Freelance writer Shaker Samman (@ShakerSamman) joins the show to discuss his Sports Illustrated feature story on NBA Top Shot, the new virtual trading card service that has exploded in popularity and value over the past year. Why are people paying huge sums of money to own basketball highlights that are everywhere? How is it similar and different to physical trading cards? Is it really just about trying to make money, or are there deeper human emotions like nostalgia, ownership, and ego at play? How does the service even work? What's in it for the NBA? Is this thing a bubble, or does it have staying power? Will this conversation turn Mike into a believer or will he still be a skeptic? Most importantly: when can we buy the Top Shot our favorite classic highlights and bloopers?  Here's a link to Shaker's story https://www.si.com/nba/2021/03/17/nba-top-shot-crypto-daily-cover Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices