NBA Star Tristan Thompson Compares Bitcoin to Michael Jordan: How Do Other Cryptocurrencies Stack Up?

NBA Star Tristan Thompson Shares Insights on Crypto and Sports Betting

Tristan Thompson, the former Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player, has found striking similarities between his 14-year career in the NBA and his journey into the world of cryptocurrency. In a recent interview at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Thompson emphasized the importance of discipline and persistence in both realms.

Thompson, who has been actively involved in the crypto space for the past two years, has immersed himself in the intricacies of digital assets. He has relied on "crypto tutors" through extensive three-hour sessions and even launched his own podcast, "Courtside Crypto," which blends sports and cryptocurrency.

Unlike some celebrities who have been accused of simply "extracting" from the crypto space, Thompson has made it his mission to understand the industry thoroughly. He has become an ambassador for a crypto-focused sports betting platform, Sportsbet.io, and the Ethereum layer-2 network, Corn, which aims to leverage Bitcoin for decentralized finance (DeFi).

• "Bitcoin is Michael Jordan, LeBron James is Ethereum, Solana is Stephen Curry, and XRP is Kevin Durant," Thompson said, drawing parallels between digital assets and legendary NBA talent.

Thompson's involvement in the crypto space comes at a time when the industry has faced a series of high-profile collapses, culminating in the bankruptcy of FTX. The NBA veteran believes that athletes who have faced legal action, such as Tom Brady and Shaquille O'Neil, are examples of individuals who did not educate themselves enough about the industry.

Thompson sees his crypto journey as a path to self-empowerment, allowing him to take control of his own assets and move beyond the constraints of traditional financial advisors. He has found a mentor in Ryan Fang, the founder of Tomo Wallet and an advisor to the Trump-backed DeFi project World Liberty Financial.

The NBA star's goal is to "make crypto cool" and educate the Web2 space, as he believes the centralized banking system has "manipulated, brainwashed, and made people sheep." Thompson's unique perspective, blending his sports expertise and crypto knowledge, offers a fresh and engaging voice in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.