As U.S. President Donald Trump pushes ahead with plans to impose new tariffs, professional sports leagues like the NBA are adapting their merchandising strategies—turning to digital solutions such as NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
According to a Thursday report by Cointelegraph, Dapper Labs, the blockchain company behind NBA Top Shot, has seen increased activity in digital collectibles. Ridhima Kahn, the company’s vice president of business development, confirmed a 7% quarter-over-quarter boost in NFT sales, with NBA Top Shot alone generating $5.6 million.
“Brands are reevaluating their revenue models and how they connect with fans,” Kahn said. “Many franchises we partner with have already seen success in the digital space. With the uncertainty surrounding the cost of physical goods, digital memorabilia is becoming a more appealing alternative.”
Dapper Labs’ NBA Top Shot allows fans to own officially licensed video highlights—like Steph Curry’s iconic three-pointers—creating a new wave of fan engagement as traditional merchandise becomes more expensive to produce and distribute.
NBA Eyes Expansion Alongside Digital Growth
The league’s digital push isn’t the only major shift on the horizon. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently hinted that long-anticipated expansion talks are finally moving forward. Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio earlier this week, Silver revealed that the subject will be on the agenda at the upcoming NBA Board of Governors meeting in July, set to take place in Las Vegas.
“Now that both our collective bargaining agreement and media rights deals are in place, expansion is a legitimate conversation,” Silver said, noting that Seattle and Las Vegas remain top contenders for new franchises.
With a dual focus on digital innovation and potential league expansion, the NBA appears poised to reshape both its fan experience and national footprint—responding to both economic and technological forces reshaping the sports industry.
