Hasbro to bring back Starting Lineup NBA action figures with NFTs

SNEAK PEEK

  • Hasbro is prepared to revive the Starting Lineup sports toy with NFT trading cards.
  • The relaunch will happen with NBA stars such as Stephen Curry and LeBron James.
  • Earlier this year, the new Starting Lineup toys were announced in collaboration with Fanatics.

In the 80s and 90s, Starting Lineup action figures were quite a thing. Now, after more than 20 years, Hasbro is keen on reviving the brand with expensive new versions along with NFT trading cards.

Hasbro has begun pre-orders for the new Starting Lineup toys that are NBA oriented with stars such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Compared to the earlier toys, the new six-inch figures are way more poseable and more costly as well, as they sell for $50 each.

Besides the toy and a stand to hold it, the package also includes an NFT trading card from Panini. The brand behind the trading card has its personal blockchain network. Moreover, the brand has earlier launched digital NFT cards based on the NFL, NBA, and Ultimate Fighting Championship and more. 

Each trading card NFT that accompanies a Starting Lineup toy comes with several rarity levels. Having said that, one who buys a toy not only gets a usual NFT card but also has the possibility of having a unique green, red or blue edition of the card with a little bit of different art. Every  player has a gold NFT and it is confined to only one card throughout the entire run.

What needs to be seen is the fact that those unique NFTs command higher resale costs on Panini’s secondary market. However, considering the craze for unique NBA Top Shot NFTs that have been in the past, for certain collectors, the NFT chase probably would be a convincing element of the new Starting Lineup value proposition.

Hasbro is a 99-year-old toy brand and has created previous plays in the NFT world, which includes brands such as My Little Pony and Power Rangers. Moreover, Hasbro has collaborated with World of Women for the launch of a custom-branded version of Monopoly, the board game.