From Courtside to Crypto: Tristan Thompson’s Web3 Playbook at KBW2025

got us rolling right now.

Yeah. Hey everybody,

what's going on?

So, um this is actually a very special uh occasion for me. So, I mean, as if you can tell, he's an as an NBA player. Uh and I happen to be a huge fan of yours, actually. Um, I still remember your play in 2016 finals in game six where you um scored like I don't know if you guys know what double double is, but you did like 15

16 15 two blocks a steal

with a win. So,

correct. And then I remember that was like one of the only time No, it was the times when you guys came from a 3-1 deficit, which has never been done in the history of any sports. Yeah.

And then you guys won the championship year. So, so congratulations to be say this in person. I think it's such an amazing honor.

No, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your time having me. Appreciate you guys being here, too.

Yeah. So, you know, you're obviously an NBA legend and um you know, you've achieved that the peak that that anybody aspires to. So when you hit that point like how do you decide okay like you know that at some point you'll retire and athletes tend to retire a little bit earlier than most other professions. So um when was the moment you wanted to sort of like okay what should I do with the next phase of my career like you know I want to do something meaningful that kind of rivals the the intensity and and the the work ethic that you put in. And so when was that moment for you?

I mean for myself um it wasn't until probably like year 10. I think at the end of the day the the the the problem in in our sport and I think in sports and entertainment is that guys don't realize how quick that story book can end. Right. I think one day you're winning a championship and the next thing you can go a couple years and then your career could be over. Right.

And I think for us we got to do a better job uh preparing for what's next. And I think for myself, it's always about, you know, like you said, I've achieved greatness in terms of winning a championship, but how can I get in to this next phase and chapter where I'm going to have that same burning desire and that sensation to get up every morning to want to be the best, right? I think that's why we're all here, right? We want to be the best at whatever we choose to be in. And for myself, um, my calling was to to get into crypto and web 3.

And I've been, um, super excited about this journey I've been on so far.

Yeah. So I know that typically a lot of athletes they tend to get into more traditional route whether it be media

uh or real estate but then it's very rare for anyone of a professional caliber that that you have been to get into crypto.

Yeah.

So why was that?

Yeah. No, I think for me first of all being from Canada, being from Toronto, um we've always, you know, beat the odds and done stuff that people never thought we could ever accomplish. I mean, I remember being a kid at a basketball camp in the sixth grade and literally the basketball coach came up to us and said, "Hey guys, just so you guys know, you're never making the NBA and you're probably never going to play high level college. You'll probably get a degree, go to community college, and then just be a gym teacher." So, I think he said that.

Yeah, he said that. But don't worry, I get I get him I get him back years later. So, then obviously time progresses and I make it to the NBA and I and I have this great accomplishment. I go see this coach and I say, [snorts] "Coach, like, you know, how's it going?" He's like, "Oh, Tristan, I'm so proud of you."

D I said, "Coach, you know, you are actually one of my biggest motivations in life, you know, cuz I remember you telling me at this camp that, you know, you'll never be an NBA player." And then, you know, now that I'm NBA champion and I'm an NBA player, like, thank you for that motivation. And you should have saw his face. He was stoned. Like, he almost looked like Casper the Ghost, like he just saw someone wake from the dead.

But, but to say that to round up everything is that, you know, I've always wanted to do stuff that's different from the rest, right? But I think like you said, a lot of guys uh get into, you know, whether it's real estate, whether it's doing podcast, whether it's doing sports broadcasting, I think they do that because it's what's comfortable and it's what the masses of guys that are in my position do. And and for me, it's like, no, let's do something that no one's ever done before or or get into a space that makes people from my walk of life uncomfortable, right? Be a pioneer. And I think that's kind of what the nature of what crypto web 3 is like being a pioneer in a space that a lot of people have their mixed feelings about.

Some people might not they some people might think it's a scam. Some people might think it's it's not here to stay. So for myself it's like why not grab the bull by its horn. Be one of the first from my walk of life to get into the space and really dive in and understand uh you know what this digital asset and and and digital financial freedom se.

Yeah that's pretty awesome. But I guess my question uh then becomes you must have also identified a problem that you would like to solve. So for example, what do you see was the biggest problem when it comes to let's say sports and its relationship with fandom? Is that something you noticed that like oh that could be a lot better?

Yeah. No, I think I think what our purpose and and what I feel like my purpose in life is always to be you know how can you make your everyday life better? I think that's what you know for us as human and mankind is I think that's what we we strive for. So for me the lowhanging fruit is definitely in sports and basketball and in and entertainment right so you know everyone always preaches about how important the fans are like you know they say you're number one to us without the fans we are nothing and it's true but it's it's why don't we put our money where our mouth is right give fans the opportunity to have a voice and in terms of from a basketball level you know really dictating the level of talent you know really it's it's crazy if you with these owners you know they they all them are on social media by the way and they all read a negative comments, right? Like I know owners that literally would fire a coach because he gets scrutinized about the hire, right?

So the way I look at it is that if if if these ownership and these teams are looking to the community, you guys, and your guys opinion on on whether it's a player, a team, why not look to you guys for the same thing in terms of something positive, right? So for me, it's like how can I bridge that gap and elevate the community to really have a voice and really challenge those that are in the suits and ties it if you're really as good as you say you are, let's put it to test.

So right now, do you think that the current players have that kind of relationship with fans right now before you try to implement whatever it is that you're trying to implement?

Well, I think right now it's it's tough right now, right? I think the the most integration or the most interaction that we have with players and and fans is whether guys go on live stream. You see a lot of guys doing the Twitch the social media thing. But for me now it's like how can we take it to the next level, right? How can we really let the community really show the value of what the players are, right?

Really determine like everyone knows how great the LeBron James Luca Donic are of the world, right? But it's about, you know, there's some people in here that might think um Drew Holiday is just as important as Jason Tatum to the Celtics to them winning a championship. And it's the those people in the community that we want to empower and really like put on a pedestal and elevate.

So maybe tell the audience a little bit about that what you've been working on uh basketball. Fun.

Yeah. Yeah. So I'm in right now it's called basketball.f fun. Um for those that are in the space.

So imagine football.f fun, they're doing a great job, by the way. So this is not to put nobody else down, but looking at that in and ways to bring it to basketball with with improvements, right? I think it's like uh everyone's got to be a pioneer, right? And I think with with everything, you try to find either holes or areas that you can improve for whatever you're trying to do.

So for me, the whole DNA about basketball. fund is about empowering the community and empowering the people to really be the voice of determining talent, determining the value of players, right? Really just and it's obviously through fantasy prediction market, right? Cuz listen, at the end of the day, you saw with the election in America poly market was more important and more influential than Fox News and CNN, right? So, we obviously see this this incredible run in terms of prediction market and obviously an online gambling, right?

That's that's kind of you got to give somebody the hook, especially listen, I love the DJing community. Everybody wants that 100x and 10x and and they could tweet about it, right? So, we got to feed every every side of the spectrum. So, for me, building this out, it's basically taking fantasy basketball, bringing it on chain with the blockchain and basically having the community determine the value of players. And at a prediction market side, we're we're not just The problem I have with sports media is that they never like to to rock the boat too much, right?

You got Stephen A. Smith, he'll give his opinion about something, but he's never going to really dive in and give the truth about what the hell is really going on in the sport. And for us, what we're trying to do from the prediction market side is really ask the questions that you guys really want to know. Like, is Kyrie Irving coming back this season after an ACL? Is Jason Tatum?

He already just made a quote that he does not think his season next year is a writeoff. Let's really put, you know, a prediction side behind that. And obviously with my um you know I got this this intel that I have I can always make it a little more juicy because I'm not afraid to disrupt the the the current narrative of uh prediction market and online fantasy sports.

I I got also got that impression that uh as a as a fan as well that the sports media just like the mainstream media they have this like vested interest to sensationalize something have their own agenda almost. So from the players perspective when you guys look at that you when you just want the direct relationship with the fans but how does that make you feel when you get almost like misrepresented in the media?

Yeah, it happens all the time. I think um you know guys have like LeBron has done try to do stuff with Uninterrupted and he's done a great job with that. But I think using the blockchain and in this space, you're really able to just say what you want and be who you are, be your authentic self, and really be able to give yourself a voice to really, you know, interact with your fans. And I think that's the that's kind of my calling is like, how can I, you know, bridge two worlds together, but also have our people that mean the most, our fans, our backbone in terms of this business, really feel like they're on this journey of greatness with the sport. and and and really, you know, it wasn't until I got into the space, realized how many people uh in this space are are true dieh hard sports fans.

People are walking up to me all the time like I remember 2016, I love the Cavs like and I realized like in crypto and web 3 there's a lot of basketball so and and fans like you got thread guy talking about he's the best you know basketball player in the space and then I you know I commented him I said we could be a Shack and Kobe. So, it's it's it's I love where where we're at and for me it's just about, you know, giving people a voice and not just having and then putting the money to mouth, right? Cuz it's it's we can all say like we want to hear what you're talking about, but we got to make sure to eat. You got to feed the dog. You got to feed the feed feed the community.

Make sure people making money. And when everyone's making money, people are more inclined to to speak up. And and we're going to find stars in the space that really know what they're talking about. And you know what would make me happy one day is that there's this kid that's home that really loves the sport. He's making the right calls.

He's making the right reads. And he has an opportunity to come on stage or be on ESPN and and and go one-on-one versus Stephen A. Smith debating basketball facts.

Do you think that it's possible if your vision comes to true uh to life? Is it possible for the fans to directly uh almost like tokenize their players? Is that the idea? Yeah, that's what we're doing. We're basically allowing the the community and fans uh on basketball fund to be able to show the value of players, tokenize the players and and create pools and basically build out their own team, right?

And it's a it's a play to earn. We're not going to do a pay to earn because then you can get one big wheel to buy all the best players. So, it's a play to earn and right and like anything, the ones that are making the right calls and and winning the games, you're going to be rewarded more points and and and more, you know, rewards and everything like that. So for us, it's really to see like who's really the best at what they're doing and who knows the game, right? And and that's what makes me excited.

Like I I get like literally get chills in my body thinking about like what's to come. So I I know that a lot of people might have this question but you know even I get this sometimes because um I have a lawyer background and then I started a media company but people always want to argue from authority like oh where's your journalism degree oh you don't have a technical background right so like does that mean that we can't do anything but but how do you deal with those kind of criticism like you know if you're not a technical founder but I to me you have what it takes to build this amazing thing because of your lived experience. But how do you sort of like respond to those criticisms?

I mean the reality is that most of the most powerful people on this earth what they're great at has never been what they've studied or what they got a degree in, right? I think it's more so who has the drive, the determination, and the really the the the guts to not even to be able to stand in front of everyone and be able to take any type of criticism or take any type of hits. And obviously for myself, one thing about me is that when I'm building out a team, I know I'm not going to be the smartest one, but what I can bring is certain things to the table. So for myself, I've had a great opportunity to add Herman Nurula, who um who's who's runs Ino that has helped built uh Somnia, and you know, he's his background in terms of from from the gaming and tech side has been out out of this world. So for me, when I'm building this this my former the Avengers in this space, I'm going to find the best, you know, I'm going to find the best devs.

I'm going to find, you know, the the analytic guys. I'm going to find guys that the design like I one thing about me, if I'm going to do something, I'm going to go two feet in. And I don't mind doing whatever it takes to build the best team possible cuz I don't know everything. I can't do everything. But I'm I I I put the ego and pride to the side and know when you need help and who to go ask for it and be able to be vulnerable.

