadmap for the platform.
In conclusion, basketball.fun is set to redefine the way fans engage with basketball, merging the excitement of the game with the innovation of blockchain technology. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto enthusiast or a die-hard basketball fan, basketball.fun offers a unique and immersive experience that transcends traditional sports engagement platforms.