Tristan Thompson, a former NBA champion, says he buys Bitcoin every day and has been telling teammates to do the same, regardless of price. The veteran forward uses dollar-cost averaging, buying a fixed amount on a regular schedule to smooth out the volatility. He calls Bitcoin 'digital gold' and warns that players will regret not buying more at current levels.
Why Thompson keeps buying
Thompson says he buys Bitcoin not because he expects the dollar to fall, but because he expects the internet to keep winning. He traces his conviction back to the 2008 global financial crisis, calling Bitcoin a 'Robin Hood' figure for financial freedom. He also thinks the US is still early in crypto adoption compared to Asia and the Middle East, pointing to Emirates accepting crypto for flight bookings as a sign of where things are heading.
The warning to teammates
Thompson's message to his teammates is blunt: they'll regret not buying more at current levels. He claims Bitcoin has posted strong annual gains over the past 14 years, though the asset is currently trading well below its all-time high. His approach is simple — buy a little every day, don't try to time the market, and let compounding do the work.
NBA's crypto track record
Thompson isn't the only NBA figure in crypto. Scottie Pippen tokenized the 1991 NBA Finals Game 5 ball as a blockchain asset and regularly posts bullish Bitcoin commentary. LeBron James partnered with Crypto.com on blockchain education, and Spencer Dinwiddie attempted to tokenize his own NBA contract. Not everyone came out ahead — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala all faced losses from crypto ventures during previous cycles.
What could bring more money in
Thompson pointed to the GENIUS Act and the potential CLARITY Act as catalysts for more institutional capital in crypto. He also has a financial literacy mission, telling rookies to read profit-and-loss statements and understand compounding. His daily buying habit is part of a broader push to get players thinking beyond their playing days — and he's making sure they hear about it.