At the same time, if you could just take one lesson that you've learned from your time uh playing basketball and you could apply to your new sort of like next phase of life as an entrepreneur, what would be some of those biggest lessons

that you could apply that you could also, you know, share with other people?

Never be afraid to stand out. I think um for us as humans, it makes people uncomfortable when everyone is choosing to go down a certain path. You're saying, "Hey, I really don't want to do this or I think there's something more." And it's it's okay to stand out. You know, I think in life [snorts] that that's one of the challenges because people if you're not confident in yourself enough, you're scared to do that.

You rather be a sheep than a shepherd. And for me, I want to be a shepherd in this space, right? I want to lead a charge. I want to lead a charge for those that are behind me and motivate guys from where I'm from back home in Toronto. Motivate people, you know, the kids back in the areas that don't have the access and opportunities to do something in their life.

You know, I look at this from not just from a crypto web 3 side. It's like I want to motivate the youth that that you don't just have to be just a an athlete, just be a basketball player, don't just like people pigeon hole you because they're afraid of what your potential could be. And for me, that's been my biggest motivation. It's okay to stand out. It's okay to challenge yourself.

And and and also, it's okay to to fail. It's okay. It's okay. You know, I think that's what people always worry about. It's like, what if this doesn't work?

Listen, sometimes it's good to fail because then you learn from those mistakes and it's going to make you a better person. And I think that's that's what I tell people. It's like I rather fail early because I know at one day I'm so determined that I know if I keep running into this wall, this wall will break before my shoulders break. And that's the type of determination I have to be great and to strive for greatness.

I I I resonate with that a lot. Um, you know, I think ironically it's that kind of vision that you have that would make things go even more mainstream because I think uh sort of crypto or web 3 space is still kind of very much of in in it sort of technical infancy and um you know obviously we want this technology to go as mainstream as possible and sports what could be more mainstream than that right and then if people really see the utility in this and then they start using it just like you know poly market then yeah maybe that's sort of like on the way to get to the the mainstream adoption right

I mean that's kind of what my role in the space is right to be the bridge the gap bridge the gap between web two and web 3 and I think the the the way we do is listen this I've been in so many telegram chats and talk to all these founders and you know they they've built some great product but the problem is that they're not able to explain it in a form that's digestible where you know your niece and nephew can understand and for me I I I look at that as a area and opportunity where let me educate myself, understand what's going on, where I can give these tools and explain to a form that is is digestible. Cuz one thing about human beings, right, if you use big words and belittle someone, they're going to tune you out and not want to hear what the hell you got to say. So for me, it's like, let me be able to to not even say dumb it down, but articulate in a way where it's where they where they can understand. And like you said in terms of onboarding there's so many different ways now to do it where yes is this is this basel built on the blockchain built in the crypto world yes but that could be the hood

but up top it could be it's going to be no different than whether you in terms of like the payment process where it's Apple Pay or putting your credit card in but you don't know that you're having the smart contract underneath right and I think that for human not for human but for web too it's easy for them to feel comfortable right because it's not doing something where it's too left field for them.

Are you worried that this becomes too successful that people start using this platform that you build as a way to speculate and make more money? Like how do you prevent that from happening? Because I think there's obviously that that sort of human desire to to speculate and then the prices goes up and then then you know it drops.

Well, I mean for me it's not about you know I'm I'm creating this not from a not from a need, right? I think uh it's cuz I want to, right? I think a lot of people and it's no it's no disrespect or shade to anybody what they're building. You know, I I've been very fortunate and blessed to be in a position where I can do what I want to which makes me happy, right? And and and I know as you said like at the end of the day everyone's like token go up, token go down and for me it's like I'm especially early in this project, I'm not going to let a token determine the value of my project, right?

The way I want to do this is basically having it grow organically and and letting the community eat, right? I I I truly believe if the community is eating and making money, that's what make the motivation. Like I'm I'm a big pay it poor type of guy because I've come from nothing, right? So for me, it's not about and and the problem with with a lot of people that came in this space and celebrities was they was they were extracting. So for me, my motivation is to be no, I'm not doing that because I don't need to, right?

I'm in this space because I actually see the vision. I actually see what everyone's creating and building and I actually just want to help on board and make this part of our everyday life.

How do you think that'll impact sort of the future of uh future athletes, up and cominging athletes that are um you know yeah they need to establish themselves and they want to build a direct relationship with their fans. Uh how do you see this platform evolving let's say in the next 5 years?

Yeah, I mean I think it's not even just it's a platform I think just the space with with with crypto right. A lot of my teammates now, you know, they'll they'll see me during the season being on Aerone and and bouncing out of a, you know, a BTC USDC pool and they're like, "Man, what are you doing?" I'm like, "I'm yielding, man. Like, I got to make sure I stay in range." So, like they're the fact that they're asking those questions means I'm I'm I'm grabbing their curiosity.

And like you said, when you have product that has success, it's easier for those that are wondering or curious to feel comfortable jumping in in the fire with you, right? Because like most people, they're like, especially athletes, they're like, "All right, bro. Let's see you do it first. And if you're if you have success and it looks good, then I'll join as well." So for me, I'm okay being a pioneer.

I'm okay, you know, being the first first in line. And wherever we land is wherever we land, but I'm okay doing that.

You know, I uh interview people for a living. Uh that's what I've been doing for the last 10 years. So I definitely met a lot of interesting people. Um, and there's a question that I always ask to like to ask everybody and that is this this winning mindset like this pursuing greatness which for some reason a lot of people can't relate but I've always had that mindset. So I always asked him like hey is that something that you're born with or is that um is it like a whole nurture versus nature type of argument?

Where does that come from for you that wanting to

just, you know, win and give value and then pay it forward? Uh because you just said you came from nothing.

Yeah, I think I think it's just my upbringing. I mean, you know, my mom worked three jobs. She was a school bus driver, was bagging groceries, and babysitting on the side. So, for me, I think just that desire of just making my family proud and just determined where whether it was, you know, I moved away from home at 16 to go to boarding. So I left Toronto and moved to New Jersey to boarding school because I was I understood what the goal was and was to basically take care of my family and I was okay sacrificing everything for the potential.

Doesn't mean you move away, you guarantee make the NBA, but I'm willing to to make that sacrifice. And I think that's that type of DNA you're just born with or or it's something in your environment and community that that brings it out of you. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of successful people that don't have that that burning desire and fire in them and they can be successful and make millions of dollars, but there's some like that that 1% of greatness, right? Like the you look at the Tom Bradies of the world, the the the LeBron James, like those people like they have that that 1% and it's kind of like a a psychotic can't explain it. You're so good.

Why are you still doing this factor about them? But it but they they don't care about the the what comes with a success. They love the the the grind and like like the pain and suffering of trying to reach the mountain top. And I think when you have people like that like give me the hardworking guy over the talented guy because you know hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. At the end of the day you could be talented but I know so many more talented basketball players than myself but they're not even playing anymore because they didn't have that it factor and that desire to show up every day and be professionals.

So, give me the hardworking

Sorry for my French, guys. I'm just very honest.

No, I I love that. And then uh I I I personally get very inspired by someone like you who who's achieved greatness and then and then go back to square one being an entrepreneur of all things. Uh and then I just love you love hearing about your mindset. I have no doubt that you will take this to the next level and then hopefully we achieve that sort of a mainstream adoption. So, thank you so much.

Let's leave it at that.

Yeah.

Thank you guys so much for being here. I really appreciate it. Safe travels, everybody. Thank you. [music]