Examining the 5 most expensive Spurs NBA Top Shot moments

If you’re anything like I was a few weeks ago, you have no idea how NBA Top Shot works and what it might have to do with the San Antonio Spurs. The truth is it’s hard to understand in general, but I’ve been able to learn more about the latest NBA phenomenon over time. To start with, it’s essentially a system of digital basketball cards in the form of highlights that carry their value in their level of rarity and demand.

Top Shot collectibles are considered NFT’s, which is its own enigma that’s been skyrocketing in 2021. NFT stands for a non-fungible token, which represents items such as photos, videos, and other types of digital media but doesn’t physically exist. What also lends value to these items is the fact that they are backed by blockchain, which is what cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum also use.

If you need a better breakdown of what exactly Top Shot is (and you likely do after what you just read), I strongly advise you to check out this detailed article by my FanSided colleague, Duncan Smith.

I’ve only dipped one small toe into the NBA Top Shot market so far, as I purchased a pack during a scheduled drop for $9. Unfortunately, I didn’t get anything rare or worth noting, with a layup by Terry Rozier likely being the moment with the highest value.

Still, NBA Top Shot continues to grow within the digital marketplace, so it made me curious about how well some San Antonio Spurs moments are doing in value. You’ll quickly find that these moments are all memorable and have special qualities that add to how much someone else may be willing to pay for the moment, which can ultimately be withdrawn for real money.

Here are the top five most expensive NBA Top Shot moments by Spurs, ranked from least amount sold for to most.

5. San Antonio Spurs: DeMar DeRozan’s ferocious dunk – $9,000

Beginning the countdown is this moment by DeMar DeRozan in February 2020. With the Spurs down by one, he comes off a Derrick White screen to throw down a rim-rocking jam.

I know what some of you might be thinking — you just watched this clip for free. Yet on March 3rd of this year, someone paid another Top Shot user $9,000 for serial #14 of a limited set of 75 in an exclusive Lace ‘Em Up set.

Again, things like limited quantity, demand of others to add to specific collections, or just plain awesomeness of a moment drive up the value of certain NFT’s, and this particular serial cost a whopping $9K at the time.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge’s buzzer beater – $12,999

There are few things more exciting than a buzzer beater. Even though this one by LaMarcus Aldridge occurred in the second quarter of a regular season game, the fact that it was one of only 50 created for a limited edition Legendary series bumped its value up.

Remember when I said serial numbers play a part in value also? Well as it turns out, the serial number 12 of this moment, which matches Aldridge’s jersey number, sold for $12,999 on February 19th, 2021.

3. Manu Ginobili’s dunk on Chris Bosh – $23,000

Yes, even though he was long retired before NBA Top Shot was a thing, one particular Manu Ginobili moment went for over $23,000 on March 2nd. The moment was part of a Run it Back series with 192 total variations available, and the #34 serial number is the one that sold for such a high price.

?Run It Back Challenge 3 is LIVE?

Collect all 9️⃣ Moments required to complete the challenge & score this exclusive reward: a big-time Manu Ginobili slam over Chris Bosh ?

Remember, this Moment will never be released in packs ?

More info: https://t.co/Rkg3ropdV1 pic.twitter.com/NoZJc8wBhh

— NBA Top Shot (@nbatopshot) January 6, 2021

At first, I wasn’t sure why that number was important until I noticed the jersey number of Ray Allen, whom Manu bullied on his way to one of the greatest dunks in Spurs’ history.

2. Lonnie Walker’s lethal 3-pointer against the Rockets – $26,316

In what will forever be known as his coming-out party, Lonnie Walker went absolutely crazy on the Houston Rockets in a December 2019 game. His heroics led to a miraculous Spurs’ comeback in the most exciting win in years, with this shot being the one heard around the world.

This monumental 3-pointer was part of a Cosmic set of just 49 minted, and the prices many of them have gone for are insane. Some serials of this moment have been sold for $13,999, $12,999, $12,888, and $10,500, but the number four serial of this moment sold for a staggering $26,316 on February 19th.

1. Tim Duncan puts DeAndre Jordan in the blender – $32,999

Was there ever any doubt about who would be number one? Not only is Tim Duncan the greatest power forward ever, but he’s also about to be immortalized in the Basketball Hall of Fame in less than a month.

There were 275 editions of this moment minted as part of a Run it Back series. The play shows a 37-year-old Duncan schooling DeAndre Jordan on a double pump-fake spin cycle layin at the Staples Center.

If you’ve been paying attention, you know by now that the lucky person that obtained number 21 in the series made away with some bank. On March 17th, the moment was sold for an eye-popping $32,999.

While it may be tough to understand why people are paying such insane prices for digital content, something tells me this is only the beginning of a new era of basketball collectibles. Keep your eye out on NBA Top Shot over the next few years.